The Directors Guild of America has reached a tentative four-year deal with the major studios, wrapping up this year’s round of major labor negotiations with little drama or fanfare.
The DGA did not disclose terms of the deal, which still must be approved by the union’s board and sent to the members for ratification.
“Consistent with the Guild’s longstanding practice, terms of the agreement will not be released publicly until the National Board has completed its review,” the union said in a statement.
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers has now reached four-year agreements with all three of the major above-the-line guilds. SAG-AFTRA members voted to ratify their contract last week, and the Writers Guild of America approved a four-year deal in April.
“The AMPTP is pleased to have reached a tentative agreement with the DGA,” the studio group said in a statement. “We appreciate the hard work and commitment of our guild partners in achieving a fair deal that helps advance a stable and successful entertainment industry.”
Talks have been underway since May 11. The present contract was set to expire on June 30.
Following the crippling strikes of 2023, the AMPTP went into this year’s negotiations with the goal of ensuring a longer period of labor peace. The contracts with the major unions have had three-year terms since the 1980s, but the AMPTP initially hoped to get as long as five years.
Once the WGA agreed to a four-year term, that set a pattern for the SAG-AFTRA and the DGA negotiations.
As with the WGA, a major focus of DGA talks has been the health fund, which lost $38.8 million in 2024 and $4.6 million in 2023. The WGA agreed to higher premiums and out-of-pocket limits in exchange for a $321 million cash infusion, and the DGA deal was likewise expected to include a mix of higher employer contributions and a curtailment of benefits.
As with the other guilds, the DGA has also been interested in increased artificial intelligence protections. The union also sought measures that would ensure more hiring of DGA members.