The Directors Guild of America (DGA) has introduced a clause in its new contract aimed at restricting actors and other TV series workers from directing episodes. This move is intended to safeguard employment opportunities for professional TV directors.
This clause addresses a significant 40% decline in production jobs over the past four years, which has resulted in many of the union’s 19,500 members being unemployed.
On Tuesday, the DGA reached a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The terms, unveiled on Friday, also encompass measures to protect members’ jobs, increase contributions to the health fund, enhance residuals, and introduce new regulations concerning artificial intelligence.
As outlined in the union’s summary, the contract aims to “preserve valuable episodic directing slots for career directors by limiting the number of episodes that can be directed by those who have no track record in directing and are already employed in other capacities on a scripted series.”
An example of this is Noah Wyle, known for starring in “The Pitt,” who directed an episode in its second season despite having directed on other shows. The provision supports career directors while allowing those committed to developing directing careers to remain active.
The DGA is also committed to ensuring its members can work on U.S. productions abroad. As part of the agreement, a committee will explore the application of the DGA contract outside North America.
Moreover, the union is advocating for a federal tax incentive to repatriate productions from overseas. The studios have agreed that their top executives, along with the Motion Picture Association, will join this lobbying effort.
The agreement also includes revised AI provisions, stipulating that directors retain control over AI-generated footage. It mandates notification of AI training and transparency about AI usage, aligning with terms secured by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA. Additionally, it establishes a new employer-funded program to enhance directors’ AI skills.
Studios have consented to higher contributions to the health plan to keep pace with health inflation and to increase the wage cap subject to contributions.
The deal also obliges the DGA to reduce benefits in some areas, such as by introducing monthly premiums. The trustees of the plan will implement the full changes to the health plan later. Earlier this year, the WGA similarly agreed to considerable cost increases for members in exchange for a significant rise in employer contributions.
The four-year contract is pending ratification by the membership.
