In anticipation of the negotiation deadline approaching between SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), union leadership took steps to gather support on Monday.
According to multiple sources, over 300 prominent agents participated in a Zoom call with Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the union’s chief negotiator and national executive director, and Ray Rodriguez, the chief contracts officer. The purpose of the call was to address concerns regarding the negotiations and provide guidance on navigating potential strike scenarios.
During the call, various negotiation topics were discussed, including series exclusivity, residuals, option periods, and the utilization of A.I. technology. Furthermore, the leadership confirmed that members would be permitted to continue working on projects affiliated with the Actors’ Equity Association and ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television, and Radio Artists) even if a strike were to be called. However, SAG-AFTRA would only grant waivers once the work stoppage commenced.
At the time of writing, SAG-AFTRA has not responded to a request for comment.
Representatives from prominent agencies such as WME, CAA, and UTA, among others, participated in the call with SAG-AFTRA. Simultaneously, union leadership engaged in discussions with top publicists representing A-list talent to establish protocols and best practices for promotions during a strike. According to a knowledgeable source, advertisements and press related to film and TV projects involving struck companies would not be permitted.
Regarding the possibility of a strike, one source mentioned that the agents’ call treated it as an inevitability, stating, “They were not speaking in conditional sentences,” as reported by THR.
It is worth noting that these calls occurred on Monday, and as the deadline approaches and the likelihood of a strike increases, further updates on negotiations are being discussed.
On Tuesday, the AMPTP sought assistance from the Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service to prevent a SAG-AFTRA strike. This followed discussions among general counsel and executives of major companies, including Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos and Warner Bros.Discovery chief David Zaslav. SAG-AFTRA’s consent is required. Currently, SAG-AFTRA has not responded to THR’s request for comment on potential mediation.
If the AMPTP and SAG-AFTRA agree to involve a federal mediator, negotiations will likely be extended again. According to an agent who participated in Monday’s call, “I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s another extension, as everyone is committed to resolving.”
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