Word is that the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), and the Joint Policy Committee of the Association of National Advertisers and the American Association of Advertising Agencies (JPC) are amenable to temporarily extending the expiration date of their current commercials contract. The actors’ pact is scheduled to expire on Oct. 29.
If the extension comes to pass, it would be agreed to on the grounds that more time is needed for the two sides–the actors’ unions and the JPC–to properly consider alternate compensation models for performers in spots that appear on traditional and/or new media outlets. As earlier reported in SHOOT, the JPC, SAG and AFTRA have invited nine consultants from industry and academia to jointly explore different compensation models in light of the advent of new outlets such as mobile phones, PDAs, VOD and gaming. Additional time would likely be needed to complete the study, and for the actors and ad industry negotiators to evaluate the findings and negotiate a new contract.
The two sides’ request for proposal for the joint study states: “SAG, AFTRA and the JPC realize that any study must be comprehensive and take into consideration the myriad of interests of all the parties–performers and their unions on one hand and advertisers and their partners [advertising agencies–production companies, talent payroll services, casting directors and cost consultants]–on the other hand.”
The call for the development of new compensation models for consideration is generally regarded as a positive step towards hopefully attaining a new agreement without a strike or work stoppage. The actors’ unions went on strike against the ad industry in 2000. That six-month strike exacerbated the runaway production problem, and had a negative impact on the U.S. economy.
Stars Among Those Who Lost Their Homes In L.A. Area Fires; Jamie Lee Curtis Pledges $1M To Relief Effort
Fires burning in and around Los Angeles have claimed the homes of numerous celebrities, including Billy Crystal, Jeff Bridges, and R&B star Jhené Aiko, and led to sweeping disruptions of entertainment events. Three awards ceremonies planned for this weekend have been postponed. Next week's Oscar nominations have been delayed. And tens of thousands of Angelenos are displaced and awaiting word Thursday on whether their homes survived the flames — some of them the city's most famous denizens. Thousands of structures have been destroyed but damage assessments are just beginning. More than 180,000 people are also under evacuation orders in the metropolitan area, from the Pacific Coast inland to Pasadena, a number that continues to shift as new fires erupt. Late Wednesday, a fire in the Hollywood Hills was scorching the hills near the famed Hollywood Bowl and Dolby Theatre, which is the home of the Academy Awards. That fire had been largely contained without damage to Hollywood landmarks. Here are how the fires are impacting celebrities and the Los Angeles entertainment industry: Stars whose homes have burned in the fires Celebrities like Crystal and his wife, Janice, were sharing memories of the homes they lost. The Crystals lost the home in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood that they lived in for 45 years. "Janice and I lived in our home since 1979. We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that can't be taken away. We are heartbroken of course but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this," the Crystals wrote in the statement. After her learning her Pacific Palisades home was lost in the fires, Melissa Rivers says she was... Read More