Actors Guild Suffers Blow as Smaller Union OKs Contract

(NEWSER) - The Screen Actors Guild overwhelmingly approved a new contract tonight with the big Hollywood studios, ending an impasse that raised the threat of another strike in the entertainment industry, reports the LA Times. The approval, pushed by a group of top-tier actors such as George Clooney and Tom Hanks, comes a year after the previous contract expired. More»

Union schedules meeting to iron out division

(NEWSER) - Facing dissent in the rank-and-file, the Screen Actors Guild is delaying a member vote to authorize a strike, the Los Angeles Times reports. The union’s board will push back balloting slated to begin January 2 to “address the unfortunate division and restore consensus” at a special meeting January 12, said SAG’s executive director. "This will provide us with more time to conduct member education and outreach on the referendum before the balloting,” Douglas Allen wrote to members. More»

Most episodes are already filmed

(NEWSER) - No offense, actors, but TV viewers probably wouldn't notice a Screen Actors Guild strike if it happens. Production schedules will suffer, but not nearly like the disruption last year's writers strike caused, reports the Los Angeles Times. Many scripted series are almost done filming for the season, and more of them are now covered by AFTRA, a rival artists agency. More»

Actors, producers battle over internet profits as economy crumbles

(NEWSER) - The Screen Actors Guild will seek a strike authorization vote from members following a breakdown in two days of contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, reports Variety. If approved, the SAG action would be the second major Hollywood strike of the year, following a writers strike that paralyzed the industry. SAG will need at least three weeks to conduct a vote. More»

Hollywood doesn't think union will really head for picket lines

(NEWSER) - The Screen Actors Guild’s contract has expired, but Hollywood remains strangely sublime, Variety reports. This isn’t like the writers strike, conventional wisdom has it, because actors don’t support a strike the way the writers did. “People who are working don't want to go out,” said one agent. After the WGA strike “there are too many people who are just desperate to get something going.” More»