SAG hires PR Firm The Saylor Company to sell Proposed Contract

Photos

SAG Protest 2009

see larger image

uploaded by H_Wood

Videos

Scott Wilson at the DOJ

see larger video

sourced by H_Wood

The current SAG contract issues focus, among other things, on rights associated with work distributed via streaming video. In an effort to help pass the contract SAG has hired the public relations firm The Saylor Company to help sell the proposed contract.

Top executives for cable networks like FOX have suggested they will no longer be airing re-runs on their stations, opting instead to go straight to streaming video online. The current offered contract does not make up for a loss of up to $400 million in network residuals from move over to streaming. Another issue is the loss of  "Clip Consent" wherein actors lose control of product placement as a topic within the script (not just product placement on the set). One of the top priorities in the current Screen Actor's Guild TV/ Theatrical negotiations is the plight of middle-income actors that would be most immediately affected... there is an understandable wariness on the part of certain active members of the Guild asking: "How good can the contract be if they need a high priced “crisis” management PR firm to sell it?"

While it is widely reported that the contract will be ratified there is still a relative lack of unanimity on the part of the Guild and a rally is scheduled for April 29, 2009 11am–2pm at The Saylor Co. 202 S Lake Ave., Pasadena (at SE corner of Lake and Cordova.)

See Also: Tom Hanks, Alec Baldwin back dissidents