Posted in: Movies, streaming, TV | Tagged: amptp, DGA, SAG-AFTRA, wga

SAG-AFTRA, AMPTP Will Be "Working Independently" on Monday: Details

In an update to union members, SAG-AFTRA confirmed that the union & AMPTP will be "working independently" on Monday as negotiations continue.

We have an update to pass along regarding the negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP on a new three-year contract to end the 109-day-long strike. After working over the weekend, the union confirmed in a message to its members that both parties discussed "all open proposals, including AI" over the course of the past two days and that "both parties will be working independently" on Monday – with an update on what the schedule will be for a return to direct talks expected later today. "Over the course of the weekend, we have discussed all open proposals, including AI, with the AMPTP. Both parties will be working independently Monday and re-engage on scheduling at the end of the day," read the message sent out by the SAG-AFTRA TV/Theatrical Negotiating Committee, ending with a reminder to union members to "Join us and flood picket lines in the morning" so that they can "Make your voices heard." Reportedly, AMPTP president Carol Lombardini and SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, and their respective negotiating teams spoke virtually a number of times over the course of Sunday. As was the case on Saturday, Disney's Bob Iger, NBCUniversal's Donna Langley, Warner Bros Discovery's David Zaslav, and Netflix's Ted Sarandos were reportedly not directly involved with those discussions.

SNL: SAG-AFTRA/AMPTP, Fran Drescher & Halloween Guidelines

In the sketch, first-time host/stand-up comedian Nate Bargatze and SNL cast member Ego Nwodim portrayed a couple giving out candy on Halloween night – only to receive a visit from Sarah Sherman's SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher, making sure everyone knows "how to do Halloween during a strike." That means no costumes representing IPs from struck companies – because otherwise, "we would be promoting the companies we're striking against, which makes all of these children a bunch of adorable scabs" (Ryan Reynolds, take note). From there, Drescher offers some advice on other costume options – like "Harry Potter" (but as J.K. Rowling portrays him in her books), lesser-known characters from the Bible (ones that haven't made it to the big or small screens), turning Mario into every cartoon character on every pizza box, etc.

Nwodim's character tells Sherman's Drescher, "That must be exhausting" after Drescher shares that the SAG-AFTRA strike has broken past the 100-day mark. "Hey, did you just call me exhausting? Well, a lot of people have," Sherman's Drescher responded defensively, very possibly a nod to the rollercoaster month that SAG-AFTRA has had (union members offering their own plans to end the strike, the pushback on the Halloween guidelines, etc.). But Sherman didn't forget who the biggest target was in all of this – using a perfect Halloween metaphor to explain what the deal is with AMPTP. "Negotiating with the studios is a lot like trick or treating. You know how you go to the biggest house on the block, and all the lights are off, and they're pretending they're not home? But you can see them through the window eating Kit Kat bars, dozens of Kit Kat bars, billions of Kit Kat bars, record numbers of Kit Kat bars? All actors are saying is, 'Break me off a piece of that Kit Kat bar,'" Sherman's Drescher shared.

Enjoyed this? Please share on social media!

Stay up-to-date and support the site by following Bleeding Cool on Google News today!