Actors To Start Contract Talks Thursday

Although writers reached agreement with producers over a new three-year contract last week (story), Summer production in Hollywood is still threatened by strike action. Negotiations are set to begin on between producers and the actors' unions. This morning, the actors published their list of demands.

The list highlights the importance of recognition for actors on all mediums. The principle issue of the negotiations will be extending jurisdiction to the internet as a way of distributing television shows and film. "It is important for us to make clear to industry representatives that this work lies within our jurisdiction and that we are prepared to negotiate contracts for our members that acknowledge current economic realities," stated the SAG/AFTRA document. Other important issues include higher residual payments for cable shows, foreign airins and home video releases.

This follows from one of the demands of the provisional WGA agreement reached last week. That included provisions for writers to be paid if their work is transmitted over the internet. It also stated that if a program developed for the internet becomes the basis of a film or television show, writers must be paid for their work on the different medium in addition to any initial payment. While the WGA agreement is still only provisional and needs to be approved by its members, reaction to the deal has been generally positive and is expected to meet with approval. Its success puts pressure on the SAG to reach agreement on their own deal.

However, this is not expected to go smoothly for the actors. Technology remains a crucial issue that may hinder negotiations. While the product of writers, such as scripts and other excerpts, can be delivered almost instantly over the internet, digital video technology is not yet far enough advanced to enable movies and film to be transferred online. This may mean that the actors will not be able to make such demands over internet issues until the technology becomes wideley available.

Whether or not strike can be prevented, the ramifications of the threat of action will still be felt in the film and TV production industry. "We’re going on strike whether we want to or not," Dawson's Creek actor Kerr Smith told Zap2it. "The studios have already used up their budgets for the year. We’re taking a four month break regardless of what happens." Movie and television studios will have to cope with clogged schedules prepared in the rush to finish production before action could disrupt it. The results are that budgets for the rest of the year's production have already been spent.

Production on Star Trek X has already been delayed by the threat of action, with producers waiting to see how much disruption would be caused before beginning the film. Shooting on Series V has been reported to start tomorrow, with the intention being to finish filming for the pilot and at least two additional episodes before the strike deadline.

More information about the strikes and the issues involved in negotiations can be found here at Zap2it, and in this News Factor report.

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