2008 Screen Actors Guild strike

The Screen Actors Guild strike of 2008 is an anticipated strike by the Screen Actors Guild, the American labor union representing actors of the film industry. The anticipated strike would be against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), a trade organization that represents the interests of American film producers, production companies, and movie studios.

The strike would stem from the current handling of royalties from the sale of films distributed through new media methods. This includes royalties earned from Internet distribution services such as iTunes, as well as DVD sales, neither of which are currently written into actors' contracts. The strike date was set for July 2008, chosen due to its coinciding with the expiration of several contracts between the labor union and the AMPTP. Talks are currently being held on the possible terms of a renewal, but the two sides are reportedly far from any deal. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Hollywood producers blast actors over Internet clips issue |url=http://www.hemscott.com/news/latest-news/item.do?newsId=63451699897774 |work= |publisher=Hemscott.com |date=2008-05-08 |accessdate=2008-05-10 ] [cite news |first= Chris |last= Georg |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Screen Actors Guild Strike Coming Up?|url=http://www.efluxmedia.com/news_Screen_Actors_Guild_Strike_Coming_Up_17305.html |work= |publisher= |date=2008-05-07 |accessdate=2008-05-10 ] cite news |first=David B. |last= Wilkerson |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Producers break off contract talks with actors |url= http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/producers-break-off-contract-talks/story.aspx?guid=%7BD6DB9D24-8F02-4EA5-8019-271B17805E91%7D&dist=msr_2|work= |publisher=MarketWatch.com |date=2008-05-07 |accessdate=2008-05-10 ]

Although the SAG contract expired on June 30 2008, SAG has denied any strike activity. Talks continued until July 16, and members of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists voted to renew their deal with the AMPTP; SAG opposes that deal. [cite news|title=AFTRA Approves Three-Year AMPTP Pact|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6576576.html|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=2008-07-08|accessdate=2008-07-08] Since July 16, both sides are not negotiating.

Effect on the film industry

Because the unions involved represent the near sum-total of working actors (for film) in America, film industry leaders agree that if the strike does occur, film production (including scripted television programming) would be at a veritable standstill during the strike period. Production companies are therefore bracing for the strike by accelerating production of films and television episodes in the time prior to the strike, in an effort to stockpile enough material to continue regular film releases and TV schedules during the strike period. [cite news |first= Steve |last= Gorman |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Hollywood braces for possible actors strike|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN2948674020080305?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews |work= |publisher=Reuters |date=2008-05-05 |accessdate=2008-05-10 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.sag.org/ Screen Actors Guild official website]