After being held captive in last week's season premiere, tonight's episode finally saw Sam freed and then saw him have a long overdue reunion with his recently resurrected mother and next week, he'll join her and Dean on their first case as a family. The case in question will take the Winchester trio to an abandoned house that is leading civilians to their deaths with the sounds of a crying baby. Meanwhile, Castiel embarks on a mission to track down Lucifer and enlists the services of Crowley to lend him a hand. Check out the promo for next week's episode below: “The Foundry” — (9:00-10:00 p.m. Et) (TV-14, Lv) (HDTV) Oh Baby – When a crying baby leads to death in a mysterious abandoned house, Mary (guest star Samantha Smith), Sam (Jared Padelicki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) decide to investigate. Meanwhile, Castiel’s (Misha Collins) hunt for Lucifer (guest star Rick Springfield) leads him,...
- 10/21/2016
- ComicBookMovie.com
In a victory for the SAG moderate coalition (Unite for Strength / Usan / independents), the Ufs candidates for president, Ken Howard, and secretary, Amy Aquino, won the union's national offices.
However, the election was close: Howard's total was slightly less than the two hardline candidates added together (Anne-Marie Johnson and Seymour Cassel) and Aquino's was slightly more than that of incumbent Connie Stevens. So the union is still very divided, and Howard acknowledged that the results were not a landslide and that the union is very divided, while saying that he planned to reach out to Mf supporters.
On the national board, the moderates showed strength as well: They picked up 4 of 11 seats in Hollywood and held all of the NY and regional (Rbd) seats. I estimate that this brings the moderate's board majority to around 60%, vs. 40% for Mf, but that's a very rough calculation and I'm not sure at this point.
However, the election was close: Howard's total was slightly less than the two hardline candidates added together (Anne-Marie Johnson and Seymour Cassel) and Aquino's was slightly more than that of incumbent Connie Stevens. So the union is still very divided, and Howard acknowledged that the results were not a landslide and that the union is very divided, while saying that he planned to reach out to Mf supporters.
On the national board, the moderates showed strength as well: They picked up 4 of 11 seats in Hollywood and held all of the NY and regional (Rbd) seats. I estimate that this brings the moderate's board majority to around 60%, vs. 40% for Mf, but that's a very rough calculation and I'm not sure at this point.
- 9/25/2009
- by jhandel@att.net (Jonathan Handel)
There are surely more conflicts to come, but the Screen Actors Guild membership on Thursday night settled a big one: Ken Howard has been elected the union's new national president.
Running mate Amy Aquino beat two-time incumbent Connie Stevens in the race for secretary-treasurer. Howard and Aquino will serve two-year terms beginning Friday.
For the moment, at least, the outcomes indicate that a winning 47.2% of the voting segment of SAG's roughly 120,000 members prefers the less strident approach of the self-styled moderate wing of the party represented by Unite for Strength.
Howard collected 12,895 votes, or 3,989 more than MembershipFirst candidate Anne-Marie Johnson, who received 32.6% of the 27,295 votes cast. Independents Seymour Cassel and Asmar Muhammad garnered 17.7% and 1.5%, respectively, in their bid for the presidency.
Ufs came together last year in opposition and in January led a boardroom coup at SAG, installed new negotiators and salvaged a deal with Hollywood producers nearly a...
Running mate Amy Aquino beat two-time incumbent Connie Stevens in the race for secretary-treasurer. Howard and Aquino will serve two-year terms beginning Friday.
For the moment, at least, the outcomes indicate that a winning 47.2% of the voting segment of SAG's roughly 120,000 members prefers the less strident approach of the self-styled moderate wing of the party represented by Unite for Strength.
Howard collected 12,895 votes, or 3,989 more than MembershipFirst candidate Anne-Marie Johnson, who received 32.6% of the 27,295 votes cast. Independents Seymour Cassel and Asmar Muhammad garnered 17.7% and 1.5%, respectively, in their bid for the presidency.
Ufs came together last year in opposition and in January led a boardroom coup at SAG, installed new negotiators and salvaged a deal with Hollywood producers nearly a...
- 9/24/2009
- by By Jay A. Fernandez
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Mike Hodge has been elected president of the Screen Actors Guild's New York division. Hodge succeeds Sam Freed, who did not seek re-election.
- 9/24/2009
- by Daniel Holloway
- backstage.com
In a stunning defeat for the hardline Membership First faction, SAG's TV/theatrical contract passed overwhelmingly, by a 78%-22% margin (almost 4 to 1), those numbers according to the guild. Variety first reported the story, prior to the guild's announcement, with a 1% difference in the numbers.
Significantly, even in the faction's stronghold, the Hollywood division, the vote was an enormous 71% to 29% in favor, or almost 3 to 1. In NY, it was 86% to 14%, and in the regions it was 89% to 11%. There was a large turnout—35% of eligible members voted, far above the typical 20%-25%. The ballots went out to 110,000 paid-up members.
It's an amazing end to an almost 12 month stalemate, and calls into question the faction's ability to make any headway in the upcoming SAG board elections. On the contrary, the results suggest that the moderate Unite for Strength faction should make significant gains. That's because only Membership First will be defending seats in Hollywood,...
Significantly, even in the faction's stronghold, the Hollywood division, the vote was an enormous 71% to 29% in favor, or almost 3 to 1. In NY, it was 86% to 14%, and in the regions it was 89% to 11%. There was a large turnout—35% of eligible members voted, far above the typical 20%-25%. The ballots went out to 110,000 paid-up members.
It's an amazing end to an almost 12 month stalemate, and calls into question the faction's ability to make any headway in the upcoming SAG board elections. On the contrary, the results suggest that the moderate Unite for Strength faction should make significant gains. That's because only Membership First will be defending seats in Hollywood,...
- 6/10/2009
- by jhandel@att.net (Jonathan Handel)
SAG held a town hall meeting in NY last night to provide information re the TV/theatrical contract. It comes a bit late in the process, since the ballots are due back in the mail by next Tuesday, June 9. That means that the last day to reliably mail the ballots is probably Friday, or even Thursday, depending on your faith in the Usps and its vagaries. It also means that we have probably seen the end of the multitude of pro and con videos deployed on the SAG website, Membership First website, and YouTube.
Variety reports the turnout was slim—about 100 actors. SAGWatch infers, accurately I think, that most people have already voted and would have little reason to attend an informational meeting at this point.
The Variety report notes that attendees included SAG interim Ned David White, President Alan Rosenberg, Mf-ers 1st VP Anne-Marie Johnson and Scott Wilson, while...
Variety reports the turnout was slim—about 100 actors. SAGWatch infers, accurately I think, that most people have already voted and would have little reason to attend an informational meeting at this point.
The Variety report notes that attendees included SAG interim Ned David White, President Alan Rosenberg, Mf-ers 1st VP Anne-Marie Johnson and Scott Wilson, while...
- 6/3/2009
- by jhandel@att.net (Jonathan Handel)
SAG and AFTRA announced yesterday that their combined paid-up membership, about 132,000 members, overwhelmingly ratified the contracts between the unions and the advertising industry. The result was expected, as there was no organized opposition. About 28% returned their ballots, about typical. Of those voting, about 94% voted yes. The deals expire March 31, 2012.
The news from the TV/theatrical side is nowhere near as placid. The ballots went out a few days ago—they’re due back June 9—and SAG’s conducting a series of town hall meetings across the country. The first was last night in Hollywood, and the fur flew. About 600 people attended according to a staff count; although the crowd was reportedly 70% composed of hardline Membership First partisans, they didn’t manage to fill the room. That’s a bit surprising. I’d expected an overflow crowd, given their (apparent?) strength in Hollywood.
What they slightly lacked in numbers, they made up in volume and conviction,...
The news from the TV/theatrical side is nowhere near as placid. The ballots went out a few days ago—they’re due back June 9—and SAG’s conducting a series of town hall meetings across the country. The first was last night in Hollywood, and the fur flew. About 600 people attended according to a staff count; although the crowd was reportedly 70% composed of hardline Membership First partisans, they didn’t manage to fill the room. That’s a bit surprising. I’d expected an overflow crowd, given their (apparent?) strength in Hollywood.
What they slightly lacked in numbers, they made up in volume and conviction,...
- 5/22/2009
- by jhandel@att.net (Jonathan Handel)
For actors, nothing brings out the positive vibes quite like being invited on camera.
A new advocacy video made by SAG and other union friends under the rubric Artists4WorkersChoice has accomplished something rare in the current toxic labor atmosphere: agreement between MembershipFirst and Unite for Strength.
The video (embedded below), which advocates for passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, includes participation from members of SAG, AFL-CIO, Actors' Equity Assn., the American Federation of Musicians, AFTRA, DGA, Iatse and WGA.
But most surprisingly, it juxtaposes some of the most vocal personalities of both sides of SAG's AFTRA-merger debate and TV-theatrical contract divide -- Mf's Alan Rosenberg and Anne-Marie Johnson and Mf critics Sam Freed and Amy Brenneman -- expressing the same message: "We need a change."
The change in question is built into the Efca, pending legislation that was reintroduced into the Senate and the House in March.
A new advocacy video made by SAG and other union friends under the rubric Artists4WorkersChoice has accomplished something rare in the current toxic labor atmosphere: agreement between MembershipFirst and Unite for Strength.
The video (embedded below), which advocates for passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, includes participation from members of SAG, AFL-CIO, Actors' Equity Assn., the American Federation of Musicians, AFTRA, DGA, Iatse and WGA.
But most surprisingly, it juxtaposes some of the most vocal personalities of both sides of SAG's AFTRA-merger debate and TV-theatrical contract divide -- Mf's Alan Rosenberg and Anne-Marie Johnson and Mf critics Sam Freed and Amy Brenneman -- expressing the same message: "We need a change."
The change in question is built into the Efca, pending legislation that was reintroduced into the Senate and the House in March.
- 5/14/2009
- by By Jay A. Fernandez
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The SAG board’s moderate majority fired National Executive Director Doug Allen today by using a document signed by board members and called a “written assent.” Much to my surprise, Allen chose not to fight and instead emailed the SAG staff acknowledging that he had been terminated and saying goodbye. A copy of the email is below.
Perhaps one reason Allen agreed so readily is that—as has not previously been reported—the assent provides that his contract will be paid out in full. The assent itself has not previously been released. However, I’ve received a copy. See below.
A natural question is how the process unfolded. I spoke to two sources close to the situation who laid out the following narrative:
At around 11:00 a.m. Monday morning, a group of board members went to SAG’s La headquarters. The group included Unite for Strength leader Ned Vaughn,...
Perhaps one reason Allen agreed so readily is that—as has not previously been reported—the assent provides that his contract will be paid out in full. The assent itself has not previously been released. However, I’ve received a copy. See below.
A natural question is how the process unfolded. I spoke to two sources close to the situation who laid out the following narrative:
At around 11:00 a.m. Monday morning, a group of board members went to SAG’s La headquarters. The group included Unite for Strength leader Ned Vaughn,...
- 1/27/2009
- by noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Handel)
New York -- Nine days after a group of SAG moderates failed to oust national executive director Doug Allen, the guild's hard-line faction MembershipFirst has issued a statement supporting Allen and called for the AMPTP's offer for a new TV and film contract to be sent to members for a straight up-or-down vote.
It would be the first time in memory that SAG sent a contract to its members with a neutral or negative recommendation. Despite the unprecedented nature, the move would be in keeping with the unique, at times bizarre, behavior of the guild during the past year or so.
MembershipFirst, which includes president Alan Rosenberg, first vp Anne-Marie Johnson, a vast majority of the Hollywood board and nine out of 13 members of the negotiating committee, has campaigned against the offer since it was issued nearly seven months ago. They object to several terms, including the ones governing jurisdiction...
It would be the first time in memory that SAG sent a contract to its members with a neutral or negative recommendation. Despite the unprecedented nature, the move would be in keeping with the unique, at times bizarre, behavior of the guild during the past year or so.
MembershipFirst, which includes president Alan Rosenberg, first vp Anne-Marie Johnson, a vast majority of the Hollywood board and nine out of 13 members of the negotiating committee, has campaigned against the offer since it was issued nearly seven months ago. They object to several terms, including the ones governing jurisdiction...
- 1/22/2009
- by By Andrew Salomon, Back Stage
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
If at first you don't succeed, try something else.
That would seem to be the thinking behind SAG leadership's latest strategic shift. Exec director Doug Allen has written to guild directors seeking a membership vote, but not on a strike authorization -- a former goal that almost cost Allen his job this week -- but rather one on the latest film and TV contract offer.
Allen got little traction when he initially floated the contract-vote proposal in a recent executive session of the SAG board. Instead, he and SAG president Alan Rosenberg spent most of Monday and Tuesday fighting efforts by disgruntled board members to oust him as their chief negotiator in stalled contract talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers.
On Wednesday, Allen wrote to the entire board -- even alternates -- to push the contract-vote idea further. Ironically, opposition to the proposal comes largely from those...
That would seem to be the thinking behind SAG leadership's latest strategic shift. Exec director Doug Allen has written to guild directors seeking a membership vote, but not on a strike authorization -- a former goal that almost cost Allen his job this week -- but rather one on the latest film and TV contract offer.
Allen got little traction when he initially floated the contract-vote proposal in a recent executive session of the SAG board. Instead, he and SAG president Alan Rosenberg spent most of Monday and Tuesday fighting efforts by disgruntled board members to oust him as their chief negotiator in stalled contract talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers.
On Wednesday, Allen wrote to the entire board -- even alternates -- to push the contract-vote idea further. Ironically, opposition to the proposal comes largely from those...
- 1/15/2009
- by By Carl DiOrio
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
SAG's membership demanded change Thursday, electing members of the opposition Unite for Strength slate and shifting the balance of power on the union's national board.
The results are a defeat for SAG president Alan Rosenberg and the current leadership, which has guided the union through months of contentious bargaining and into a stalemate with the major studios and production companies. The Ufs winners are expected to align with members of the New York and regional boards who sit on the national board, breaking the hold of the MembershipFirst faction.
"We offered members a clear choice in this election: end the fighting with AFTRA and instead partner with them to create a stronger union for performers," said Ned Vaughn, a Ufs leader who was elected to the Hollywood board. "The results in this unusually high turnout election leave no doubt that is what the members want. We look forward to working...
The results are a defeat for SAG president Alan Rosenberg and the current leadership, which has guided the union through months of contentious bargaining and into a stalemate with the major studios and production companies. The Ufs winners are expected to align with members of the New York and regional boards who sit on the national board, breaking the hold of the MembershipFirst faction.
"We offered members a clear choice in this election: end the fighting with AFTRA and instead partner with them to create a stronger union for performers," said Ned Vaughn, a Ufs leader who was elected to the Hollywood board. "The results in this unusually high turnout election leave no doubt that is what the members want. We look forward to working...
- 9/18/2008
- by By Leslie Simmons
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
New York -- SAG and AFTRA have agreed to another six-month extension of their commercials contract with two ad industry groups.
The latest add-on follows a previous two-year extension to an October 2006 deal that was set to expire Oct. 29.
The first extension was made to give time for a study on online compensation that was conducted by Booz Allen Hamilton. Details of the study haven't been made public.
The latest extension comes with SAG stuck in a stalemate with the studios and networks over a new television and film contract, which expired June 30. There are several outstanding issues remaining, most notably compensation and jurisdiction for work in new media.
Another major sticking point is SAG's fractured relationship with AFTRA, with which it has bargained almost all of its major contracts for nearly three decades under an agreement known as Phase One. The joint bargaining relationship fell apart in late March,...
The latest add-on follows a previous two-year extension to an October 2006 deal that was set to expire Oct. 29.
The first extension was made to give time for a study on online compensation that was conducted by Booz Allen Hamilton. Details of the study haven't been made public.
The latest extension comes with SAG stuck in a stalemate with the studios and networks over a new television and film contract, which expired June 30. There are several outstanding issues remaining, most notably compensation and jurisdiction for work in new media.
Another major sticking point is SAG's fractured relationship with AFTRA, with which it has bargained almost all of its major contracts for nearly three decades under an agreement known as Phase One. The joint bargaining relationship fell apart in late March,...
- 8/27/2008
- by By Andrew Salomon, Back Stage East
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
SAG's New York regional board on Sunday demanded that the union make meaningful steps toward negotiating a new contract by Aug. 25 or bring in a federal mediator.
Sam Freed, a member of the negotiating committee who is also president of the N.Y. board and the union's second national vp, said the longer the union waits to make a deal, the more it hurts its members.
"All of us in New York, Hollywood and across the country should be concerned about how this failure to reach an agreement is impacting our members," Freed said. "They have already suffered significantly as a result of the WGA strike and now they are experiencing an additional loss of work, made worse when they can find a job, by having to work without a contract under old terms and conditions.
"There are some who feel we have all the time in the world to make this deal," he added. "We on the N.Y. board do not."
The move drew immediate fire from SAG president Alan Rosenberg.
"This advisory motion is not in the best interests of New York Division SAG members or any SAG members across the country," he said in a statement. "It could delay and prolong the negotiations by emboldening management with a false belief that SAG actors are split on the issues."
In its statement, the New York board rejected Friday's message from SAG leaders that members of the negotiating committee are meeting informally with industry reps and members of the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers to hash out a new TV/theatrical contract. The board said that "nothing is happening and we are no closer to a deal than we were six weeks ago.
"In failing to bargain realistically with the AMPTP and remove unattainable items from the table, our negotiating team, controlled by the current Hollywood leadership, has pursued an agenda that has more to do with politics than with securing a beneficial contract and has betrayed the trust of the membership," the statement continued.
On Friday, SAG released a statement reassuring its members that while formal negotiations between the union and the studios and production companies appear halted, its leaders are meeting informally with industry reps.
"SAG and AMPTP full committees (which combined number over 100 people) will meet face-to-face again when we have reached a deal and shake hands across the table. We are all hopeful that will happen soon," the guild said.
The AMPTP, however, said no discussions are taking place, informal or otherwise.
"Claims by SAG's negotiators about informal talks are no more true today than they were when first made two weeks ago," the studios said in a statement. "Negotiations concluded when the producers presented what their final offer on June 30, and no meetings are scheduled."
On Aug. 3, SAG's chief negotiator Doug Allen similarly claimed that back-channel talks with studios were being held, which the AMPTP denied at that time as well.
Allen was skeptical of the New York's board call for mediation, too.
"Mediation is an option available any time the parties mutually agree to it," he said Sunday. "Mediation does not guarantee that negotiations will accelerate to an agreement and often has slowed the process down, as recently seen in the WGA negotiations which included mediation," he said. "It has not, up to this point, been viewed as something the parties feel would facilitate an agreement."
The AMPTP valued its final offer at $250 million but it comes up short in several areas, SAG maintains, including retaining force majeure rights, a bump in DVD residuals and an increase in mileage. SAG also claims the offer does not include jurisdiction over new media,
"SAG has made significant compromises to reach tentative agreement on the resolved issues," it stated. "We also believe that what we are asking for, to close the gap and make this deal, is extremely reasonable and addresses the actual needs of actors and their families in these times of technological advances and economic challenges."
In a July 28 statement, the AMPTP said the new media framework in the deal grants SAG shared jurisdiction with AFTRA over original new-media programs, including low-budget projects that employ a single "covered actor."
It also stated that "all of the new-media terms in the producers' final offer, including those related to original new media programs, are subject to a sunset clause that protects both performers and producers by allowing the two sides to reevaluate all of the new media terms in three years and bargain from a point of greater knowledge about the market's development."
Late Sunday, the studios reiterated their intention to hold firm on new media.
"Every effort by SAG's negotiators to reopen these talks to fundamentally alter the new media terms and make unreasonable economic demands has been flatly and consistently rejected by the producers at every level of these talks. The AMPTP's position on its final offer could not be any clearer, and no amount of dead-of-the-night emails by SAG leaders is going to change the fundamental facts."...
Sam Freed, a member of the negotiating committee who is also president of the N.Y. board and the union's second national vp, said the longer the union waits to make a deal, the more it hurts its members.
"All of us in New York, Hollywood and across the country should be concerned about how this failure to reach an agreement is impacting our members," Freed said. "They have already suffered significantly as a result of the WGA strike and now they are experiencing an additional loss of work, made worse when they can find a job, by having to work without a contract under old terms and conditions.
"There are some who feel we have all the time in the world to make this deal," he added. "We on the N.Y. board do not."
The move drew immediate fire from SAG president Alan Rosenberg.
"This advisory motion is not in the best interests of New York Division SAG members or any SAG members across the country," he said in a statement. "It could delay and prolong the negotiations by emboldening management with a false belief that SAG actors are split on the issues."
In its statement, the New York board rejected Friday's message from SAG leaders that members of the negotiating committee are meeting informally with industry reps and members of the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers to hash out a new TV/theatrical contract. The board said that "nothing is happening and we are no closer to a deal than we were six weeks ago.
"In failing to bargain realistically with the AMPTP and remove unattainable items from the table, our negotiating team, controlled by the current Hollywood leadership, has pursued an agenda that has more to do with politics than with securing a beneficial contract and has betrayed the trust of the membership," the statement continued.
On Friday, SAG released a statement reassuring its members that while formal negotiations between the union and the studios and production companies appear halted, its leaders are meeting informally with industry reps.
"SAG and AMPTP full committees (which combined number over 100 people) will meet face-to-face again when we have reached a deal and shake hands across the table. We are all hopeful that will happen soon," the guild said.
The AMPTP, however, said no discussions are taking place, informal or otherwise.
"Claims by SAG's negotiators about informal talks are no more true today than they were when first made two weeks ago," the studios said in a statement. "Negotiations concluded when the producers presented what their final offer on June 30, and no meetings are scheduled."
On Aug. 3, SAG's chief negotiator Doug Allen similarly claimed that back-channel talks with studios were being held, which the AMPTP denied at that time as well.
Allen was skeptical of the New York's board call for mediation, too.
"Mediation is an option available any time the parties mutually agree to it," he said Sunday. "Mediation does not guarantee that negotiations will accelerate to an agreement and often has slowed the process down, as recently seen in the WGA negotiations which included mediation," he said. "It has not, up to this point, been viewed as something the parties feel would facilitate an agreement."
The AMPTP valued its final offer at $250 million but it comes up short in several areas, SAG maintains, including retaining force majeure rights, a bump in DVD residuals and an increase in mileage. SAG also claims the offer does not include jurisdiction over new media,
"SAG has made significant compromises to reach tentative agreement on the resolved issues," it stated. "We also believe that what we are asking for, to close the gap and make this deal, is extremely reasonable and addresses the actual needs of actors and their families in these times of technological advances and economic challenges."
In a July 28 statement, the AMPTP said the new media framework in the deal grants SAG shared jurisdiction with AFTRA over original new-media programs, including low-budget projects that employ a single "covered actor."
It also stated that "all of the new-media terms in the producers' final offer, including those related to original new media programs, are subject to a sunset clause that protects both performers and producers by allowing the two sides to reevaluate all of the new media terms in three years and bargain from a point of greater knowledge about the market's development."
Late Sunday, the studios reiterated their intention to hold firm on new media.
"Every effort by SAG's negotiators to reopen these talks to fundamentally alter the new media terms and make unreasonable economic demands has been flatly and consistently rejected by the producers at every level of these talks. The AMPTP's position on its final offer could not be any clearer, and no amount of dead-of-the-night emails by SAG leaders is going to change the fundamental facts."...
- 8/17/2008
- by By Leslie Simmons
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Wednesday's sidebar meeting between SAG and the studios provided more of what industry watchers have become accustomed to: talk and no apparent progress.
After meeting for more than two hours at AMPTP headquarters in Sherman Oaks, the two sides said in a statement that the discussion would be kept private and that no further meetings were scheduled.
The off-the-record "sidebar meeting" between small teams from each side was the second time the two SAG and studio reps have met face-to-face since bargaining broke off June 30, the day SAG's contract expired.
Meanwhile, a political war within SAG has been brewing beneath the surface.
MembershipFirst, the faction of actors that holds the majority of seats on SAG's Hollywood and national boards, has been a key supporter of SAG president Alan Rosenberg and national executive director Doug Allen throughout this rocky past year. The faction -- which includes board members Justine Bateman, Frances Fisher and JoBeth Williams -- led the guild's "Vote No" campaign against AFTRA's recently ratified primetime contract and has stood by the current administration.
However, notable New York board members -- including SAG 2nd vp Sam Freed, former New York board president Paul Christie and former SAG president Richard Masur -- have been just as outspoken in opposing many of the leadership's moves. The New Yorkers are more sympathetic to AFTRA's positions on basic cable and bloc voting, and they have advocated a less aggressive approach in the negotiations with the AMPTP.
The two sides could clash soon, with about one-third of the 69 seats on SAG's boards nationwide up for election in September. The Hollywood board will elect 11 national board members and 22 alternates; the New York board will elect five national board members and nine alternates. Hollywood and New York branch ballots will be mailed Aug. 19 and are due Sept. 18.
Board elections may not seem like a high priority as the contentious contract talks come to a crucial pass, but the steps SAG leaders take in the next few days vis-a-vis the AMPTP's "last, best and final offer" could affect who will control the guild's boards. SAG and the AMPTP have agreed to continue working under the terms of the expired contract for the time being, but many major studio features have shut down production.
But the AMPTP has increased the pressure, saying it will provide wage increases retroactively only if SAG accepts the deal by Aug. 15. The producers said actors could lose more than $200,000 a day in increases if the final offer is not ratified by that deadline. The AMPTP also requested that guild members vote on the final offer by the end of July.
The stagnant state of negotiations could figure in the elections in several ways.
If Rosenberg and Allen are forced to accept the AMPTP's final offer, SAG members might blame them for taking a lesser deal and consequently oust MembershipFirsters from the boards. However, guild voters also could blame the administration for perpetuating a de facto strike if the negotiations are still going on in September. Members also might be bitter about the MembershipFirst-dominated national board's decision to spend thousands of dollars in guild funds on an unsuccessful campaign against AFTRA's contract.
Stephen Diamond, an associate professor at the Santa Clara University School of Law and a former candidate for SAG national executive director, said SAG leaders certainly have the upcoming elections on their minds.
"I think the elections are probably playing a significant role now in shaping the tactical approach of the guild leadership," he said. "The problem with that, of course, is it suggests to the producers that the leadership is more interested in preserving power than in good-faith bargaining."
Greg Hessinger, who has held top positions at both SAG and AFTRA and currently is labor and employment partner at the law firm Reed Smith, agreed. "MembershipFirst has been openly critical of the deal at the table, so the hard-liners will seize upon any agreement as a sellout," he said. "On the other hand, delay will only serve to solidify the de facto strike and give moderates ample ammunition to criticize the bargaining strategy. If the de facto strike continues much longer, the SAG leadership will face pressure to submit the final offer to the membership for a vote with or without recommendation."
Also complicating matters is the possibility that some of SAG's celebrity members recently who involved themselves in union politics could form a new party and run for the available board seats.
Viggo Mortensen, Ed Harris, Ben Stiller, Sean Penn and Jack Nicholson expressed their support for SAG during the "Vote No" campaign. On the other side of the issue were Tom Hanks, Sally Field, Susan Sarandon, Alec Baldwin and Kevin Spacey. George Clooney remained neutral, but he released a letter urging the unions to work together and suggesting that higher-paid actors pay a greater share of dues.
But Hessinger noted that the stars would be more electable if they did not take sides.
"If there were a slate of stars that were independent of MembershipFirst and maybe even independent of any faction, that could definitely change the landscape," he said. "Those individuals could immediately command the swing vote on the board and effectively control the board."
Lauren Horwitch is news editor for Back Stage West...
After meeting for more than two hours at AMPTP headquarters in Sherman Oaks, the two sides said in a statement that the discussion would be kept private and that no further meetings were scheduled.
The off-the-record "sidebar meeting" between small teams from each side was the second time the two SAG and studio reps have met face-to-face since bargaining broke off June 30, the day SAG's contract expired.
Meanwhile, a political war within SAG has been brewing beneath the surface.
MembershipFirst, the faction of actors that holds the majority of seats on SAG's Hollywood and national boards, has been a key supporter of SAG president Alan Rosenberg and national executive director Doug Allen throughout this rocky past year. The faction -- which includes board members Justine Bateman, Frances Fisher and JoBeth Williams -- led the guild's "Vote No" campaign against AFTRA's recently ratified primetime contract and has stood by the current administration.
However, notable New York board members -- including SAG 2nd vp Sam Freed, former New York board president Paul Christie and former SAG president Richard Masur -- have been just as outspoken in opposing many of the leadership's moves. The New Yorkers are more sympathetic to AFTRA's positions on basic cable and bloc voting, and they have advocated a less aggressive approach in the negotiations with the AMPTP.
The two sides could clash soon, with about one-third of the 69 seats on SAG's boards nationwide up for election in September. The Hollywood board will elect 11 national board members and 22 alternates; the New York board will elect five national board members and nine alternates. Hollywood and New York branch ballots will be mailed Aug. 19 and are due Sept. 18.
Board elections may not seem like a high priority as the contentious contract talks come to a crucial pass, but the steps SAG leaders take in the next few days vis-a-vis the AMPTP's "last, best and final offer" could affect who will control the guild's boards. SAG and the AMPTP have agreed to continue working under the terms of the expired contract for the time being, but many major studio features have shut down production.
But the AMPTP has increased the pressure, saying it will provide wage increases retroactively only if SAG accepts the deal by Aug. 15. The producers said actors could lose more than $200,000 a day in increases if the final offer is not ratified by that deadline. The AMPTP also requested that guild members vote on the final offer by the end of July.
The stagnant state of negotiations could figure in the elections in several ways.
If Rosenberg and Allen are forced to accept the AMPTP's final offer, SAG members might blame them for taking a lesser deal and consequently oust MembershipFirsters from the boards. However, guild voters also could blame the administration for perpetuating a de facto strike if the negotiations are still going on in September. Members also might be bitter about the MembershipFirst-dominated national board's decision to spend thousands of dollars in guild funds on an unsuccessful campaign against AFTRA's contract.
Stephen Diamond, an associate professor at the Santa Clara University School of Law and a former candidate for SAG national executive director, said SAG leaders certainly have the upcoming elections on their minds.
"I think the elections are probably playing a significant role now in shaping the tactical approach of the guild leadership," he said. "The problem with that, of course, is it suggests to the producers that the leadership is more interested in preserving power than in good-faith bargaining."
Greg Hessinger, who has held top positions at both SAG and AFTRA and currently is labor and employment partner at the law firm Reed Smith, agreed. "MembershipFirst has been openly critical of the deal at the table, so the hard-liners will seize upon any agreement as a sellout," he said. "On the other hand, delay will only serve to solidify the de facto strike and give moderates ample ammunition to criticize the bargaining strategy. If the de facto strike continues much longer, the SAG leadership will face pressure to submit the final offer to the membership for a vote with or without recommendation."
Also complicating matters is the possibility that some of SAG's celebrity members recently who involved themselves in union politics could form a new party and run for the available board seats.
Viggo Mortensen, Ed Harris, Ben Stiller, Sean Penn and Jack Nicholson expressed their support for SAG during the "Vote No" campaign. On the other side of the issue were Tom Hanks, Sally Field, Susan Sarandon, Alec Baldwin and Kevin Spacey. George Clooney remained neutral, but he released a letter urging the unions to work together and suggesting that higher-paid actors pay a greater share of dues.
But Hessinger noted that the stars would be more electable if they did not take sides.
"If there were a slate of stars that were independent of MembershipFirst and maybe even independent of any faction, that could definitely change the landscape," he said. "Those individuals could immediately command the swing vote on the board and effectively control the board."
Lauren Horwitch is news editor for Back Stage West...
- 7/17/2008
- by By Leslie Simmons and Lauren Horwitch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
With its final offer just hours before the screen actors contract expired Monday night, the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers issued a dare to SAG: Take the deal or go take your strike vote.
The move is backed by two seemingly safe bets: 1) The guild will fail to defeat the ratification of the proposed primetime TV contract between producers and AFTRA; 2) It does not have the will or the votes to get strike authorization from its rank-and-file because they -- and the rest of Hollywood -- took a financial hit during the 100-day WGA strike.
Then again, in an unprecedented year for entertainment labor, anything can happen.
The AMPTP move "is definitely not standard," said a longtime industry insider who has worked for labor and management. "I do believe that the producers are confident that SAG cannot get a strike authorization."
As for defeating the proposed AFTRA deal, SAG faces an equally difficult task. The federation has about 70,000 members, about 44,000 of which are dual cardholders. About 26,000, though, are non-sag members, and it seems unlikely that those with no loyalty to the guild would be inclined to reject a deal that their board of directors has overwhelmingly approved. To defeat the contract, SAG probably needs to persuade 80% of the joint members -- a steep arithmetic challenge, to say the least.
"Doug Allen comes from football, and this (anti-aftra) strategy is a Hail Mary pass," said Jonathan Handel, an entertainment attorney. "SAG has backed itself into a corner."
That is largely, but not exclusively, true. AFTRA is the one that suspended Phase One, the two unions' joint operating agreement, in part over allegations that the guild tried to poach its turf for the soap opera "The Bold and the Beautiful."
(Susan Flannery, the actress who is said to have instigated a possible change in jurisdiction, has declared that she and a castmate acted on their own. AFTRA has said the "B&B" fracas was the last straw in a long antagonistic campaign against the federation.)
Still, SAG leaders and its ruling Membership First party seem to have willingly engaged in a three-front war -- against AFTRA, its own New York and regional branches and the producers -- and as a consequence seems to have little leverage left except to strike. In undertaking this strategy, they appear to have become the victim of the proverb, "When the gods want to punish us, they grant us our wishes." The guild majority wanted to get AFTRA out of the negotiating room, it wanted to marginalize the New York and regional branches, and it wanted a credible threat of a work stoppage.
Wishes granted.
What SAG leaders really wanted, however, was leverage, and they do not seem to have much. In fact, they might not even get to strike because the producers might lock them out.
There is some confusion about what the AMPTP has given the guild: Is it what is known in labor negotiating as a "last, best and final" offer, or is it simply a "final" offer? Sources close to the producers said it is "last, best and final," while two independent union sources say it is simply a "final" offer. An actor and one of the strategists during the 2000 commercials strike said, "It is not at all uncommon for either side to make several 'last, best and final' offers along the way."
The distinction is important. If it is merely a final offer, it gives the sides some wiggle room. If, however, it is "last, best and final" and SAG rejects it, the producers legally can declare an impasse and do one of two things: Impose the terms unilaterally, which Broadway producers did with stagehands in November, galvanizing an already solid union and precipitating a 19-day strike; or lock out the actors, a move that one source said was a distinct possibility, though perhaps not for a few more weeks.
"I'd say they will lock (the guild) out within a week or two from impasse," said another source, who has a long history with Hollywood labor negotiations on the union side. "Impasse will occur the moment SAG rejects the AMPTP's last, best and final offer."
The last question is this: Will the producers' audacious move galvanize a horribly fractured guild? (Among other things, SAG leaders have denied New York board president Sam Freed access to the e-mail list of actors in his own region, keeping him from campaigning for the AFTRA deal, which would contravene official SAG policy.)
The first source, who has sat on each side of the negotiating process, said that was unlikely and contrasted Monday's move with the commercials strike of 2000:
"Under normal circumstances, they would be running precisely the risk that you've identified, but I believe that Membership First has managed to drive such a deep wedge this time, there is no way that this offer can bring the factions back together. Remember, in 2000, there were deep divisions, but the (advertisers) had rollbacks on the table. It's a whole different ballgame when it's only a question of how many gains are enough. In this climate, actors won't authorize a purely offensive strike and the AMPTP knows it."...
The move is backed by two seemingly safe bets: 1) The guild will fail to defeat the ratification of the proposed primetime TV contract between producers and AFTRA; 2) It does not have the will or the votes to get strike authorization from its rank-and-file because they -- and the rest of Hollywood -- took a financial hit during the 100-day WGA strike.
Then again, in an unprecedented year for entertainment labor, anything can happen.
The AMPTP move "is definitely not standard," said a longtime industry insider who has worked for labor and management. "I do believe that the producers are confident that SAG cannot get a strike authorization."
As for defeating the proposed AFTRA deal, SAG faces an equally difficult task. The federation has about 70,000 members, about 44,000 of which are dual cardholders. About 26,000, though, are non-sag members, and it seems unlikely that those with no loyalty to the guild would be inclined to reject a deal that their board of directors has overwhelmingly approved. To defeat the contract, SAG probably needs to persuade 80% of the joint members -- a steep arithmetic challenge, to say the least.
"Doug Allen comes from football, and this (anti-aftra) strategy is a Hail Mary pass," said Jonathan Handel, an entertainment attorney. "SAG has backed itself into a corner."
That is largely, but not exclusively, true. AFTRA is the one that suspended Phase One, the two unions' joint operating agreement, in part over allegations that the guild tried to poach its turf for the soap opera "The Bold and the Beautiful."
(Susan Flannery, the actress who is said to have instigated a possible change in jurisdiction, has declared that she and a castmate acted on their own. AFTRA has said the "B&B" fracas was the last straw in a long antagonistic campaign against the federation.)
Still, SAG leaders and its ruling Membership First party seem to have willingly engaged in a three-front war -- against AFTRA, its own New York and regional branches and the producers -- and as a consequence seems to have little leverage left except to strike. In undertaking this strategy, they appear to have become the victim of the proverb, "When the gods want to punish us, they grant us our wishes." The guild majority wanted to get AFTRA out of the negotiating room, it wanted to marginalize the New York and regional branches, and it wanted a credible threat of a work stoppage.
Wishes granted.
What SAG leaders really wanted, however, was leverage, and they do not seem to have much. In fact, they might not even get to strike because the producers might lock them out.
There is some confusion about what the AMPTP has given the guild: Is it what is known in labor negotiating as a "last, best and final" offer, or is it simply a "final" offer? Sources close to the producers said it is "last, best and final," while two independent union sources say it is simply a "final" offer. An actor and one of the strategists during the 2000 commercials strike said, "It is not at all uncommon for either side to make several 'last, best and final' offers along the way."
The distinction is important. If it is merely a final offer, it gives the sides some wiggle room. If, however, it is "last, best and final" and SAG rejects it, the producers legally can declare an impasse and do one of two things: Impose the terms unilaterally, which Broadway producers did with stagehands in November, galvanizing an already solid union and precipitating a 19-day strike; or lock out the actors, a move that one source said was a distinct possibility, though perhaps not for a few more weeks.
"I'd say they will lock (the guild) out within a week or two from impasse," said another source, who has a long history with Hollywood labor negotiations on the union side. "Impasse will occur the moment SAG rejects the AMPTP's last, best and final offer."
The last question is this: Will the producers' audacious move galvanize a horribly fractured guild? (Among other things, SAG leaders have denied New York board president Sam Freed access to the e-mail list of actors in his own region, keeping him from campaigning for the AFTRA deal, which would contravene official SAG policy.)
The first source, who has sat on each side of the negotiating process, said that was unlikely and contrasted Monday's move with the commercials strike of 2000:
"Under normal circumstances, they would be running precisely the risk that you've identified, but I believe that Membership First has managed to drive such a deep wedge this time, there is no way that this offer can bring the factions back together. Remember, in 2000, there were deep divisions, but the (advertisers) had rollbacks on the table. It's a whole different ballgame when it's only a question of how many gains are enough. In this climate, actors won't authorize a purely offensive strike and the AMPTP knows it."...
- 7/2/2008
- by By Andrew Salomon, Back Stage East
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
SAG president Alan Rosenberg has three challengers for re-election, including one from the same MembershipFirst faction that supported his inaugural campaign two years ago.
The MembershipFirst activist is Seymour Cassel, known for indie film roles and guest appearances on primetime dramas. Cassel, who also filed for re-election to SAG's national board, drew an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor for his role in John Cassavetes' 1968 film "Faces".
Also running for SAG president are the lesser-known Charley M. De La Pena and Barry Simmonds. All candidates, including those for various board seats, filed petitions with the SAG nominating committee by July 19.
De La Pena has been active on issues related to actors with disabilities and is expected to emphasize health-fund issues in his campaign. Simmonds described himself as a background actor.
"I'm speaking for background actors in SAG who are the majority of people in SAG but get the least amount of work," Simmonds said.
Meanwhile, it also was revealed that Paul Christie, New York division president and SAG national second vp, is not running for re-election. Candidates for New York president are Sam Freed, Erik-Anders Nilsson and James Vassanelli.
Rosenberg is completing his first two-year term as SAG president, one that has been marked by accomplishments and lingering challenges.
Among the former was the creation of a new-media department that will study and coordinate issues related to the Internet and other new entertainment distribution platforms. The latter include the question of how to get studios to agree to expand actors' compensation for new-media content.
New-media residuals are expected to figure throughout the next round of film and TV talks with studios. The WGA is pressing the issue in its ongoing negotiations, and SAG and the DGA will need to address the matter soon as their current studio pacts expire June 30.
Rosenberg also has touted his efforts to forge closer ties with the WGA, including the formation of an advisory committee to work with the guild during the writers' contract negotiations.
At the same time, SAG's chilly relations with AFTRA remain despite their regularly taking the same side of the bargaining table in contract talks.
The MembershipFirst activist is Seymour Cassel, known for indie film roles and guest appearances on primetime dramas. Cassel, who also filed for re-election to SAG's national board, drew an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor for his role in John Cassavetes' 1968 film "Faces".
Also running for SAG president are the lesser-known Charley M. De La Pena and Barry Simmonds. All candidates, including those for various board seats, filed petitions with the SAG nominating committee by July 19.
De La Pena has been active on issues related to actors with disabilities and is expected to emphasize health-fund issues in his campaign. Simmonds described himself as a background actor.
"I'm speaking for background actors in SAG who are the majority of people in SAG but get the least amount of work," Simmonds said.
Meanwhile, it also was revealed that Paul Christie, New York division president and SAG national second vp, is not running for re-election. Candidates for New York president are Sam Freed, Erik-Anders Nilsson and James Vassanelli.
Rosenberg is completing his first two-year term as SAG president, one that has been marked by accomplishments and lingering challenges.
Among the former was the creation of a new-media department that will study and coordinate issues related to the Internet and other new entertainment distribution platforms. The latter include the question of how to get studios to agree to expand actors' compensation for new-media content.
New-media residuals are expected to figure throughout the next round of film and TV talks with studios. The WGA is pressing the issue in its ongoing negotiations, and SAG and the DGA will need to address the matter soon as their current studio pacts expire June 30.
Rosenberg also has touted his efforts to forge closer ties with the WGA, including the formation of an advisory committee to work with the guild during the writers' contract negotiations.
At the same time, SAG's chilly relations with AFTRA remain despite their regularly taking the same side of the bargaining table in contract talks.
- 7/26/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The fall election of SAG president Alan Rosenberg and his allies finally became official Thursday as the Department of Labor decided to take no action on a challenge lodged by several rivals, the union said. By taking no action in the 60-day review period, the DOL rejected claims by SAG national vp Paul Christie, New York vp Sam Freed and former New York president Eileen Henry that Rosenberg and his allies in the MembershipFirst party used an illegally obtained e-mail list to contact members in violation of labor law. "This puts to rest any rumors or claims about the election and vindicates those who were wrongly accused of having done something wrong," Rosenberg said, adding that he remained committed to unifying the membership. "One of my proudest moments was being elected to lead this union. I have not stopped working since, and I will not stop until we have achieved our agenda for working actors."...
- 3/17/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The fall election of SAG president Alan Rosenberg and his allies finally became official Thursday as the Department of Labor decided to take no action on a challenge lodged by several rivals, the union said. By taking no action in the 60-day review period, the DOL rejected claims by SAG national vp Paul Christie, New York vp Sam Freed and former New York president Eileen Henry that Rosenberg and his allies in the MembershipFirst party used an illegally obtained e-mail list to contact members in violation of labor law. "This puts to rest any rumors or claims about the election and vindicates those who were wrongly accused of having done something wrong," Rosenberg said, adding that he remained committed to unifying the membership. "One of my proudest moments was being elected to lead this union. I have not stopped working since, and I will not stop until we have achieved our agenda for working actors."...
- 3/16/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Three current and former New York-based SAG leaders have challenged the results of the fall election on grounds that their political rivals allegedly used an illegally obtained e-mail list to contact members in violation of guild and Department of Labor rules. The challenge, filed with the DOL last week by SAG national vp Paul Christie, New York vp Sam Freed and former New York president Eileen Henry, also claims that the newly elected leadership, including SAG president Alan Rosenberg, is using its power to impede an investigation into this matter. "At issue is not only the taint of the recent election but the future threat to the democratic process within the union if the current leadership is permitted to retain the advantage of confidential member information for political use," according to the election challenge. SAG officials said Friday that they had not yet reviewed the challenge.
- 12/4/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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