After revealing some early details about a tentative deal with studios and streamers on June 3, the Directors Guild of America provided its members with insight. sharper on the agreement, reached during a writers’ strike.
A summary of the deal sent to members of the 19,000-member consortium on Wednesday provided some specifics on the deal’s key benefits and attempts to sell its value to members. members, who will now have time to vote on the proposed deal until the end of June.
One of the much-hyped achievements of the deal is a new formula for SVOD balances based on the platform’s number of foreign subscribers. According to the DGA, this formula would require the largest streaming services to pay $89,415 for balances for one-hour series during the first three years of use (corresponding to a 76% increase in foreign balances). and a 21% increase overall). The global balance for SVOD movies with budgets of at least $13 million grew 34% to $230,250 in the first three years. And the amount left over for titles that have existed on streaming platforms for 13 years rose to $168,773, a 28% increase.
No other specific examples were provided, but the association says the new formula “increases balance across all platforms” and “builds for the future – balances grow as platforms expand across platforms.” Around the world”. In addition, the alliance states that the top-level SVOD remainder of the agreement improves on the rest of the standard network chain.
When it comes to the language of the agreement on the regulation of artificial intelligence, the contract stipulates that the general artificial intelligence is not a person and that the work performed by DGA members must be assigned to one person. Furthermore, “Employers must not use GAI” [generative artifical intelligence] involving creative elements without consulting the Director or other employees covered by the DGA” and leading entertainment companies and unions must meet twice a year to “discussion and negotiation on AI”.
The association also explained the new standard terms of agreements for free AVOD platforms, such as Tubi and Pluto TV, were previously negotiable. The agreement sets out minimum prices, compensation, and “creation rights” for high-budget scenarios that are made for services with less than 20 million subscribers, while the rest, will shared by DGA members in a project, is 2% of the total profit of the employer.
Episode directors won certain creative rights as part of the deal, including notably getting paid extra days in post-production for pay TV series, and High-budget SVOD. Here, the DGA made a concession, agreeing to reduce the annual salary increase for directors in installments (3% in the first year, 2% in the second year, and 1.5% in the third year) compared to the previous years. their remaining members to reach the number of paid days. in the writing. These members can also have earlier notice to provide input on the transmission and receipt of digital copies of their episodes (apparently agreeing with the trend of platforms taking the files). practice as a cost saving measure) as part of the agreement.
Meanwhile, film directors were paid an additional $5,000 per week for up to 10 weeks to make up for “soft prep” time (which begins when at least three crew members are recruited), make up for the long time the helpers have been working for free. The association also extended the director’s cut time for SVOD films with a budget of at least $22.5 million from 4 to 10 weeks, making it “equivalent” to the length available for theatrical films. .
“The Association’s National Council and Negotiating Committee unanimously — and enthusiastically — recommend that you vote YES for the ratification of the Agreements,” wrote Association president Lesli Linka Glatter in an email to members. members on Wednesday night.
A ratification vote, in which members will either green light or reject the deal, begins Wednesday night and will end on Friday, June 23 at 6 p.m. PT.
The union – which not only represents the eponymous role but also represents unit production directors, assistant directors, stage managers and others – has reached an agreement with the Union of Producers. film and television production near midnight on June 3 after a day of negotiations. It provides an overview of the benefits of the agreement for members at the time, revealing that the union salary increase will be 5% in the first year of the contract, 4% in the second year. second and 3.5% in the third year. These are slightly higher than usual, although they raise eyebrows at a time of explosive inflation. In its message on Wednesday, the DGA called the pay increase “the highest three-year pay increase in over 30 years.”
The DGA’s longtime national chief executive officer, Russell Hollander, led the negotiations to form the union along with chair of negotiations Jon Avnet, co-chairs Karen Gaviola and Todd Holland and a committee of more than 80 members, while veteran AMPTP president Carol Lombardini led negotiations on the AMPTP. Thomas Schlamme and Nicole Kassell of the DGA led the union’s negotiations over creative rights.
