Screen Actors Guild...tenative contracts agreed to!

The National Board of Directors voted on April 19th (2009) to approve a tentative TV/Theatrical deal with the producers and recommend it for ratification to the members.

After a months-long battle over contract issues - played out in nasty detail in the press - the National Board of Directors voted 53.38 percent to 46.62 percent to approve and recommend to SAG members new two-year successor agreements.

The proposed agreement covering actors in the jurisdiction of motion pictures and television, delivers a 3.5% effective annual increase comprised of a 3% wage increase and a .5% pension and health contribution increase upon ratification ( and a 3.5% wage increase in year two).

After all the terms were discussed extensively in a closed-door meeting, it was moved and seconded that the National Board direct the interim National Executive Director to send the tentative agreement between the Producers (represented by the AMPTP) and the Screen Actors Guild to the membership for ratification with a recommendation from the Board to vote ‘Yes.’

On the heels of the vote count, SAG National President Alan Rosenberg urged members to carefully review both the pros and cons in the referendum materials and exercise their right to vote."

“We are pleased that Screen Actors Guild members will soon be voting on a deal for television and motion pictures. We’re eager to get our members back to work and to focus now on the challenges ahead, particularly on initiating a comprehensive effort to thoughtfully plan for the future," added interim National Executive Director David White.

White proceeded to note that the negotiating committee, task force and professional staff worked tirelessly on the agreement over the past twelve months with a positive end result.

On behalf of the National Board, he thank the dedicated teams for contributing their time, commitment and expertise to the cause.

According to Chief Negotiator John McGuire, the tentative agreement delivers increased contributions to the SAG pension plan, increased minimums, a significant gain in background actor numbers from 50 to 55 over the term of the contract, and tracks new media provisions achieved by other entertainment industry unions.

"The terms of the agreement puts SAG in sync with the other unions, but does not include the extended term recently proposed by the AMPTP," he noted for the record.

Provisions of the proposed deal include:

* A two-year term of agreement concluding June 30, 2011.
* Effective annual increases of 3.0% in wage increases.
* A .5% increase in pension contributions upon ratification.
* A 3.5% wage increase one year following ratification.
* Greater residuals for TV & Theatrical features than those paid for DVD.
* Residuals for ad-supported streams of feature films & TV programs.
* Residuals for derivative new media programs.
* Additional background actors in features.
* Increased compensation for guest stars from 7.5% to 10%.
* Increased trailer money break ( $2,500 to $3,000 per week).
* Increased overtime money for 3-day performers ($2,700 to $3,000).

Staff at SAG have reported that the ratification ballots will be mailed to eligible Guild members in early May with an expected return date (votes cast) at the end of the month.

Tabulation will occur immediately upon the conclusion of balloting.

The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) is the nation’s largest labor union representing working actors in the country today.

Established in 1933, SAG has a rich history in the American labor movement, especially with regard to fighting for artists’ rights amid the current digital revolution which has swept the entertainment industry over the past couple of decades.

With 20 branches nationwide, SAG represents nearly 120,000 actors who work in motion pictures, television, industrial films, commercials, video games, music videos and all new media formats.

The Guild's main thrust is to enhance actors’ working conditions and pursue realistic compensation for services rendered.

Although opposing factions threatened to split the Actor's Union asunder in recent days over the contentious contract issues aforementioned, SAG continues to endeavour to be a unified voice on behalf of artists’ rights.

SAG is an affiliate of the AFL-CIO which is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

Info: www.sag.org

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Web TV...Welcome to Lost Angeles. Signed SAG agreements with actors...

One of the big bones of contention in the stalled contract talks with the Screen Actors Guild and Hollywood producers pertains to profit-sharing over web content and the rich media proliferating in its wake.

In spite of reports flying out of newsrooms around the country that producers are adamant about not yielding on this contract issue, a couple of creators of a Web TV show ignored the call-to-arms and proceeded to sign their actors under a SAG "experimental" contract.

Part of the reason they firmed up the talent this way was due to the uncertainty of the potential to realize a profit online.

"We signed agreements with our actors that stipulate a share in the profits when the series goes into the black."

I laughingly noted to one of the writers when we crossed paths at the upbeat Chalk Rep Theatre launch the other night - that in the old days - "deferred pay" meant "no pay".


Although he and his partner chuckled at the joke, both were dead serious about following through on their commitment to the actors.

The made-for-the-web TV Show has a few episodes in the can in spite of tough financial times the industry has been facing in recent days.

The project - "Welcome to Lost Angeles" - focuses on a young man who moves out to California to pursue his dreams which run afoul when interrupted by unemployment, a troubled relationship, and few unexpected mishaps around the lower mainland along the way.

Of course, the fictionalized storyline appears to be a take-off on the old idea that the West Coast metropolis - once known as the City of Angels - has been relegated to the status of "City of Lost Angels".

Yeah, it's tough-going getting a break in the sprawling third-world city - which I have cynically christened - the "big bad orange".

While the concept of the weekly series seems a bit cliche, I'm holding judgment; especially since the creators are still "tooling" around with ideas for the next season.

Check it out.

Info: http://www.lostangeles.tv/

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Screen Actors Guild...sh** or get off the pot!

Rebel rouser Affleck turns off SAG Membership with elitist views

Although I am a member of the Screen Actors Guild, I haven't been reporting much on the contract negotiations much ballyhooed in the press in recent days.

For the most part, it's because I have been ticked off with the way the negotiators have been handling the talks.

Notwithstanding, disruptive factions within SAG have upset the status quo to serve their own selfish ends.

And, that is unsettling too.

For instance, when the issue of a potential strike arose, an upstart group referring to themselves as the "Rebels" - consisting of a few high-profile actors such as Ben Affleck and Kevin Bacon - cried out for a mind-boggling approach to the issue.

Because a large percentage of actors in the guild don't work full-time - and (in their opinion) had nothing to lose if a strike was called - bozos like Affleck and Bacon were urging a stipulation that only full-time actors be granted the privilege to vote on the contract negotiations.

In a follow-up post, I criticized the "Rebels" for taking an elitist approach.

After all, one of the original missions of the Guild, was to ensure that all actors were equal in the eyes of the "shop" - whether they be an extra, a day-player - or full-fledged star.

In closing, I noted in that scathing review of their misguided efforts, that their so-called solution to the problem was a dangerous one because it played into the hands of the producers.

In closing, I posed a question.

Have you never heard of the old axiom, "Divide and Conquer"?

Shortly after that post, the rebels faded into oblivion, for some inexplicable reason. (!)

Even still, as the contentious talks continued between the negotiators and the producers, factions within the guild threatened to split SAG asunder.

So, at the next Board election, members scrambled to promote their candidates to ensure their "voices" would be heard at the bargaining table.

Unfortunately, the votes were almost split, and SAG ended up with two warring factions deep within the heartbeat of the guild.

Since then, negotiations have been sluggish.

Each week - on average - I have received about three e-mails updating me (!) on the clever maneuverings "going down" on both sides in the contract dispute.

But, no cigar!

Although some contend that our sister Union (AFTRA, of which I am dues-paying member also) was smart to negotiate and strike a deal early, I disagree.

As usual, the negotiating team sold the membership down the river!

Unfortunately, SAG has gone too far the other way.

What irks me most is the "paper tiger" approach.

Guild negotiators threaten to strike, but don't.

It's gotten to the point now - that when the sceptre rears its ugly head as a potential bargaining tool - the producers just shrug - yawn - and respond accordingly.

Ho-hum!

At a crucial stage of the "game", SAG has finally initiated proceedings for a referendum to vote on a strike.

Once again, though, the powers-that-be at SAG have screwed up.


Now that SAG has tipped their hand - and warned the producers about a potential strike in January - the studios and independents have been given ample opportunity to get all their "ducks" in a row before that eventuality.

Stupid!

Personally, I think that one day - out-of-the blue and without so much as a peep - all actors on all sets and sound stages around the country should swiftly and stridently march off the job.

Then, we'll have 'em by the short and curlies.

After all, a sudden stop in production - and a vital loss of revenue - is the only action capable of landing a knock-out punch.

Maybe then, the producers will be ready to strike a deal!