*Breaking News* SAG Will Start Contract Talks in April

Now that the Directors Guild of America (DGA) and Writers Guild of America (WGA) have reached deals with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television producers (AMPTP), members of Screen Actors Guild (SAG) are starting to feel the pressure to get their talks started with the studio and network bosses. Many want the contract talks to begin as soon as possible, so in response SAG has just announced it will start formal negotiations with the AMPTP this April at the earliest.

In a message sent to members earlier today (Thursday - Feb. 28), SAG president Alan Rosenberg and national executive director Doug Allen said SAG plans to stress the issues of new media, compensation for middle-class actors and forced endorsement on product integration.

SAG’s current contract with the AMPTP expires on June 30, 2008. If no deal is reached by then actors could be on picket lines furthering the slow down begun during the 4 month long writer’s strike.