Tiger Woods "traveled to Canada" yesterday to shoot an
ad for GM's Buick, the first spot he has filmed since the
SAG/AFTRA strike began May 1, according to Greg Johnson of
the L.A. TIMES, who writes Woods' "decision marked a bitter
defeat" for the unions. SAG spokesperson Ilyanne Kichaven
said that Woods "could be subject to disciplinary action."
But Woods' IMG agent Mark Steinberg said the move was "in no
way a stance against the union. It's simply something he
has to do to meet his contractual obligations. Tiger still
has a tremendous amount of empathy for the actors and what
they're trying to fight for." Buick spokesperson John Wray
said that the company had "delayed the shoot several times
with the hope" that the labor dispute would be resolved, but
added since the commercial is slated to run during the
Olympics, "We couldn't delay it any longer." Johnson adds
it is "uncertain whether controversy generated" by Woods'
move will "hurt Buick's image." Woods had refused in May to
cross the picket line to film a Nike spot before the U.S.
Open. Nike Dir of Corporate Communications Lee Weinstein
said that the company has "no plans to rush Woods into
commercials." Weinstein: "We're looking long-term at some
ads" (L.A. TIMES, 7/27). In Toronto, Sekeres & Saunders
write that "by shooting the spot in Canada and not" the
U.S., Woods "skirted [the] labour battle." But SAG strike
committee Chair Tom Amorde said Woods "will be brought up on
charges and face" review (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 7/27). The
AP's Doug Ferguson cites Steinberg as saying that Woods "did
not technically break the strike because the spot was filmed
in Canada." But Kichaven "disagreed." Steinberg added
Woods' "only stance is being loyal to his sponsors. Tiger's
position is, 'If I was an actor, I probably wouldn't be
doing this. But my trade is sports. I'm an athlete'" (AP,
7/27). The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's David Robb notes "many
considered" Woods "an early hero of the strike" (HOLLYWOOD
REPORTER, 7/27). But DAILY VARIETY's Dave McNary writes that
Woods' move was a "a major setback" to SAG, who received a
"strong show of support" yesterday from 1,300 striking
actors at an L.A. meeting (DAILY VARIETY, 7/27). FSN's Van
Earl Wright: "While he's trying to honor a contract, he's
also the last person who needs any more money, and don't you
think he should have a little more sympathy for those
commercial actors who do need the money, yet they're
honoring the picket line?" ("NSR," FSN, 7/26).
WOODS ON THIS MORNING: Woods appeared in a taped
interview with ABC's Robin Roberts on "GMA" today (7/27).
