Casting directors, assistants and coordinators have come to an agreement with major Hollywood studios on a new work contract. Negotiators representing the casting workers and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) made the deal just before their current agreement expired on September 30th.
The agreement covers professionals working in Los Angeles and New York City. Teams of representatives from casting unions Local 399 and Local 817 met with AMPTP leaders for intensive discussions. In a joint statement, the unions said their negotiators “fought until the end to get a deal that members will support.”
This contract is notable because it protects casting assistants, a group that recently voted to join the Teamsters union. Casting assistants wanted higher pay and better protections like other film and TV crew members have. Lindsay Dougherty from the Teamsters’ Motion Picture Division had emphasized last month how important casters are to making productions successful. “Casting sets the foundation for any project,” Dougherty said.
TEAMSTERS LOCAL 399 & 817 REACH TENTATIVE AGREEMENT W/ AMPTP FOR CASTING 👊
Our member-led negotiating committee fought until the bitter end for a tentative agreement that is being unanimously recommended for ratification. pic.twitter.com/EWdYtP2NPf— Teamsters Local 399 (@Teamsters_399) September 27, 2024
Other Hollywood unions, including SAG-AFTRA, the Directors Guild of America and the Writers Guild of America, showed solidarity with the casting workers during talks. In an August statement, the unions said casters “work closely with our members to bring creative visions to life.”
While specific contract details wait to be approved, union leaders support the deal. Casting union members will vote next week on whether to accept the new agreement, which could influence future negotiations in the industry. This comes amid ongoing discussions between studios and other Hollywood unions like the Animation Guild. As production models change, this contract may guide future deals across the entertainment business.
