In nationwide voting completed last week, members of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) have overwhelmingly approved new three-year successor agreements to the 2006 SAG Television Commercials Contract and the ’06 AFTRA Television and Radio Commercials Contracts.
The memberships of AFTRA and SAG voted nearly 94 percent in favor of the new agreements. Approximately 132,000 members of the unions received ballots, with a 28 percent return rate.
The new agreements cover performers working in commercials made for and reused on television, radio, the Internet, and new media. Annual salary gains are estimated at a tick above five percent over the life of the contracts, a rate of increase that’s curtailed compared to Hollywood union contracts of just last year. The ad biz accords also establish a first-ever payment structure in commercials for the Internet and new media. The new payment structure goes into effect in the third year of the contract.
Additionally, the new contracts contain an agreement outlining terms for a pilot study to test the Gross Rating Points (GRP) model of restructuring compensation to principal performers, as proposed by Booz & Co. The two-year pilot study will be conducted by a jointly retained consultant engaged by the unions and the industry.
The new commercial pacts with the Association of National Advertisers and the American Association of Advertising Agencies goes into effect retroactively to April 1, 2009, and will remain in force until March 31, 2012.
AFTRA and SAG members voted on the tentative agreement that had been reached with the advertising industry on March 31 and overwhelmingly recommended by the SAG-AFTRA Joint Board in a meeting on April 18. Ballots were mailed April 30 to all eligible members in good standing of either union.
Gene Hackman Tributes Pour In From Francis Ford Coppola, Viola Davis, Clint Eastwood and Paul Feig, Among Others
Director Francis Ford Coppola, actor Viola Davis, director Paul Feig and and actor-director Clint Eastwood are among those paying tribute to Gene Hackman after his death at age 95. Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog were found dead in their New Mexico home, authorities said Thursday.
"The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration: Gene Hackman a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity, I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution." — Francis Ford Coppola on Instagram.
"There was no finer actor than Gene. Intense and instinctive. Never a false note. He was also a dear friend whom I will miss very much." — actor-director Clint Eastwood in a statement.
"He was a tough nut, Gene Hackman, but he was really good and he was really difficult. Like, we can say it now, but he was a tough guy because older great actors do not give young directors much of a chance. They're really rough on 'em." — Bill Murray, recounting to The Associated Press Thursday how Hackman worked on the set of the "Royal Tenenbaums," including doing multiple takes flawlessly when other performers didn't nail the scene. "He was a great one. He was a great actor."
"We have lost a true legend. The magnificent Gene Hackman has passed away. A man whose breath of talent was immeasurable. Growing up on his movies was an absolute thrill for me. To observe his remarkable facility and humanity in every role was something to behold. Whatever film he was in, he made it better. A force of nature like no other and as such there will never be another like him." — actor Cary Elwes.
"The greatest ... " — director Edgar Wright on X.
"So awful. Gene was such an inspiration to so many of... Read More