Studios slam SAG – Negotiations turn sour

The gloves have come off in the contract negotiations between the majors and Screen Actors Guild.

With the SAG talks going nowhere fast, the majors have gone on the offensive by criticizing the guild’s demands as unreasonable and unrealistic. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers made the assertion at midday Wednesday in a negotiations update to members titled “Setting the record straight” posted on the AMPTP website.

Though the language was more measured and respectful than the harsh tone often employed by the majors during the writers strike, the AMPTP’s message was clear: Unless SAG backs off its demands on DVD and new media soon, it can forget about a deal even if thesps go on strike.

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SAG RESPONDS

Dear Screen Actors Guild Member,

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) posted a message to their member companies today on the AMPTP website. We felt it was important that we directly communicate our continued dedication to the negotiations process.

Screen Actors Guild remains committed to reaching a fair agreement with the AMPTP. To that end, we are prepared to bargain continuously, for as long as it takes.

The AMPTP knows we did not state that they had to agree to all of our non-new media proposals. We expect the AMPTP to negotiate in good faith and we will do the same.

We stand by our research and the information we provided you in our Contract 2008 Reports. We are not surprised that the employers dispute the economic hardships actors are facing. You know better.

We will not negotiate this contract in the press. Instead, we are focused on reaching a fair contract that addresses your needs as professional actors.