DGA prez to members: Deal could be near

Directors Guild of America President Michael Apted suggests in a note to DGA members that a deal on a new contract with the AMPTP could be near:

I am writing to inform you that with the unanimous agreement of the Negotiations Committee and the recommendation of Negotiations Chairman Gil Cates, I have authorized the start of formal negotiations with the AMPTP and we will begin our first negotiations session tomorrow.

As I have stated before, we would not enter negotiations with the AMPTP unless we were within shouting distance of an agreement on our two most important issues: jurisdiction for our members to work in new media and appropriate compensation for the reuse of our work on the Internet and other new media platforms.   

We've spent the last few months discussing these and related issues with the studios and we've been doing intensive research on these points for the past year and a half. Now we believe it is time to move forward with the goal to hammer out an agreement. I am very mindful of how many members are unemployed and believe that our reaching a deal will bring the industry closer to getting back to work.

There are still hurdles to jump. However, we would not be going forward unless we believed we could make a good deal. 

As is our practice, once we enter negotiations tomorrow, there will be a total news blackout on the talks. As soon as there is anything definitive to report we will be in touch with the membership.

Sincerely,

Michael Apted

    

Comments

[JimBob]

Unfortunately, the well-intentioned Mr. Apted has it wrong. When he says "...our reaching a deal will bring the industry closer to getting back to work," he needs to say "...a deal that works for everyone, not just the DGA will bring the industry..." Because unless the DGA holds out for a deal very close to what the writers and actors are demanding, a deal between them and the AMPTP will prolong the strike, not shorten it. The directors are in a position to end the strike tomorrow because if the companies see that even they are adamant about fair pay in New Media, the game will be over.
Keep in mind, a smallish percentage of the DGA's membership receives residuals of any kind, so naturally they're under pressure not to go on strike for that issue. But if the non-residuals-receiving members of the DGA really want to go back to work, we can only hope they see the strategic importance of a tough stance by their union -- and that if they make the wrong deal, the WGA and eventually SAG will keep them out of work until a fair one is struck.

[Mrs. Garrett]

That is untrue-- UPMs and ADs get residuals; the DGA cares very much about residuals from reuse of its members' work. If the DGA makes a deal even in the ballpark of what the WGA is asking for, the WGA would be wise to take it. They have made their point.

[JimBob]

I'm sorry. You're wrong. Half the DGA's members don't get residuals. That makes a difference. I don't know what your idea of a "ballpark" is. The strike isn't about "making a point." It's about getting a fair share of the proceeds.