Actors’ Guild to Stop Approving Indie Projects Amid Ongoing Hollywood Strikes

Summary

• SAG-AFTRA will no longer grant interim agreements to independent projects created under a WGA contract.
• This modification is seen as a win-win change, as it supports the WGA strike strategy while protecting the interests of SAG-AFTRA members.
• SAG-AFTRA continues to support the WGA in fighting for a fair and equitable contract, urging independent producers to apply for an interim agreement.

SAG-AFTRA has recently given an update on their rules for the ongoing strikes, revealing that they will no longer grant interim agreements to independent projects that were created under a Writers Guild of America (WGA) contract, as reported by Variety. Prior to the union’s latest announcement, SAG-AFTRA have already given interim agreements to 207 independent projects, allowing them to continue production amid the ongoing strike.

The interim agreements have been subject to some serious backlash by members of the union, with some arguing that they cause additional harm to the strike.

In their update announcement released on Monday, SAG-AFTRA noted that these agreements were still “an important element of our strike strategy” while adding that they were aware that some individuals still “had questions and even concerns about” its impact. Yesterday’s message was SAG-AFTRA’s first modification in response to the backlash, with the union stating that would no longer approve WGA created projects that planned to be produced in the US.

The message reads, “We will now exclude from the Interim Agreements any WGA-covered projects to be produced in the USA. We have been advised by the WGA that this modification will assist them in executing their strike strategy, and we believe it does not undermine the utility and effectiveness of ours. It is a win-win change.”

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SAG-AFTRA Said Their Update to the Interim Agreements Is “A Win-Win Change”

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SAG-AFTRA went on to say, “This means that, going forward, for productions taking place in the USA, SAG-AFTRA will only grant Interim Agreements for non-WGA-covered projects. And our staff will continue to investigate each application for an Interim Agreement to ensure only true independent productions are included.” The union’s update shows a further sense of solidarity with the WGA strike which started on May 2. While the WGA strike’s rules prohibits its members from offering “writing services,” those guidelines do not stop WGA-covered scripts from being produced.

The union’s message continued, “We created the Interim Agreement for several reasons, all of which are aimed at protecting the interests of our members and members of sister unions, so that journeymen performers and crew may continue to work and pay their bills while demonstrating to the AMPTP that independent producers are eager to work with our members under these terms.”

They added, “The strike action is evolving each day. We are adapting in real time to continue protecting our members while collaborating with our sister unions in fighting for our common cause.”

SAG-AFTRA wrapped things up by saying, “SAG-AFTRA continues to support the Writers Guild of America in its fight to achieve a fair and equitable contract. And we continue to urge independent producers to apply for an Interim Agreement and encourage SAG-AFTRA members to work on projects that obtain approval, along with all the other permissible work we support.”

The union’s update will not impact the 207 projects already granted interim agreements. To receive approval from SAG-AFTRA, producers need to show that they aren’t receiving compensation from companies within the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Those attempting to get approval must also accept the terms stated by SAG-AFTRA prior to the announcement of the strike.

You can view the original article HERE.