So the 77,000 members of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists -- mostly TV performers from non-prime time shows -- signed up for a three-year deal with the studios, averting a strike. Where does that leave the Screen Actors Guild, whose 122,000 members work in film and prime-time TV? Against the wall. The SAG contract runs out June 30 and pressure is on to avoid another strike like the writers put the industry through recently. But there are enough union concessions in the AFTRA contract to give a labor negotiator agita, or so says the L.A. Times. And Variety. And everyone.
The sticking point is, as ever, DVD residuals and control over film clip use. AFTRA gave in, to a degree; SAG has been sabre-rattling. Film and TV producers are already running for cover and getting their projects out of the way of a still-possible strike; presumably the exit rows are clearly marked by now.
Here's Nikki Finke of Deadline Hollywood Daily stirring the hornet's nest of who got hosed by who in typical demure fashion; the reader comments, many by Hollywood working stiffs, are where the gloves really come off.
