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PRODUCERS WARN SAG TO BACK OFF

Producers associations from Canada, the U.K., Ireland, Australia and New Zealand who met in Cannes yesterday are telling producers to work under domestic collective agreements with performers and ignore the Screen Actors Guild°s Rule One. Rule One, which went into effect on May 1, orders SAG members to work under SAG contracts when working abroad in foreign English-speaking countries. The rule is not legally binding since foreign countries are not bound by American collective agreements outside of the United States.

The Canadian Film and Television Production Association, the U.K.°s Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television, Film Makers Ireland, the Screen Producers Association of Australia and the Screen Producers and Directors Association of New Zealand felt it was time to issue a joint statement against the rule. They took the opportunity of attending the Cannes International Film Festival to make the announcement.

Producers from these countries negotiate collective agreements with performer unions in their individual countries; these performer unions, such as Canada°s ACTRA, have the jurisdiction, not SAG.

These producers groups stand united in recognition that a healthy, sustainable film and TV industry is significantly dependent upon their relationships with domestic performers° unions. SAG°s attempt to expand Rule One outside of the U.S. is a direct threat to established collective agreements and could have a serious impact on the film and television economies in these countries.

The CFTPA, PACT/PIRS, FMI, SPAA and SPADA are non-profit trade associations representing producers and companies involved in the film and television production industry. Collectively they represent 2,500 companies globally.

For more information on this, please contact:

Jane L. Thompson
Director of Communications
Canadian Film and Television Production Association

Tel: 613 233 1444 ext 227