AFTRA Starts Its AMPTP Talks Tomorrow

COMMENTS (7)

• I hope the AFTRA negotiators were watching carefully while Cates and Apted instructed all the rest of us in the clever negotiating tactics of “sit,” “fetch” and especially “roll over.” No one likes to see an actor blow their lines.

  Comment by Writer Bob — Tuesday May 6, 2008 @ 4:05pm PDT  Reply to this post

• SAG spent a year getting ready for this negotiation…by picking a fight with other actors instead of doing the business of preparing leverage for the battle to come . But then, according to some highly placed in the SAG Hollywood board room, they’d hired a warrior. “Oops, dropped my sword.”
  Maybe now AFTRA can do the business of negotiating a contract instead of posturing like in a bad kung fu movie.

  Comment by Winona — Tuesday May 6, 2008 @ 5:28pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Hey Winona,

  You’re wrong. AFTRA’s style of negotiating is the pants around the ankles style. Conceding to everything the other side demands is weak and it’s only being done so AFTRA leadership can gain jurisdiction. It’s SAD is what it is. I can only hope all self-respecting actors shun AFTRA for what it’s doing here, acting the part of AMPTP stooge and a strike finally hits the “moguls” where it hurts. Right up the money chute.

  Comment by Venice — Tuesday May 6, 2008 @ 6:47pm PDT  Reply to this post

• “AFTRA will adhere to a press blackout during the talks.”

  AFTRA will bend over and take a quick deal. And say thank you.

  Look there’s something to being said for keeping people working. The writer’s strike shows us all that. But to KNOWINGLY betray your membership is just plain stupid. And greedy. If there’s ANYONE at AFTRA with half a conscience, please put up a fight. All of our futures depend on it.

  Peggy Lane O’Rourke

  Comment by Peggy Lane O'Rourke — Tuesday May 6, 2008 @ 6:54pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Let’s see…the A-list actors who open movies or attract Nielsen ratings are completely opposed to a strike. Most working actors were severely hurt by the WGA strike. The entire nation is in/headed toward economic recession with a future that is completely unclear with yet another split decision in the presidential race.

  So does a majority of actors guild, most of whom don’t really make a living acting in SAG projects want to grind the entire industry to a halt? The industry is in transition and truly trying to stay relevant and show Wall Street double digit growth in an ever-increasingly fragmented marketplace in the midst of a digital transition. Not to mention, big companies coast to coast are laying off tens and even hundreds of thousands of employees, taking away pension plans.

  Nikki, use your powers to break news not fan flames.

  Comment by A concerned reader — Tuesday May 6, 2008 @ 10:58pm PDT  Reply to this post

• In speaking with an AFTRA,uh, member…SAG has been meeting with them during negotiations to fill them in on what has been happening at the table. Thank god for some sort of relationship between our Actor’s unions.

  “Indeed, the negotiations were thrust into reverse by SAG’s persistent refusal to acknowledge that the three deals already struck with the writers, directors and AFTRA reflect the economic realities faced by everyone in our industry, including actors.”

  WHAT PART OF THE OBVIOUS FACT THAT ACTORS, WRITERS & DIRECTORS ALL HAVE DIFFERENT ISSUES AND AGREEMENTS AFFECT US ALL DIFFERENTLY?!

  Christ AMPTP! Who the hell does your press release? Marc Cherry? About the only thing you do is keep the tone going of a disapproving parent. Brilliant.
  Nice to hear Nick Counter actually WANTED to stay negotiating w/ SAG & WANTED to make a deal yet was even undercut by AMPTP wanting to play the AFTRA card.
  They see AFTRA as an easy lay.

  Library clips are the sore point and they want actors to sign away their rights (THE ENTIRE LIBRARY!)with one blanket agreement. This, in order to compete in the Internet (NEW MEDIA) market. It’s where the kids are today, quick bytes to send a message and they want it for FREE. This isn’t SIT N’SLEEP-, Please Kim, Roberta & yes, even Matt- don’t kill us on this one.

  AMPTP=Actor’s Must Prepare To Pray

  Comment by AnotherAcronym — Wednesday May 7, 2008 @ 11:08am PDT  Reply to this post

• How many of you would give away your “name, likeness, and performance” for free?

  How many of you would accept the three “bad” deals the DGA, WGA, have made and the deal AFTRA will make just to keep on not working?

  Comment by Muriel Minot — Wednesday May 7, 2008 @ 2:17pm PDT  Reply to this post