DGA Ratifies Four-Year Deal Meant to Protect Members’ Jobs Amid Historic Downturn
The Directors Guild of America has voted to ratify a four-year contract intended to preserve members’ jobs amid a historic downturn in film and TV production.
Christopher Nolan, the DGA president, and Russell Hollander, the national executive director, told members Thursday that the contract had been approved “overwhelmingly.”
“Throughout this process, our focus was clear: protect our members, strengthen the Guild, and address the challenges facing our industry during a period of profound change,” the guild leaders wrote. “This incredible show of support from our membership for this new contract shows the strength of our unity and our solidarity.”
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The deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers puts a limit on actors and other non-directors who want to direct television, allowing them to helm no more than two episodes per season. The provision, which includes various exceptions, is meant to preserve jobs for career TV directors.
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The DGA also secured a promise that senior leaders from some of the major studios will lobby on behalf of a federal tax incentive “when it is strategically advantageous to do so.” A federal production subsidy is a high priority for Hollywood labor, and the unions are eager for the studios to participate fully in the campaign to pass it in Congress, rather than leaving the job solely to the Motion Picture Association.
The deal also includes increased contributions to the DGA health plan, which was on track to exhaust its reserves in 2030. The new contract increases health contributions from 11.25% of compensation to 14%, while also significantly raising health contribution caps.
In exchange, the DGA has agreed to recommend modifications in health benefits to the trustees of the plan, including a higher eligibility threshold and individual premiums. Those modifications were not included in the deal put before members, but must be implemented by Jan. 1, 2027, as a condition of receiving the increased employer contributions.
The deal also spells out that any footage generated by AI will be under a director’s control. The deal also calls for the implementation of an employer-funded “skills enhancement” program to train DGA members in the use of AI. The program is expected to be operational by the end of this year.
The studios also agreed to meet with the DGA if they license material for AI training, and to bargain about any potential compensation that may be due to DGA members — a term consistent with agreements previously reached with SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America.
The DGA has also been focused on extending union coverage for directors who work overseas. The union did not get anything firm on that front, but did agree to keep meeting with the studios to discuss the issue. The AMPTP also agreed to issue a bulletin reminding producers not to discriminate against DGA members when hiring for overseas productions.
The contract also includes a new credit — “Pilot Directed By” — that will be included in all on all subsequent episodes of a TV show. The credit is meant to acknowledge the role of the pilot director in establishing the style of the series by putting that director on level footing with a writer who gets a “Created By” or “Developed By” credit. Going forward, anytime a creator of a TV series is mentioned in a company press release, the pilot director must also be mentioned.
The AMPTP issued a statement congratulating the DGA on the ratification.
“This agreement delivers historic contributions to the guild’s health plan, meaningful wage and residuals improvements, and strong job protections,” the studio group said.
The ratification ends this year’s round of negotiations with the above-the-line unions — the DGA, the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA — all of which reached agreements well before their contracts expired, and without the threat of a strike.
The AMPTP expressed its appreciation to all three for their “collaborative approach.”
“With the spring 2026 bargaining cycle now complete, the AMPTP thanks the DGA, WGA, and SAG-AFTRA for their thoughtful and collaborative approach to negotiations,” the AMPTP said. “Together, we reached agreements that deliver substantial gains for guild members while supporting greater stability across the entertainment business. We are encouraged by the trust built throughout this cycle and look forward to building on that momentum to advance opportunity and shared success across our industry.”
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
