Stalemate between actors' union and studios continues
Thursday, 17 Jul 2008 11:20
Studios and actors' group fail to reach agreement over new pay deal
A 'de facto strike' is looming in Hollywood after studios and an actors' union group failed to reach agreement over a new pay deal.
The Screen Actors' Guild (SAG) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) met for two hours on Wednesday regarding remuneration policies when actors' work is reused on DVD, mobile phones and online.
However, the two sides failed to agree on a package proposed by the AMPTP, with the SAG labelling the $250 million (£126 million) estimated value of the offer as "highly inflated".
Neither side commented on the talks, which could see Hollywood hit by further crippling industrial action just months after the costly writers' strike.
The previous agreement between the SAG and the AMPTP expired on June 30th but with no new contract having been completed, actors are continuing to work under the old deal.
However, many major studios have slowed production over fears of impending labour disputes, creating a 'de facto strike' in the film and television industry.
The latest impasse comes a week after the SAG rejected the AMPTP's final pay offer.
AMPTP spokesman Jesse Hiestand commented: "We made it clear our final is our final and that we're not interested in further counterproposals."