Will Smith calls SAG-AFTRA, WGA Strikes 'pivotal moment' for Hollywood

Will Smith has expressed support for the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes on Twitter and Instagram. Smith, a SAG-AFTRA member, remarked on how crucial this time was for both guilds.

"I wanna talk for a second about ACTING," Smith wrote. "As some of y’all mighta heard, my guild, @SAGAFTRA are on strike along with our writer colleagues in the WGA. It’s a pivotal moment for our profession."

Both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA have been on strike since July 14 in support of negotiations with studios for more equitable contracts. Smith received an email from the SAG-AFTRA Foundation that said, "Thank you for your support, Will!"

In addition to calling the strike a "pivotal moment," Smith reflected on his own 30-plus-year acting career and thanked Aaron Speiser, who served as a mentor to him.

"33 years into my career as an actor and there are still some days when I feel like I’m that kid from Philly who’s on borrowed time, even though I know I’ve been extraordinarily blessed and lucky to have worked as an actor all this time," Smith continued. "It’s thanks to my friend, my teacher and my mentor @aaronspeiser whom I fondly refer to as ‘coach’ that those days when I feel like I don’t belong are fewer and further between."

Smith is seen smiling with classmates at The Screen Acting Studio in the accompanying photo, where he attended a lesson there. Speiser co-hosts Coach The Podcast and works at The Screen Acting Studio.

He thanked his mentor and expressed confidence in the upcoming generation of performers to take on the industry as he finished the post.

"Coach invited me to acting class the other day and I met a group of our talented next generation of actors and they amazed and inspired me!" Smith wrote. "I’m grateful to coach for continuing to support these talented hopefuls in this art-form that I love and have been lucky enough to work in for three decades of my life! Thanks COACH!" he concluded.