AFTRA AND AMPTP NEAR DEAL?

That seems to be the feeling in the film industry trades as talks between the two parties continued over the weekend and even over the Memorial holiday. The letter sent from AFTRA to members (published here in a previous post) struck an optimistic tone and that tone, combined with a lot of wishful thinking has the Hollywood press looking for a deal sooner rather than later.

SAG and AMPTP are scheduled to resume talks on Wednesday which means that if AFTRA is going to make its deal first, we should be hearing something today. While AFTRA and SAG have been at odds prior to and during the contract negotiations, there have been recent signs that some cooperation between the two guilds is occurring.

This week looks to be critical in the determination of just how bumpy a ride the film industry will be taking over the summer and into fall. Stay tuned.

The latest from Daily Variety is here, including this excerpt:

With SAG anxiously waiting in the wings, AFTRA and the majors are believed to be near a tentative deal on the union’s primetime contract.

Amid a news blackout, neither side issued any official announcement as of Monday evening, but it was understood that AFTRA and the AMPTP had entered the final stages of reaching a three-year agreement. Monday marked the 16th day of negotiations between the two orgs.

AFTRA leaders, who have touted their pragmatic approach, had been widely expected to make a deal before the Screen Actors Guild did. SAG is scheduled to resume its talks with the AMPTP on Wednesday.

In agreeing to negotiate over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, both AFTRA and the AMPTP had started sending strong signals that they were closing in on a deal.