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.
By Millie Takaki
Director Ayse Altinok Joins Good Times For U.S. Commercial Representation
Director and writer Ayse Altinok has joined commercial production company Good Times for U.S. representation. Altinok has directed campaigns for Nike, Horizon Milk, Larabar, Jose Cuervo, Unilever, Mavi Jeans, Boots, Lumene, and more.
A former art director at Wieden + Kennedy in Amsterdam and Portland, she approaches each project with careful consideration, analyzing the end goal as a first step and uncovering meaningful moments along the way. Her work features a cinematic, dreamlike quality and elevated aesthetic.
“Having the right chemistry and karma is very powerful and that’s what attracted me to Good Times, and also timing,” said Altinok. “It’s a place where I can continue to push myself as a filmmaker and try new things, whether it’s for a traditional commercial spot or a high concept art project and everything in between.”
“I’ve worked with Ayse for 20 years and she’s super talented. She’s great at finding gems in stories that would otherwise be overlooked, and her aesthetic is phenomenal,” noted Bernadette Spear, executive producer at Good Times. “She can also empathize with creatives, because she’s lived in that world and understands what our clients face and knows how to support their vision.”
Throughout her career, Altinok’s work has won many industry accolades, including awards from The One Show, Clio, Art Directors Club, AICP, and the ANDYs. In 2016, she was nominated for a D&AD Next Director Award for her short film A Day at the Mall Reminds Me of America, a motion poem. Her first short film, 2009’s Hortum was an official selection of 11 film festivals worldwide and won the Special Jury Prize for Best Drama at the Amsterdam Film Festival.
Outside of her short... Read More