DGA national board unanimously approves new film and TV contract

The Directors Guild of America (DGA) national board has unanimously voted to approve a new film and TV contract deal.

The deal provides “significant improvements” for DGA members in categories including wages, global streaming residuals and creative rights.

It will be submitted to DGA members for ratification this week, the DGA said.

Prominent members of the national board include Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan, Ron Howard and Ava DuVernay.

“We set out to negotiate a contract that would build for the future. This is a significant deal with gains for every director, assistant director, unit production manager, associate director and stage manager,” said DGA president Lesli Linka Glatter.

“Along with the rest of the DGA national board, I am proud to enthusiastically recommend this tentative agreement to our members for ratification. Together, we will secure the future we deserve.”

The tentative agreement reached with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) also establishes new provisions confirming that generative AI cannot replace the duties performed by members.

“Across the country, Directors and their teams, writers, actors, crews and drivers have shown unwavering resolve in demanding to share in the success of the films and television shows we create together,” said Glatter.

“We are all union members and deserve to be compensated fairly for our contributions.

Investitures at Buckingham Palace
Director Christopher Nolan also sits on the DGA’s national board (Andrew Matthews/PA)

It comes amid the ongoing strike by the Writers Guild of America (WGA), which began on May 2.

On Monday it was announced that Hollywood actors represented by Sag-Aftra had voted to authorise a strike if their own new contract with major studios, streamers and production companies could not be reached.

Glatter added that the DGA stood “firmly” with members of Sag-Aftra and the WGA in “our shared fight for a vibrant, sustainable industry that fairly values us all.”

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