Casting directors were able to secure their first union contract in 2005 after a three-year organizing campaign. Hollywood`s next major deal to expire will be SAG-AFTRA`s deal with the advertising industry on March 31, with negotiations set to begin in mid-February. Casting directors and casting staff, represented by Locals 399 and 817, ratified a three-year contract in January and secured significant benefits for the more than 500 members represented by the film`s two locals. SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America received three-year succession contracts in 2017, and the Directors Guild of America entered into its agreement in late 2016. Casting directors were able to secure their first union contract in 2005 after a three-year organizing campaign. Casting directors did not begin negotiations with the AMPTP until November, well after September. 30 Contract expires due to extended negotiations this summer for a successor contract to the West Coast Framework Agreement for approximately 40,000 members of the International Alliance of Theatre Employees. The casting directors have agreed to extend their current contract from September 30 to January 11. During negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers (AMPTP), the steering committee focused on two main issues facing casting professionals: the “stretching” of salaries that occurs when episodic television productions last a long time, and the increase in the salaries of assistant casting directors. Locals and their steering committees recommend ratification of the new pact, on which its concerned members will vote at ratification meetings on January 9 in Los Angeles and New York.

Negotiations on the new deal were postponed to reflect longer-than-usual negotiations on a new IATSE deal, which delayed the start of contract negotiations for Local 399 for film and television, which delayed the start of talks with casting directors. “This was the sixth agreement since this group was organized,” said Tom O`Donnell, director of the Teamsters` Film and Theatre Division and president of Local 817. Casting directors and staff in Los Angeles and New York have ratified a new three-year contract negotiated on their behalf by Teamsters 399 locals in Los Angeles and 817 in New York City. The joint agreement with the management`s AMPTP includes about 400 molding professionals in Los Angeles and about 100 in New York. The negotiations mark a successful conclusion to the three-year round of industry contracts for the film and television industry, which began in 2016 with the DGA, followed by the WGA, SAG-AFTRA, IATSE and Teamsters Local 399, as well as the Basic Crafts unions. No film and television production contracts will expire next year, but SAG-AFTRA will soon sit down with the advertising industry to negotiate a new advertising contract, which expires on March 31. And a week later, the WGA`s 42-year franchise deal with the Association of Talent Agents expires. Both negotiations could pose challenges for industrial peace in the coming year. The terms of the deal are not yet released, but Dayan noted that it does not include any rollbacks. “I want to thank the members of our casting steering committee,” Dayan wrote on the restaurant`s website. “The casting directors and casting staff who made up the committee provided excellent insight into the issues that many casting professionals face, and they were able to provide invaluable feedback and creative insights to address these issues. I would also like to thank Teamsters Local 817 President Tommy O`Donnell and our Teamsters Local 817 siblings who joined us in the negotiations for their support and guidance throughout this process.

“With this agreement, we`ve secured a decent increase in the salaries of associate casting directors, but it still doesn`t reflect the work they do, the experience they have, and the time they invest in each production,” said Gary Zuckerbrod, casting director, steward and local 399 administrator. “After last year`s tragedy in Santa Barbara, we wondered if we should continue with last year`s festival, but we recognized the importance of cinema as a way for people to come together equally to reflect, feel and simply experience art together,” said Roger Durling, Executive Director. After four days of difficult negotiations over 3 months until the end of 2018, a provisional agreement with the AMPTP was reached at the end of December. At the beginning of the negotiations, the steering committee felt that the expansion of the wage problem could be solved by educating the AMPTP on the evolution of episodic television production for casting professionals in the digital age. As part of the new agreement, the AMPTP agreed to include a revised side letter to address future productions. Teamsters Local 399 in Hollywood and Local 817 in New York have reached a preliminary agreement with the management`s ampTP for a new three-year contract for casting directors and casting staff. The joint agreement includes about 400 casting professionals in Los Angeles and about 100 in New York. “We have reached a preliminary agreement with amptp to follow up on our recently extended casting director contract from 2015,” he said.

“As usual, these negotiations were an opportunity to meet the challenges and needs of our casting professionals who are working hard to fight for important victories in your contract with AMPTP. Teamsters Local 399 and our Casting Steering Committee recommend ratification of the contract. Teamsters Local 399 in Hollywood and Local 817 in New York have reached a preliminary agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Local 399 Secretary and Treasurer Steve Dayan announced the news on the local`s website, but did not provide details. Representatives of approximately 500 casting directors and casting associates have reached a preliminary agreement on a three-year follow-up agreement for the framework agreement with Studios and Network. “These were tough negotiations, but we got a good contract for our casting directors and staff,” said Steve Dayan, secretary and treasurer of Teamsters Local 399. This was the last major order we had to negotiate in 2018. The terms of the new contract have not been released, but Dayan said it does not include rollbacks. Casting directors and casting staff have ratified a three-year follow-up agreement for the framework agreement with studios and networks, which covers about 400 professionals in Los Angeles and 100 in New York. “We really wanted to try to make AMPTP understand the importance of what our casting professionals do,” said Bernie Telsey, a member of the steering committee and casting director represented by Local 817 in New York City.

“The work is no longer the same as when we first organized ourselves in 2005. Given the evolution of the industry and the requirements for television casting, this extra time between pre-production and longer episodes must be included in our remuneration. After a long back and forth, I believe ampTP has recognized this and we now have a way forward. “We are very proud of every member of our Local 399 and 817 Casting Steering Committee,” said Steve Dayan, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 399. “Without their support, insight and advice on their pressing issues, we would not have been able to reach a fair and important agreement with the AMPTP.” Casting professionals from California and New York ratify their new agreement with the AMPTP. In today`s film news summary, casting directors have a new framework agreement, Roy Wood, Jr., which hosts the WGA Awards in New York, and the Santa Barbara Film Festival unveils its opening and closing films. In the film and television industry, associate casting directors remained one of the lowest-paid groups for a production. Although the Teamsters have negotiated large hourly wage increases in previous agreements, they still lag behind similar positions in other trades. Representatives from Teamsters Local 399 in Hollywood and Local 817 in New York reached an agreement in principle with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers after four days of discussions last month. Ratification meetings were held on Thursday.

Locals 399 and 817 saw a 26% increase in the first year and a 3% increase in the second and third years. This will allow casting staff to earn up to $19 per hour in the final year of the deal. This round of negotiations also saw an increase in pension contributions from associate casting directors. Please fill out this form, we will try to respond as soon as possible. “We are very proud of every member of our Teamsters Local 399 and Teamsters Local 817 Casting Steering Committee. Without their support, insight and advice on the pressing issues facing our members, we would not have been able to conclude a fair and improved contract with the AMPTP. This group worked well together to get the best possible deal for everyone. Their struggle extended beyond their personal problems in the workplace and really captured the essence of the problems that plagued all of our hard-working casting professionals.

Secretary-Treasurer Steve Dayan. Teamters Local 399`s last contract negotiation of the year with AMPTP was over the agreement with the casting directors. Like all other negotiations with the AMPTP last year, these negotiations were postponed to a later date in the year and a contract extension was filed to ensure there was sufficient time to resolve the issues raised by both parties. .