Screenhead

This year already saw the tole on the film and TV industry when the Writers Guild of America went on strike, forcing the delay of many a TV show, weakening the slate of film releases this year and next, and causing enough scheduling problems to sink a few worth projects. And it looks possible that after months of negotiations, another strike could happen next year, with this time the actors of the US outratged.

It’s again the same issue of concern: residuals. Actors Unions feel outraged that actors are getting little or nothing for the broadcast of their work on new media, such as online screenings, ipod downloads, etc, while the distributors and studios rake in the money. It’s a fair point, especially when actors on the bottom rung of Hollywood need everything they can get. Discussions with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers broke down last week, and now all members of the Guild have been contacted to let them know a vote on “strike authorisation” (authorising the governing body to call a strike if necessary) will be taking place.

The AMPTP has criticised the SAG’s actions for being foolhardy, and potentially causing actors more financial damage than they would potentially gain from new media broadcasts. They also criticised the SAG for wanting a deal far beyond what other professions in the industry have, to which the SAG claim their needs are different. That’s a difficult claim to quantify, but the SAG do have the right to question residuals from DVD sales based on an agreement made over 20 years ago, before VHS became far more widespread and profitable than expected.

Hopefully both bodies can learn from the lessons of this year’s strike and prevent further losses in this precarious economic climate. For more, read here.

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