Screen Actors Offer Strike Waiver To Independent Films

The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) has offered independent film production companies
a waiver from a looming strike.

Actors belonging to the organization are threatening walkouts in June (08) if
talks between the union and major film studios fail to resolve a dispute over
pay and conditions.

But the SAG has now announced that independent moviemakers will receive
guaranteed-completion contractions to ensure projects due to go into production
this summer (08) will go ahead.

To qualify for the waiver, film companies must not have a financing or
distribution deal with any of the major studios who are members of the Alliance
of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).

Doug Allen, SAG’s national executive director and chief negotiator, confirmed
the move.

He tells U.S. publications the Hollywood Reporter, “We are pleased to offer
guaranteed completion contracts to independent producers who are such an
important source of employment for actors. These (contracts) will allow
independent producers to continue their work and continue to generate job
opportunities for our members even as AMPTP employers decide unilaterally
whether or when to green light new theatrical productions.”

The union has set a 30 June (08) deadline – the day their current contract
expires – for negotiations to be resolved. If the strike goes ahead it could
put hundreds of major film and TV projects under threat.

(LR/WNWCHR/TN)