LOS ANGELES AND NEW YORK (Feb. 27, 2010) --- The National Board of Directors of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), a national union of more than more 70,000 performers, journalists, broadcasters, recording artists and other talent working in the entertainment and news media, met today by videoconference plenary in Los Angeles and New York.
The AFTRA National Board unanimously voted to approve a recommendation by a subcommittee of the AFTRA Strategy Cabinet to formally engage in joint bargaining under Phase One terms with Screen Actors Guild (SAG) for the AFTRA Primetime Television Contract (Exhibit A of the Network Television Code) and the SAG Television and Theatrical Agreement and under the existing AFL-CIO-facilitated No Raiding/Non-Disparagement Agreement between the two unions. No wages and working conditions meetings or negotiations are scheduled at this time.
The approved motion reads:
“The AFTRA National Board approves conducting the preparation for, negotiation and administration of the 2011 AFTRA Exhibit A Agreement and SAG TV/Theatrical Agreement jointly with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) under the terms of the Phase One Agreement, as Phase One has been applied in the past, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the AFL-CIO-facilitated Agreement for Negotiation of Commercials Contracts Under the Phase One Agreement (“The Commercials Agreement”). Staff is directed to prepare and execute an agreement that is identical to the Commercials Agreement to cover negotiations of the Exhibit A Agreement and SAG TV/Theatrical Agreement and forward same to
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The SAG National Board of Directors met via videoconference in Los Angeles and New York:
Los Angeles, (January 31, 2010) - Screen Actors Guild National Board of Directors voted today to seek engagement with AFTRA in a joint bargaining agreement for negotiation of the Television/Theatrical Contract. Approved 82 to 18 percent, the resolution states:
“It was moved and seconded that in light of SAG's historically productive negotiating partnership with AFTRA, the SAG National Board of Directors directs President Ken Howard and National Executive Director David White to seek engagement with AFTRA in a joint bargaining agreement for negotiation of the Television/Theatrical Contract, under the terms of Phase One, modeled on the agreement used successfully in the 2009 Commercials Contract negotiations. President Howard and NED White shall bring a recommendation to the National Board at the earliest opportunity.”
Screen Actors Guild President Ken Howard said, “I am very pleased with the vote and thank the Board for their leadership and foresight on this important issue. I so appreciate the Board’s cooperative spirit in this discussion and throughout the day, and feel confident that our Guild is moving in the right direction.”
In other actions, the National Board voted unanimously to create a National Performance Capture Committee to address the unique concerns and experiences of members who render performances that are recorded using “performance capture” technology across all media, and to advise the Guild on all matters pertaining to work in this rapidly growing area.
The board also approved
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It wasn't The Hurt Locker. Hmm. The Screen Actors Guild presented its Actor statuette for the outstanding motion picture and primetime television performances of 2009 at the “16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards” today at the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center and simulcast by TNT and TBS. Ballots to choose the recipients were sent to the nearly 100,000 active members of Screen Actors Guild nationwide.
Sandra Bullock presented Betty White with Screen Actors Guild’s highest honor, the 46th Annual Life Achievement Award, following a filmed tribute.
Tonight's winners for the 16th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards are:
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS (The Weinstein Company/Universal Pictures)
DANIEL BRÜHL / Fredrick Zoller
AUGUST DIEHL / Major Hellstrom
JULIE DREYFUS / Francesca Mondino
MICHAEL FASSBENDER / Lt. Archie Hicox
SYLVESTER GROTH / Joseph Goebbels
JACKY IDO / Marcel
DIANE KRUGER / Bridget Von Hammersmark
MÉLANIE LAURENT / Shosanna
DENIS MENOCHET / Perrier LaPedite
MIKE MYERS / General Ed French
BRAD PITT / Lt. Aldo Raine
ELI ROTH / Sgt. Donny Donowitz
TIL SCHWEIGER / Sgt. Hugo Stiglitz
ROD TAYLOR / Winston Churchill
CHRISTOPH WALTZ / Col. Hans Landa
MARTIN WUTTKE / Hitler Read More »
There's no announcement by SAG, but Ken Howard in his capacity as the new Screen Actors Guild president is scheduled to speak at the 2010 International CES, the world's largest consumer tech tradeshow which promotes and interacts with the products and technologies shaping the consumer technology world. This year's runs January 7-10 in Las Vegas. Howard will hold forth at CES' UpNext, a new conference program "focused on ideas and strategies for producing, promoting and profiting from media content". Hmm, I wonder what he'll say about SAG's New Media contract with the studios/networks that Howard's SAG National Majority didn't bother to negotiate in the last go-round.
Los Angeles, California (Dec. 17, 2009) - Nominees for the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® for outstanding performances in 2009 in five film and eight primetime television categories and for the SAG honors for film and television stunt ensembles were announced this morning in Los Angeles. The 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will be simulcast live nationally on TNT and TBS on January 23rd. Recipients of the stunt ensemble honors will be announced from the SAG Awards red carpet during the TNT.TV and TBS.COM live pre-show webcasts. Of the top industry accolades presented to performers, only the Screen Actors Guild Awards are selected solely by actors' peers. Two randomly selected panels - one for television and one for film-each comprised of 2,100 Guild members from across the United States, chose this year's Actor and stunt ensemble honors nominees. Awards ballots will be mailed on December 29th. The entire active membership of the Guild across the country, numbering approximately 100,000 actors, will vote on all categories. Ballots must be received by noon on January 21st.
THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
JEFF BRIDGES / Bad Blake - "CRAZY HEART" (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
GEORGE CLOONEY / Ryan Bingham - "UP IN THE AIR" (Paramount Pictures)
COLIN FIRTH / George Falconer - "A SINGLE MAN" (The Weinstein Company)
MORGAN FREEMAN / Nelson Mandela - "INVICTUS" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
JEREMY RENNER / Staff Sgt. William James - "THE HURT LOCKER" (Summit Entertainment)
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I understand that no one on the SAG board who clashed with the AMPTP's Nick Counter during the long and bitter 2008/2009 round of negotiations before the Unite For Strength/NY/Regional divisions came to power are being allowed to have their say about his passing. But the Screen Actors Guild issued a statement tonight that, "It is with sadness that we mark the passing of Screen Actors Guild’s longtime industry colleague, Nick Counter."
Strangely because he barely negotiated against Counter, SAG National Executive Director David White joined newly elected SAG president Ken Howard in issuing the following statement: "Nick Counter was a giant of labor relations whose passing will be mourned throughout the entertainment industry. His long tenure as head of the AMPTP was typified by reason, compassion and flashes of wry humor. Sitting across the table from him was never easy, but Nick was always able to balance the relentless pursuit of his bargaining objectives with an evident respect for actors and admiration for their unique contribution to the art and business of entertainment. His death is a tremendous loss and our hearts and sympathies go out to his wife Jackie, his family, and to our colleagues at the AMPTP."
Screen Actors Guild Senior Advisor John McGuire was quoted as saying, "Throughout his years as the leader of the AMPTP, Nick brought to that organization balance, leadership and a commitment to finding ways to keep the Industry working for the benefit of everyone. SAG members ... Read More »
UPDATES UPDATE: SAG's David White To Be Hired Without Official Search Or Vetting
Well, the Big Media moguls have told me they like this guy. Which is good or bad depending on a SAG member's point of view. He was never vetted by the SAG leadership for his interim appointment. He never questioned any of the key terms of the most recent Theatrical/TV contract except for the date it would expire. And now he has been appointed to permanent status without SAG enlisting an official search committee.
Los Angeles (October 18, 2009) -- Screen Actors Guild announced today that its National Board of Directors appointed David P. White as National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator. White has been serving as the Guild’s Interim National Executive Director since January of this year.
The board approved a two-year contract, by a vote of 70.91% to 29.09% at its national board meeting in Los Angeles this weekend.
Screen Actors Guild National President Ken Howard commented, "I am very pleased that our board has selected David White as National Executive Director. David is a highly skilled professional, with a remarkable ability to listen to the concerns of all sides of complex issues. He is respected by members and staff and I am confident that under his leadership, the Guild will continue building on the achievements he has overseen in the
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UPDATE: This just in -- SAG sources claim arrangements have been made for Ken Howard to participate for part of Sunday's meeting with membership via video conference. As of Friday night, Ken Howard was not attending or chairing his first National Plenary as SAG's newly elected president. He told SAG leadership he had a previous charity engagement that he couldn't break. He also was not attending or chairing the annual membership meeting Sunday afternoon. One of the issues when Howard was running for the presidency was that he didn't attend enough SAG board meetings.
And David White will be offered a 2-year contract to move from interim to permanent as SAG's National Executive Director and take on the additional title of Chief Negotiator. This, even though he's always claimed to the board and media that he didn't want the gig on a permanent basis. I guess he's changed his mind since SAG is paying him at least $400,000+ annually. And, to date, he still hasn't ever been vetted by the board since that was deliberately bypassed when he was put in the job temporarily. And the SAG leadership majority also will ignore the fact that traditionally a search committee is constituted for this job. There's even less transparency now then ever at SAG.
Los Angeles (Oct. 7, 2009) - The Screen Actors Guild Hollywood Division Board of Directors and New York Division Board of Directors elected the union’s 1st vice president and 2nd vice president on Monday. The Hollywood Division Board re-elected by acclamation Anne-Marie Johnson to the position of 1st vice president of Screen Actors Guild. The 1st vice president also serves as chair of the Hollywood Division Board. The New York Division Board elected Division President Mike Hodge to the position of 2nd vice president.
1st Vice President Anne-Marie Johnson said, "I am honored to have been re-elected 1st vice president of the Screen Actors Guild and I hope to continue to help lead with honesty, inclusion and determination. We are and will be facing extraordinary challenges and it is my responsibility, as SAG's 1st V.P., to do my best to continue to put the concerns and well being of SAG members first.
"I would again like to thank and express my deepest appreciation to Alan Rosenberg for his tireless dedication and love for this union, and to Connie Stevens for her hard work on behalf of the members. I look forward to serving alongside President Ken Howard, Secretary-Treasurer Amy Aquino and the newly elected and returning SAG board members. For the union’s sake, I hope we find that we have more in common with regard to the future of the Screen Actors Guild than it may appear."
New York Division President and 2nd ... Read More »
I can confirm that there is NO truth to that ridiculously wrong Internet report that newly elected SAG president Ken Howard has undergone back surgery and has already handed over his office at 5757 Wilshire Blvd to newly elected Secretary-Treasurer (and fellow Unite For Strength camper) Amy Aquino. In fact, Ken made an appearance on Fox Business just yesterday. SAG sources tell me he's fine, he didn't have surgery, he's not resigning or giving up his digs at 5757 Wilshire Blvd, and Aquino is not taking over or occupying his office. All I can say is that SAG members deserve the truth from all sides, and you'll read it here.
Los Angeles (October 2, 2009) — Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) today announced they have reached tentative agreements with video game companies on new contracts. The agreements -- which become effective upon ratification and remain in full force until March 30, 2011 – achieve parity between the AFTRA and Screen Actors Guild contracts and include contemporaneous expiration dates of March 30, 2011.
In addition, the contracts deliver a 3 percent wage increase upon ratification for SAG, thereby bringing SAG’s wages into parity with AFTRA’s, and another 2.5 percent increase on April 1, 2010, for both unions. Both pacts contain increases in benefit contributions and a liquidated damages provision to incentivize employers to give notice of vocally stressful work.
The contracts also establish a new category of performance for “atmospheric voices” that is designed to increase work opportunities for union performers by allowing Producers the flexibility to record multiple minor character voices in a single session. The agreements also establish a cap of $125,000 on contributions to the AFTRA Health and Retirement and SAG Pension and Health funds. The cap will only apply to performers who are paid more than $125,000 by a single producer in a single year for work done on the same game franchise.
The tentative agreements must be approved by Screen Actors Guild’s National Board of Directors and the AFTRA Administrative Commitee, both of which will meet in the coming weeks.
Highlights of these agreements include:
- The achievement of parity between the
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Refresh for breaking news...
5th UPDATE: One interesting note which both sides have pointed out to me tonight. If the SAG presidency race had just consisted of Unite For Strength's Ken Howard and Membership First's Anne-Marie Johnson (without spoiler Seymour Cassell whose positions were extremely hardline), then Johnson would have won the popular vote. More on this in a SAG/WGA election analysis I'm writing tonight.
4TH UPDATE: Here's the official SAG announcement, finally:
KEN HOWARD ELECTED AS SCREEN ACTORS GUILD PRESIDENT;
AMY AQUINO ELECTED AS SECRETARY-TREASURER
Guild Also Announces Results of National Board Elections
Los Angeles (September 24, 2009)—Screen Actors Guild today announced results of elections for its top two elected positions. Ken Howard will serve as Screen Actors Guild president and Amy Aquino will serve as secretary-treasurer. Both will serve two-year terms beginning September 25.
Ballots were mailed to 99,485 paid-up SAG members on August 25, and 27,295 were tabulated today, for a return of 27.44 percent. Presidential candidates Ken Howard received 12,895 votes, with Anne-Marie Johnson coming in second with 8,906 votes, Seymour Cassel got 4,838 votes, and Asmar Muhammad received 402 votes.
“I’d like to be among the first to extend my heartfelt congratulations to our newly elected Screen Actors Guild national leadership. I look forward to working closely with our new president, Ken Howard, and new secretary-treasurer, Amy Aquino, as we focus on the wide range of critical issues facing our members in the coming year,” said SAG Interim National Executive Director David White. “I also extend my thanks, and the gratitude of SAG
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UPDATE: The Screen Actors Guild said it's expecting to have results in the national officer and NY division election around 3 PM PDT Thursday, and a live announcement and statement would follow shortly thereafter. Results in the remaining division elections are expected around 5 PM. So hang in there, Hollywood. This will be over shortly.
UPDATED: I've received permission from both Unite For Strength's Ken Howard and Membership First's Anne-Marie Johnson to run their email exchange about holding a debate between both presidential candidates. Problem is, each candidate wanted different formats. Howard wanted a written debate of questions and answers posted on a website. Johnson wanted a live debate. "I had concerns about the format she was insisting on and asked twice if we could speak to discuss it and perhaps find a mutually agreeable arrangement," Howard emailed me. "However, I did suggest that Anne-Marie and I take questions together on public radio. She agreed and volunteered to speak with producers about it." Johnson informed me KPCC had no time because of the fires to do what Howard suggested. Since these emails were sent, KTLA Morning Show reporter Sam Rubin challenged Howard to debate Johnson live on air. It hasn't happened. The emails are in reverse order so start at the bottom of the post:
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From: Anne-Marie Johnson
Date: August 25, 2009 10:53:12 PM PDT
To: [KPCC]
Subject: SAG presidential interview
Hello Aimee;
Brian Watt was nice enough to forward your email address.
I'm running for president of SAG. I've tried to arrange for a debate but unfortunately my opponents have refused. One of my opponents, Ken Howard, suggested a joint in-studio interview on the Patt Morrison show. Instead of waiting for his people to pursue this idea, I'm taking it upon myself to reach out to you to see if there would be any interest.
The ballots were mailed today, August 25th. I was thinking
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It was Ken Howard who started the nastiness from the get-go in this SAG election when, right out of the gate, the Unite For Strength presidential candidate shat on Membership First when he declared. Now here's a pro-Unite For Strength poster making the rounds in emails and on telephone poles (this was snapped in Los Feliz) which shows Ken Howard with a weapon in his hand as if he's gunning down the opposition. Howard needs to denounce it. I also was sent a pro-Membership First poster which doesn't even begin to compare in nastiness.
SAG presidential candidate Anne-Marie Johnson provided this Q-&-A with membership in Los Angeles on August 27th. Here are Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:
Part 4:
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