In response to concerns raised by prominent members of SAG-AFTRA about the granting of interim agreements, union leaders have released a message justifying these pacts. These agreements allow independent productions to continue filming during the ongoing performers’ strike, as they are “entirely independent” from the companies associated with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which has been unable to reach a negotiation agreement with the union. Some exceptions to this rule have been made for projects like “Tehran” due to legal considerations.
The negotiating committee emphasized that the terms and conditions of the interim agreements reflect what SAG-AFTRA is seeking in their ongoing negotiations with the AMPTP. By allowing members to work for non-AMPTP companies, these agreements demonstrate that the wage increases and other terms requested by the union are reasonable and appropriate. However, if a deal is reached with major entertainment companies before projects with waivers are distributed, the terms and conditions of the interim agreements will conform to the final terms of the eventual deal with the AMPTP.
The negotiating committee also stressed the importance of these agreements in directing production budgets towards union-covered projects and union members. By granting interim agreements, SAG-AFTRA aims to discourage the creation of non-union foreign productions and instead support independent producers who are willing to work with the union. They encourage both independent producers to apply for these agreements and SAG-AFTRA members to work on projects that obtain an interim agreement.
These justifications come in response to recent concerns raised by Viola Davis and Sarah Silverman. Davis announced her decision to step away from the MRC film “G20” after it was granted an interim agreement by SAG-AFTRA. Despite MRC not being a member of the AMPTP, Davis felt it was inappropriate for the production to proceed during the strike. Silverman, on the other hand, expressed concerns about independent projects eventually being sold to streaming platforms that are part of the AMPTP. SAG-AFTRA addressed these concerns by stating that the terms of the interim agreements, particularly the streaming revenue share, make distribution of these projects through AMPTP platforms unfeasible until an industrywide agreement is reached.
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The negotiating committee also clarified that the interim agreements do not prolong the strike but instead create competitive pressure on the AMPTP companies. They believe that by continuing to grant interim agreements, the union can maintain leverage in negotiations and push for better terms and conditions for their members.
So far, SAG-AFTRA has granted interim agreements to several projects, including A24’s “Death of a Unicorn” starring Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega, and “Mother Mary” with Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel. Other projects like Hammerstone Studios’ “Flight Risk” with Mark Wahlberg, Out of Order Studios’ television series “The Chosen,” and Balcony 9 Productions’ “Bride Hard” with Rebel Wilson have also received waivers.
In conclusion, SAG-AFTRA’s negotiating committee justifies the granting of interim agreements as a strategic approach during the ongoing strike. These agreements reflect the terms and conditions sought by the union in their negotiations with the AMPTP and aim to support union-covered projects and members. The committee addresses concerns about distribution to AMPTP platforms and emphasizes that the agreements do not prolong the strike but instead create competitive pressure. Overall, the interim agreements serve as a means for the union to maintain leverage and push for better terms and conditions for their members.
