When the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists announced that they'd be mailing home ballots for member to vote on a potential merge, some Hollywood folk weren't happy. A group of SAG members, including Martin Sheen and Ed Harris, filed a lawsuit to try to block the vote from taking place. more ›

Actor's unions SAG and AFTRA are on the verge of a merger, but a handful of prominent SAG members filed a lawsuit yesterday in an attempt to keep the two groups from joining forces. NBC Los Angeles reports that Martin Sheen, Ed Harris and Nancy Sinatra are among the members upset about the potential merge. more ›

Well folks, it looks like the woman suing IMDb for posting her real age has come to a crossroads: "Jane Doe" was told that she either needed to reveal her identity publicly, or the case would be dropped. The decision was issued Friday by U.S. District Court Judge Marsha Pechman, according to The Hollywood Reporter. more ›

Leaders of SAG and AFTRA held a closed-door meeting on Tuesday night in Los Angeles to hear opinions on the possibility of merging the two unions, reports the Hollywood Reporter. According to sources, approximately 235 attendees were split roughly 50-50 for and against such a decision. more ›

After more than two months of negotiations, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) have reached a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers for a three year contract that includes a increase in benefit contributions and a wage increase of six percent. Before going into effect in July (when the current contracts expire) it will first need to be approved by a joint board for the unions and union members, reports CBS local. more ›

Crisis averted (for some) in Hollywood: "A union that represents more than 35,000 film and television workers has approved a three-year contract with Hollywood producers," according to cbs2.com. The new contract goes into effect on the 1st of August, and was unanimously endorsed by all 15 Hollywood local groups of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). Reflected in the new contract are "some modest pay hikes but also cuts in health and pension benefits." Although some members of the longstanding union felt their leaders were negotiating outside their best interests, the majority were eager to get the contract settled, particularly in light of "the industry's recent struggles." more ›

It was looking to possibly be a dramatic summer when the Screen Actors Union and movie studios were scrambling to renew their contract with each other before it ended. But the contract expired, no deal was made (but AFTRA's deal was) and here we are months later. more ›

The votes came in and were counted: members of AFTRA--the nation’s second largest performers’ union--overwhelmingly voted to ratify a contract with the AMPTP, who represents movie studios and producers, by a 62.4% margin. more ›

The Screen Actors Guild announced today that they will "present its response" to the "last best final" contract offer by movie studios and producers, who hope it will be accepted. With that, Nikki Finke opines: "... the Big Media companies are prepared to play hardball. I forsee a repeat of what happened during the lowest ebb of the writers strike: the AMPTP walks away from the talks and issues an ultimatum to SAG to take certain demands off the table. Whether this speeds up or slows down an eventual contract settlement remains to be seen." more ›

No deal has been met between the the Screen Actors Guild and the movie studios and producers, who have given their "last best final" offer. Right now, it's all about back and forth information sharing as they look over the offer. more ›

SAG and AMPTP met yesterday afternoon to discuss the new contract offered by the movie studios. Hours before the contract expired on Tuesday at 12:01 a.m., AMPTP offered the actors their "final offer," which SAG had many questions about yesterday. SAG is now going back to analyze and review AMPTP's proposal. But all of this is a waiting game until July 8 when the other and smaller actors union, AFTRA, announces if their disputed bad deal with the studios was ratified or not. "Then," Nikki Finke correctly notes, "Hollywood travels into uncharted territory." more ›

Now that the contract between the largest actors guild and the movie studios has expired, with talks to resume Wednesday, the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers is using a tactic on their website to show the economic pain the actors will supposedly cause if they authorize a strike. Two flash animation boxes on their homepage give out these statistics based on an Milken Institute study (for the writers strike) and Screen Actors Guild's reported earnings. more ›

Day 42 into the negotiations between the Screen Actors Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and no result. The contract expires Tuesday at 12:01 a.m. and the next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday. more ›

That was what the AMPTP reportedly said when negotiations first began with the SAG. But that's just one option that SAG says will not happen. The Hollywood reporter breaks down how it could play out if no deal is reached by tonight's deadline: "They could negotiate a contract extension, which could be by day, week or month, and keep talking; the studios could lock out the actors; or SAG could seek a strike-authorization vote from its membership, which will be at least a two-week process as the negotiating committee must vote on whether to bring a strike." more ›

Today, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers took out an ad (to the left) in both Variety and Hollywood Reporter stating their concerns over another strike. more ›

Movie studios are preparing for the worst, an actors strike, which could begin in July if contract talks go sour, according to the LA Times: more ›

Studio Reps: "'Frustrated and discouraged' at the guild's attitude." more ›

Screen Actors Guild members outside of Los Angeles are reportedly fuming over Monday's rally, which was billed as a pro-SAG "solidarity" event, but ended up having anti American Federation of Television and Radio Actor tones. Around 500 actors and supporters of the movement rallied outside SAG's Wilshire Blvd. headquarters chanting "Vote No!" more ›

Although the Screen Actors Guild said today was a "solidarity" rally, Variety plainly headlines the event: "SAG rallies against AFTRA, Guild member encourage to vote down deal." more ›

UPDATE: About 500 people showed for the rally. See photos here.

The AP reports that the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) have cut a 3-year deal with the studios so now the pressure is really on the SAG. AFTRA runs a distant second in terms of size (70,000 vs 120,000+) compared to the SAG but if that organization could find enough terms to their liking in the offer from the studios, the SAG is going to have a hard time pushing away from the table before the end of their contract in late June. more ›

• Hey, who's ready for another strike? The actors might be after the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists voted to split with the Screen Actors Guild, heightening fears that Hollywood may be in for another work stoppage. The last one cost Los Angeles County more than $1 billion. Time to switch from Whole Foods to Trader Joes, actors.
• OK, so the Dodgers lost last night, but the experience was pretty frickin' awesome. If you were not one of the 100 grand lucky enough to attend, read some prose from DodgerThoughts and view some of the sights from what was a very special day and night. But, it wasn't all pretty, the Daily News found.
• Guess who does not like Sam Zell. I'll give you a hint: most people.
• Former Laker, et al, Isaiah Rider was arrested Saturday and released Sunday for driving an allegedly stolen vehicle. This follows a string of arrests for the former basketball star who told courts that his life had spun out of control.
• A mom who stands accused of driving her son and a car full of other gang members to kill a 13-year-old will be tried for murder and could face the death penalty. Police say the mother plotted the attack.
• "There’s a crisis in L.A. city hall," City Councilman Dennis Zine said to LA City Beat about the city's financial deficit. By July 4, Los Angeles could be in a $400 million hole. Better get used to those potholes.
• Shoving matches, tense confrontations and police back-up have characterized a terse and ongoing battle for the state of Texas. First Clinton won the primary, then Obama won the caucus. Now no one is sure who should get all those extra delegates. more ›