DGA Reaches Four-Year Deal with Studios, Secures Job Protections and AI Safeguards
7 verified6 unconfirmed
The Directors Guild of America has reached a tentative four-year contract agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The deal includes provisions aimed at protecting jobs for career directors by limiting actors and other production staff without directing experience from taking director roles on television series. The contract also secures significant increases in employer contributions to the union’s health plan, along with new rules addressing the use of generative artificial intelligence, including transparency and notice requirements. Studios have committed to having senior executives participate in lobbying for a federal tax incentive to bring production back to the U.S. The agreement requires ratification by the DGA’s 19,500 members by June 25. The deal comes amid a downturn in production employment that has concerned the union.
What’s verified
The DGA reached a tentative four-year contract with the AMPTP.
The deal limits actors and other production staff without directing experience from directing episodes on TV series to preserve jobs for career directors.
Employer contributions to the DGA health plan will increase significantly, with one source noting the increase is the largest-ever, and both sources confirming higher contributions and raised contribution caps.
The contract includes new AI protections, such as keeping AI-generated footage under a director’s creative control and requiring transparency and notice regarding AI training.
Studios agreed to have senior executives participate in lobbying for a federal tax incentive to boost U.S. production.
The DGA has 19,500 members.
The deal must be ratified by the membership, with a ratification vote ending June 25.
Not yet confirmed
One source reported a 40% downturn in production jobs over the last four years, while a separate source reported a 35% drop in television employment and an 8-12% drop in film employment in 2024.
DGA president Christopher Nolan praised the deal in a message to members, according to one source.
One source reported that the deal includes a 2.5% wage increase in the first year and 3% in subsequent years.
One source noted that the health plan lost $43 million in recent fiscal years.
One source stated that the contract requires TV series to include a “pilot directed by” credit on every episode.
One source reported that the parties agreed to negotiate a documentary agreement within 90 days.
Key figures
Christopher Nolan (DGA president), Russell Hollander (DGA national executive director), Gregory Hessinger (AMPTP president)
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter
