DGA approves new studio deal 2023

Friday saw 87% of Directors Guild of America members accept a three-year studio contract.

“Our new contract secures gains on wages, global streaming residuals, safety, diversity, and creative rights that build for the future and impact every category of member in our Guild,” said Directors Guild of America President Lesli Linka Glatter.

The DGA negotiating group suggested a “historic” contract regarding pay, labor hours, residuals, and artificial intelligence. Amazon, Apple, CBS, Disney, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony, and Warner Bros. Discovery are represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

The eight-week Writers Guild Strike prompted the tentative deal. AMPTP and the Writers Guild failed to reach an agreement before their contract ended on May 1. Without an agreement, members authorized a strike.

Directors Guild of America approves studio deal.

The DGA contract contains 5%, 4%, and 3.5% annual salary increases. The contract also addressed AI usage and reiterated that technology cannot supplant member obligations. The agreement also forbade live firearms on site. Alec Baldwin was rehearsing a scene for Rust in October 2021 when his fake gun discharged a real cartridge, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

For the first time, the contract includes global streaming video on demand residuals based on overseas customers, increasing foreign residuals for the major streaming services by 76%.

This vote might shape the Writers Guild strike. The writers have been concerned about the amount of writers in the room and the length of time they are employed for programs. AMPTP claims WGA’s one-size-fits-all method doesn’t work for every program.

Glatter stated, “We support the actors who are in negotiations and the writers who remain on strike, and we will stand with the IA and Teamsters when they negotiate their agreement next year. “We won’t be satisfied until we all have fair contracts that reward us for our creative work—we must create a vibrant, sustainable industry that fairly values us all.”

SAG-AFTRA and the studios are discussing their June 30 contract. If no resolution is reached, members have approved a strike.