The Directors Guild of America (DGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) agreed today to enter into early contract negotiations. The negotiations will begin on Monday, Nov. 26, 2001, and will be held at AMPTP headquarters in Encino, CA.
“I am pleased that we have agreed to move forward with negotiations,” said Gil Cates, Chairman of the DGA’s Negotiating Committee. “We look forward to reaching resolution on a set of agreements that will address the genuine needs of our members. The DGA leadership also recognizes that hundreds of thousands of artisans and craftspeople depend on television and film production for their livelihood. Given recent events, it is particularly important for our country and for those who work in our industry to keep production healthy and moving at full speed. By beginning our discussions now, we hope to avoid the uncertainty that inevitably comes when negotiations are extended to the hour of expiration.”
The DGA represents over 12,000 members who work in feature film, filmed, taped and live television, commercials and documentaries, including Directors, Unit Production Managers, Assistant Directors, Associate Directors, Technical Coordinators, Stage Managers and Production Associates.
Since 1982, the AMPTP has been the primary trade association with respect to labor issues in the motion picture and television industry. The AMPTP negotiates 80 industry-wide collective bargaining agreements that cover actors, craftspeople, directors, musicians, technicians and writers – virtually all of the people who work on theatrical motion pictures and television programs.
The DGA’s current contract with the AMPTP expires on June 30, 2002.
