Friday, November 27, 2020
Actors’ Equity, SAG-AFTRA Settle Dispute Over Filmed Theatre
AMERICAN THEATRE: Actors’ Equity Association and Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) have announced that the two unions, which had spent months at odds over recorded theatre contracts, have reached an agreement on the coverage of live theatre “that is recorded or streamed for exhibition for a remote audience.” The tentative agreement was reached on Nov. 14 and was then unanimously approved by the SAG-AFTRA National Board and Actors’ Equity Association National Council on Nov. 19. The full eight-page agreement is available online.
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6 comments:
A conclusion to what was looking like a very loud and messy clash between two very powerful unions. I’m glad that there was a resolution reached, and I’m not surprised that a part of that agreement was clearing defining what theatre looks like in the pandemic. However, I am curious about the defined pandemic period that extends to the end of the next calendar year. It feels like a lot of the digital theatre that is being created now also feel like feasible programs or events to have in a non-pandemic world too, so when the pandemic period comes to a close, I have a feeling that this argument might resurface. I wonder if minorly edited, short term streamed theatrical events will stay as a contracted Equity event, or if SAG will try to take that back over once in-person, ticketed event return? Will theatres suddenly become places that generate both live Equity theatre and filmed SAG controlled productions? I guess we’ll find out in December 2021.
Like many others I am glad to see this resolved, albeit temporarily. I am hoping that the two unions can work out a more solid, long term deal that both sides will be happy with. It would not benefit anyone on the theatre side of things if SAG-AFTRA forced theatres to lose the rights gained under this agreement. Not allowing theatres to be in-charge of their own streaming rights can cause many groups to no longer produce work for a wider pandemic audience. Not every theatre actor is a SAG member, nor do some want to be. Going back to before would force many to either join a union that they don’t want to or leave the industry since there will be no work for them. It is also, in a way, not fair to strictly SAG actors either since many movie productions are still shut down. Maybe if SAG would let Equity handle the theatre side and focus on getting their film and TV actors back to work, we would all be in a better place. Equity has a challenge ahead. Let’s hope they rise to the occasion.
I found this article very interesting. Earlier this year I had read an article about how SAG- AFTRA and the Actors Equity had been fighting over this dispute, so its great that they were able to find a solution to the matter. Although I find some of the circumstances odd. Like how the audience is limited to none more than 200% of the theatre capacity. Guess they would sell tickets to the recorded performances , but I don't see why they would have to cap the ticket sales. I also saw some controversy over the fact that it cant be broadcast on a paid for streaming platform. More familiar to broadway would be like Broadway HD or Digital Theatre Plus, But I know that they newly announce that the Princess Diana musical that was to premier on broadway will now be recorded and presented on netflix, I wonder how they will get around that.
It is hopeful to see any new developments made in the theater world during the pandemic. Although this is only a temporary fix with a set deadline, which I typically argue against, I feel like a temporary solution is the most appropriate answer in this situation. I doubt and hope that we will not run up against December 31st 2021, so I am impressed that the organizations set their solution out that far in the future. I am sure workers that are apart of these organizations are at least feeling a sense of relief having some substantial information for once, and now know how to plan for what to do next. What can and cannot be defined as virtual theater seems very blurry, and I wonder if shows will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Despite this, however, the two organizations appear to have defined their specifics as much as they can amidst blurred lines. I hope this temporary solution works for the better in the short term, and increases communication between the two organizations in the long term.
I am very happy that these two unions, SAG-AFTRA and Actors Equity, have finally come to an agreement regarding filmed Theatre and what falls under whose jurisdiction. Earlier this year, I read the article that highlighted the problem that was happening with the two unions, both of which represent hundreds of thousands of industry professionals. No one could have foreseen us falling into this predicament a year ago, for years it has been clear cut that SAG AFTRA deals with live recorded shows and performance in film and television, while Actors Equity represents stage managers and performers of theatre. With the shutdown of live theatre for the foreseeable future, there were major disputes regarding who gets to cover the live recorded elements of theatre since it seemed to be an overlap between the two unions. They did the right thing by sitting down with one another to reach a compromise for the better good of both of their members, people are really struggling right now and are just trying to feed their families, so it is comforting to see that they have the well being of their members in mind.
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