While the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike is still ongoing and the potential actors’ strike looms, the Directors Guild of America (CEO) announced on Tuesday (June 6) the unanimous approval of the DGA’s National Council to approve and recommend ratification of a new three-year collective agreement with the Alliance of Film and Television Producers.
The DGA National Council votes to approve a new contract with the AMPTP
DGA President Lesli Linka Glatter announced the news at Tuesday’s special guild meeting. Chairman Glatter said in a statement that the guild needed the new deal to adapt to the “rapidly changing and expanding” entertainment industry, adding that the new contract was innovative and would protect the 19,000 directors and members of the organization’s management team. DGA members include such esteemed directors as Christopher Nolan (“The Dark Knight,” “Oppenheimer”) and Steven Spielberg (“West Side Story,” “Schindler’s List”).
President Glatter said, “Along with the rest of the DGA National Board, I am proud to enthusiastically recommend this tentative agreement to our members for ratification. Together, we will secure the future we deserve.
According to the DGA press release, the tentative agreement with AMPTP offers “significant improvements” for all members in “all categories”, including significant advances on salaries, global streaming residuals, safety, diversity and creative rights. In addition, the contract provides minimum terms in two new areas, non-drama programs designed for streaming video-on-demand (SVOD) and high-budget advertising-based video-on-demand (AVOD).
The new agreement also includes new provisions confirming that generative AI, which has become a hot topic lately in the industry, cannot replace the functions carried out by members of the DGA. Generative AI is also a major talking point for the WGA, currently on strike against the AMPTP, and the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), which is expected to enter negotiations. with the AMPTP this year. week.
Chairman Glatter also expressed the Guild’s unity and support for SAG-AFTRA and the WGA in their continued efforts, noting that they “stand firmly” by their side in their “joint fight for a vibrant and that values us all equally”. The next step is for DGA members to vote to ratify the new agreement. A ballot and ratification materials will be sent to active members later this week. DGA’s current contract with AMPTP will expire on June 30.
As previously reported by The Blast, SAG-AFTRA members voted overwhelmingly in favor of strike authorization. This allows the National Council of the union to authorize a strike if a new agreement is not reached by the next deadline of June 30. After that date, SAG-AFTRA could begin a strike as early as July 1, potentially joining the WGA in striking against the AMPTP. This could halt all active film and TV productions, based on their current phase of production, in the industry if a new agreement between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP is not reached by June 30.
The WGA began its strike against the AMPTP on May 2, and it is still ongoing. Several major productions have already been halted or put on hold until strike issues are resolved.