The Directors Guild of America (DGA), whose members include renowned directors Christopher Nolan and Steven Spielberg, has approved a 3-year contract with studios and streamers. The union represents 19,000 directors and directorial team members who would be protected under this deal which builds for the future, acknowledging the rapidly changing and expanding industry.
The tentative deal with Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which stands for top entertainment companies in collective bargaining, was reached close to midnight on Saturday. The union has revealed that the minimum rates in the first year of this contract will be raised by 5%, 4% in the second year, and 3.5% in the third year. The DGA has also secured a new structure for foreign residuals payment that would result in a substantial increase in the residuals for dramatic programs made for SVOD. The larger streamers, according to the agreement, will pay 76% more in foreign residuals.
Feature directors would also have compensation for “soft prep” time, and episodic directors would have more “creative rights” in post-production under this deal. Additionally, the agreement will broach artificial intelligence, although details about this aspect of the deal are vague thus far. The parties have agreed that “AI is not a person and that generative AI cannot replace the duties performed by members.”
The deal is also noted to have several safety features in place, with member safety being one of its priorities. There would be safety supervisors on sets and safety training for members amplified, reflecting SB 735, a bill that the DGA has already been supporting. The agreement would also ban live ammunition on set, which the bill also does in most cases.
Members will vote to ratify the tentative deal, with these announcements coming after negotiations went on for more than a month, beginning on May 10 and ending several days before performers’ union SAG-AFTRA began their own contract with the AMPTP. The union’s national executive director Russell Hollander led the negotiations for the union, while AMPTP president, Carol Lombardini, headed up talks for the AMPTP.
Negotiations such as these are essential given the changing face of the entertainment industry, particularly with the popularity of streaming services. Therefore, the DGA has taken proactive measures to secure a deal that would protect its members. It’s also crucial to take into account the safety of members, which is a top priority in this agreement. Overall, the deal is said to adapt to the changing landscape of the film and television industry, break new ground, and protect the people working in this field, Today and in the years to come.
