All articles tagged with #amptp
The Writers Guild of America West staff voted to strike amid alleged unfair labor practices by management, affecting about 100 of 150 workers and prompting picketing outside WGA West as the guild heads into upcoming AMPTP contract negotiations; the union says negotiations will continue in good faith with executives handling non-striking duties, while the guild denies the allegations of bad faith bargaining.
WGA West staff walked off the job and picketed outside the Hollywood guild as the Writers Guild Staff Union pushes for its first contract, accusing management of bad-faith bargaining and surveilling union activity and filing an unfair labor practices charge with the NLRB. The guild says it will bargain in good faith as talks with the AMPTP loom, HQ is closed and events canceled ahead of a March start to MBA negotiations and the May 1 contract expiry.
New DGA president Christopher Nolan says a five-year contract extension isn’t realistic, though he’s open to discussion as negotiations with the AMPTP loom. In a Deadline interview, Nolan frames bargaining around stabilizing the guild’s health and pension plans (currently funded from reserves), backend and residuals in the streaming era, and safeguards for AI use. He urges higher employer contributions and preservation of traditional pay structures while acknowledging the need to adapt to changing business models. He also backs federal film tax incentives to boost domestic production and notes ongoing dialogue on licensing and governance of AI technologies.
As AI-enabled performers threaten jobs, SAG-AFTRA is considering a 'Tilly tax'—a studio royalty for digital or synthetic performers that would feed union pension and health funds—ahead of Feb. 9 negotiations with the AMPTP. The move follows AI fears from the 2023 strike and the rise of digital figures like Tilly Norwood; while the union secured AI protections, residuals on streaming remain a sore point, and some actors urge stronger terms beyond a streaming bonus. Proponents argue the royalties are a necessary funding mechanism for long-term security, while critics view it as a controversial last resort. The talks will shape whether studios compensate for AI replacements with AI-related royalties that support actors’ futures.
IATSE and Hollywood studios have yet to reach a deal on the Basic Agreement and Area Standards Agreement, with more talks planned before the union's contracts expire on July 31. Despite productive negotiations, economic issues like wage increases and pension funds remain unresolved. The union is firm on not extending the contract deadline, raising concerns about a potential strike. Other unions, including Teamsters Local 399, are also set to begin negotiations soon.
The Motion Picture Editors Guild, a part of IATSE, has reached a tentative agreement with AMPTP on its craft-specific proposals, joining eight other locals in doing so. Negotiations for the Basic Agreement are ongoing, with a focus on AI, pension, and health funding, and are scheduled to begin on April 29, with the current agreement expiring on July 31. The local agreements are not binding until the entire Basic Agreement is ratified, and further negotiations with other unions, including Teamsters Local 399, are still pending.
The tentative deal between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP includes higher minimum wages for background actors and provisions for artificial intelligence (AI) protections. The agreement also outlines a new model for streaming residuals, with the top 20% of shows receiving a 75% increase and the remaining 25% going into a jointly managed fund. The deal will be reviewed by SAG-AFTRA's national board, and more details are expected to be released. Tens of thousands of actors had gone on strike in July after failing to reach a contract agreement with AMPTP.
Contract talks between the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) have stalled due to the studios' desire to own actors' digitally scanned likenesses in perpetuity. The AMPTP's proposed contract would allow studios to secure the likenesses of certain performers without their consent or the consent of their estates. SAG-AFTRA has refused this proposal and is pushing for changes that would require studios to pay actors each time their faces are used and obtain their consent. The strike has brought attention to the need for protections for all actors, including background actors, and highlights concerns about how actors' faces are used for commercial purposes.
SAG-AFTRA may take an additional day to respond to the studios' "last, best and final" offer as the union's negotiating committee evaluates their next move. Some committee members expressed dissatisfaction with the offer and urged A-list actors to pressure studio heads for better terms. The studios' offer includes a success-based bonus structure in streaming, but the union is holding out for a cut of total streaming revenue and stronger protections against the use of AI. The studios have indicated that this offer is non-negotiable, but the union can push back and remains on strike.
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) is currently reviewing a proposal from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) following a meeting between the two parties. The proposal, which the studios describe as their "last, best, and final offer," includes a significant wage increase and improved compensation bonuses for high-budget streaming series and movies. Both sides express cautious optimism, but the exact status of the negotiations and the likelihood of reaching a new three-year contract remain uncertain. The meeting included an expanded group of studio CEOs, indicating the industry's urgency to restart TV and film production after suffering significant losses due to the strikes and shutdowns.
The Writers Guild of America has announced that the 2024 WGA Awards will be held on April 14, more than a month after the 2024 Oscars, in order to give guild members more time to submit their work following the recently resolved strike against the AMPTP. This move further disconnects the WGA Awards from the rest of the awards season and reduces studio lobbying and talent attendance at the ceremony.
Negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP are in the final stretch, with optimism that a deal may be reached within days. Both sides have made significant progress on bridging the gap over success-based compensation for streaming shows and their casts. The most challenging point to be resolved is agreeing on streaming revenue monies for actors. The studios are feeling the pressure to restart global feature and TV production, as three big movies worth $1.5 billion have already been moved off the 2024 calendar. The strike has also raised concerns about the survival of exhibition companies next year.
Negotiations between Hollywood's studios and streamers and the SAG-Aftra union are under pressure to reach a deal as the months-long actor's strike continues to impact the industry. Progress was made during Thursday's negotiations, but Friday's meeting has been challenging, with both sides far apart on key issues such as residuals in the streaming era, AI protections, and a levy on subscribers. The strike has cost the California economy over $5 billion, resulted in job losses, and caused production delays. The uncertainty looms over the industry as many actors face financial difficulties and productions are pushed back.
Talks between SAG-AFTRA and the studios are set to resume on Friday with "cautious optimism" after negotiations today ended after almost five hours. The discussions focused on SAG-AFTRA's response to the studios' offer of increased bonuses and minimum rates. The guild, which has been on strike for 105 days, recognized the tactical significance of the studios' proposal and offered a compromise. While progress has been made, nothing was resolved in today's meeting. The strike has cost the Southern California economy an estimated $6.5 billion and 45,000 jobs.
SAG-AFTRA's chief negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, expressed cautious optimism as talks between the union and the AMPTP continue to resolve the ongoing actors strike. Negotiations were briefly delayed to allow SAG-AFTRA time to review the latest proposals from the studios. Crabtree-Ireland emphasized the union's focus on reaching a fair deal and disregarded rumors, stating their eagerness to reach an agreement as soon as possible.