US actors reject studios' offer

[Omaha Steve]

Source: BBC

The largest union representing US actors has rejected the "last, best and final offer" from Hollywood's major studios for a new contract.

The rejection raises the possibility of further labour unrest in Hollywood.

The studios want the contract to start from when it is signed. But the Screen Actors Guild wants it to date from when the last one expired in June 2008.


The Screen Actors Guild called the studios offer regressive

The studios said they could not offer SAG a "better deal" than those agreed to in 2008 by other Hollywood unions.


Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7904186.stm

[MadBadger]

1. The Public stood behind the writers, dont count on it happening for the actors.

[rpannier]

2. If I could get a job as an actor now

I might do it

There are a lot of the members of SAG that willingly cross picket lines
It's kind of like the athletes that cross

Why should I feel any loyalty to them

[lob1]

4. Then I'll be there to picket any movie you're in.

[rpannier]

6. And I would bear you no ill-will

But, I've seen several strikes over the past forty years by writers, tech crews, etc that many (I won't say most) actors and actresses crossed because they 'Didn't want to violate their contract.'

There are classy people like David Letterman that support the other people who work on the production of TV Shows and movies.
People like that I support.

Then there are 'the others' who concern themselves only with their own careers.

[lob1]

9. You're pointing out someone else's bad behavior to justify your own.

You're saying, "They're assholes and I want to be just like them." I've been in one union or another for over 50 years. Crossing a picket line means something to me.
Sorry you don't agree. Peace.

[shanti]

5. i wonder if that's what's fueled the reality show thing?

my son is a budding actor, but isn't a SAG member. he did a couple of reality shows last fall, but nothing else. it seems like many of the new shows are all about reality, and these people aren't usually actors.

[rpannier]

7. There's a lot of truth to that (I think)

As I understand it, most contracts that people sign to be on those shows give virtually everything to the producers and nothing to the people that are in them.

How much does it cost to set up one of those things? I don't know.
How much do these people get paid, if they don't win??? You'd know better - or your son would.
Who owns the rights to the images? If they're shown in syndication? etc

I don't know a lot of these answers, but I'm guessing there's a huge profit to made for producers

[Chan790]

10. Because when you don't support them...

you hurt those of us who are not actors but work in the film industry.

[Mike 03]

3. As a screenwriter, I'm siding with the actors on this one.

Thank you for posting this.

This will be a long hard fight, I worry.

EDIT: changed writer to screenwriter.

[rpannier]

8. Now hearing from you I modify my previous position (as posted above)

If you, as a screenwriter believe the actors are in the right, then I will go with your position because you'd know better than I

[Still Sensible]

11. A lot of people will see this and think in terms of the highest

paid stars. Unfortunately, these things are usually over matters where the actors are trying to protect the least of them. Generally, while there are contract terms that effect the big names, most of what they are contesting are usually issues in protecting struggling actors.