The outcome of the Hollywood actors’ contract vote is set to be decided any day now, amidst criticism from some quarters over certain aspects of the proposed deal. The verdict could turn out to be a close one, according to industry sources.
The actors’ union, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) and Hollywood’s major film and television studios have been locked in tense negotiations with each other over the new contract, which covers wages and benefits for an estimated 160,000 performers in the entertainment industry.
According to reports, the new contract includes increases in wages and residuals, as well as additional protections for members of the transgender community. While these provisions of the deal have been positively received, other parts of the contract have come under criticism. In particular, the proposed deal has been criticized for failing to address issues related to ongoing discrimination in the industry, as well as its language related to sexual harassment.
The final vote on the film and television contract of SAG-AFTRA’s members is set to take place within the coming days. If, as expected, the count is very close, there potentially could be recounts, adjournments and an extension of voting, sources said.
No matter the outcome of the vote, the idea that the new contract is far from perfect and worthy of continued scrutiny is likely to linger. As former SAG-AFTRA president Ken Howard stated in a recent essay on the deal, “No one should have any illusions that we have reached the Promised Land”. The deal, he said, was “only a modest beginning, not a giant leap”.
Howard’s words serve as an important reminder that, while the proposed contract is a step forward for many, the industry still has a long way to go to guarantee fair and equal treatment for all actors.
The outcome of the Hollywood actors’ contract vote is set to be decided any day now, amidst criticism from some quarters over certain aspects of the proposed deal. The verdict could turn out to be a close one, according to industry sources.
The actors’ union, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) and Hollywood’s major film and television studios have been locked in tense negotiations with each other over the new contract, which covers wages and benefits for an estimated 160,000 performers in the entertainment industry.
According to reports, the new contract includes increases in wages and residuals, as well as additional protections for members of the transgender community. While these provisions of the deal have been positively received, other parts of the contract have come under criticism. In particular, the proposed deal has been criticized for failing to address issues related to ongoing discrimination in the industry, as well as its language related to sexual harassment.
The final vote on the film and television contract of SAG-AFTRA’s members is set to take place within the coming days. If, as expected, the count is very close, there potentially could be recounts, adjournments and an extension of voting, sources said.
No matter the outcome of the vote, the idea that the new contract is far from perfect and worthy of continued scrutiny is likely to linger. As former SAG-AFTRA president Ken Howard stated in a recent essay on the deal, “No one should have any illusions that we have reached the Promised Land”. The deal, he said, was “only a modest beginning, not a giant leap”.
Howard’s words serve as an important reminder that, while the proposed contract is a step forward for many, the industry still has a long way to go to guarantee fair and equal treatment for all actors.
