DGA Negotiations Update (November 26, 2007)

Dear Members,

As you know, the Writers Guild and the AMPTP have agreed to resume negotiations on November 26. It is the sincere hope of the DGA that these talks lead to a fair deal that will bring the current strike to an end.

There has been much speculation about when the DGA will begin its own negotiations with the AMPTP. As you know, the DGA has a history of starting negotiations early. Indeed, in the past two negotiations cycles in 2001 and 2004, the DGA had already concluded its negotiations by this time in the process. It’s been our experience that, in order to avoid the costs of stockpiling scripts, rushing films into production, and upsetting the marketing pipeline, the studios are willing to pay a premium for an early deal. We also believe that DGA members appreciate the stability and certainty provided by an early deal.

This year, our timing has been affected by the WGA’s negotiations with the AMPTP, which did not begin in earnest until October and then quickly broke down. Although our own clock has been ticking, the DGA has refrained from initiating our usual process while the WGA was trying to make its deal.

We have not yet decided when we will begin our negotiations. Nonetheless, preparations are ongoing. Since our last communication to members in October, the Negotiations Committee has met twice and will meet again on December 6. We continue to prepare both on a staff level and in consultation with our subcommittees and outside experts to help us determine what our priorities should be and what the future will look like. The situation is fluid and we are watching developments closely.

The DGA has a duty to you and all our members to negotiate our industry agreements in a manner that best serves the interests of our membership. We cannot and will not delegate our responsibility to negotiate your contract to someone else. We must decide for ourselves, as have the writers, when and how we can make the best deal for our members and what our priorities are.

Again, we hope the writers and the employers can come to an agreement. A fair agreement and an end to the current work stoppage would be the absolute best outcome for our members, our fellow Guilds, and our industry.

We will continue to keep you updated as we move forward. For the latest information, remember to go to the Negotiations Update section here on the “Members only” section of www.dga.org. We will post bulletins as events develop. We will also continue to communicate important information to you through the DGA Monthly and member letters.

Although this is a time of great uncertainty, your Guild is strong, confident, and prepared to take on the challenges ahead.

Sincerely,