LA Times is reporting that the DGA and the AMPTP have reached an agreement. It sounds like it was much more reasonable than what was offered the writers:
The contract covering 13,400 members guarantees directors a $1,260 fixed residual payment for one-hour TV dramas streamed over the Internet in the first year, compared with $250 the studios had offered writers. The studios also would be entitled to a 24-day promotional window in the first year, and a 17-day window in the second year. After the first year, writers would receive 2% of the distributor's gross revenue.
When movies are sold online, directors will receive the current DVD royalty, 0.36% on the first 50,000 downloads, and 0.65% thereafter. Directors would get a 0.36% residual for the first 100,000 downloads of their TV episodes, and 0.7% after that.
Directors received jurisdiction over Web episodes based on existing scripted shows and original Web shows above a certain budget threshold. For instance, Web series costing less than $500,000 would be exempted.
The deal contains a so-called revisit clause that allows contract provisions to be adjusted after the three-year term.
So why
SO much better than what was offered writers?
I'm starting to think that there's something to those rumblings (practically conspiracy theories) of studios using the strike to "clean house"...
Story @ LA Times
Michael Eisner says the strike is over.
