Reactions: DGA-AMPTP deal.

Once again, the DGA “drafts” on the WGA strike to negotiate their deal.

The trades are reporting a tentative DGA-AMPTP deal: The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Deadline. Here are deal points:

• Wages and Benefits: Groundbreaking gains in wages and benefits including a 5% increase in the first year of the contract, 4% in the second year and 3.5% in the third year. Additional 0.5% to fund a new parental leave benefit.
• Global Streaming Residuals: Substantial increase in the residuals for dramatic programs made for SVOD by securing a new residual structure to pay foreign residuals. The result is a 76% increase in foreign residuals for the largest platforms so that residuals for a one-hour episode will now be roughly $90,000 for the first three exhibition years.
• Artificial Intelligence: Groundbreaking agreement confirming that AI is not a person and that generative AI cannot replace the duties performed by members.
• Non-Dramatic Programs: Established the industry’s first-ever terms and conditions for directors and their teams on non-dramatic (Variety and Reality) programs made for SVOD. Improved residuals and for the first time, Associate Directors and Stage Managers will now share in the residuals.
• High Budget AVOD Terms and Conditions. Achieved the industry’s first-ever terms, creative rights protections, working conditions and residuals for scripted dramatic projects made for free to the consumer streaming services such as Freevee, Tubi and Roku. Unit Production Managers and Assistant Directors will share in the residuals.
• Feature Directors: Historic first-time compensation for the months of “soft prep” Feature Directors currently perform for free prior to the start of the director’s official prep period.
• Episodic Directors: For Pay TV and SVOD, Episodic Directors won expanded paid post-production creative rights; and gained an additional guaranteed shoot day for one-hour programs — the first additional day added in more than 40 years.
• Reduction in Hours: Unprecedented reduction in the length of the Assistant Director’s day by one hour.
• Safety: Achieved concrete safety advancements including the first-ever pilot program to require the employment of dedicated safety supervisors; expanded safety training programs for both directors and their teams, and the ban of live ammunition on set.

That the DGA would be the first to “successfully” negotiate a new contract was never in doubt. Check this out:

Note the date: May 21st. Now consider Deadline’s headline today:

DGA & Hollywood Studios Reach “Historic” Tentative Deal On New Contract

What is surprising is the timing. The DGA contract doesn’t end until 6/30. Why come to an agreement now? Why not use the end of the contract as leverage to get further concessions? Perhaps a last minute attempt to sway SAG-AFTRA members who are currently voting for strike authorization (that deadline is today)? But certainly a vast majority of SAG members have already voted.

There are a lot of reactions some of which you can read here, here, and here, but my friend Don Winslow sums up my thoughts on the matter:

Then there’s this:

No matter the DGA deal, WGA members will be out on the picket line again today … and tomorrow … tomorrow …

For the latest updates on the strike and news resources as aggregated on Go Into The Story, go here.