The Directors Guild of America today announced that the DGA membership ratified the new collective bargaining agreement between the DGA and the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP). The pact covers a three-year term from December 1, 2011 through November 30, 2014.
“We entered into negotiations with the goal of protecting the excellent health benefits enjoyed by our members, retirees and their families, and obtaining the best possible deal for our members in light of the continued difficult economic environment confronting the advertising production industry,” said DGA President Taylor Hackford. “I am very pleased that we achieved our goals with a new commercial contract that contains substantial improvements in every category.”
Negotiations were led by Associate National Executive Director/Eastern Executive Director Russ Hollander and a negotiations committee made up of DGA members. “We negotiated with the AICP to find solutions that would ensure the health of this business and keep our members working,” said Hollander. “The new agreement achieves those goals while establishing important additional provisions addressing safety guidelines, low budget agreements and producer flexibility.”
The National Commercial Agreement addresses wage increases for all members in each year of the contract including a 15.8% increase for 2nd 2nd assistant directors in the first year of the contract; increased contributions to the DGA Health Plan including a 17.65% increase in the employer contribution rate for all members plus additional contributions for directors; and a number of additional provisions addressing limits on non-disclosure agreements, extension of canceled call provisions to cover 2nd assistant directors and the establishment of several working committees that will meet during the term of the agreement, including a safety committee to develop a single set of recommended set safety guidelines. The Agreement also addresses a number of Producer concerns pertaining to low budget and foreign commercials including increasing low-budget thresholds from $250,000 to $300,000.
The DGA’s National Board of Directors unanimously approved the contract during the National Board Meeting on October 15, 2011, and ratifications materials were sent to the membership shortly thereafter.
AD&Co. Launches Studio A; Davida Hall To Head New Venture As Sr. Director of Creative Content
Female-founded and led creative marketing agency AD&Co. has opened Studio A. The new venture will serve as AD&Co.’s in-house social brand content division, focused on developing and producing digital programming for advertising, social media, and influencer marketing campaigns designed to reach today’s audiences on the most popular and pivotal platforms. Davida Hall has been named to head Studio A as sr. director of creative content. She shifts over from AD&Co. where she held the same title since December 2023. Hall’s affiliations prior to AD&Co. include PopSugar and Studio71.
Amy Demas, founder and chief creative officer of AD&Co., said, “We understand content is king-—or queen—and that our clients need to engage their customer communities where they live. That inspired the logical expansion of AD&Co with Studio A, which is committed to producing only the most engaging and authentic brand stories.”
Studio A will harness both AD&Co’s and Hall’s deep expertise in the lifestyle sector, as content creators and avid consumers. Specializing in reaching audiences where they spend their time, the studio is immersed in social media, pop culture, and current trends, expertly crafting visuals, language, and storytelling to reinforce client brand identities and cut through the noise.
Studio A debuts with the “This Is Me” campaign for Love + Craft + Beauty, a brand dedicated to embracing and promoting diversity within the beauty space. “This Is Me” highlights Gen Z’s affinity for radical self-expression that allows individuals to tell their own stories, free from labels, using beauty and fashion as tools of authenticity. The campaign showcases models celebrating their unique qualities to present... Read More