DGA: Joseph Kosinski, Judd Apatow, Sara Dosa, Eric Appel & Others On Need To Address Residuals, “Systemic Inequities” In Upcoming Contract Talks
deadline.comThe need for greater residuals and more diversity were some of the vital issues expressed by filmmakers tonight at the DGA Awards ahead of the guild’s talks with the AMPTP.
The DGA’s contract expires on June 30, the same day as SAG-AFTRA’s and two months after the May 1 expiration of the WGA’s contract.
Eric Appel — a first time nominee for the Roku movie Weird: The Al Yankovic Story — noted, on a personal level, that while he’s directed his fair share of television over the years and remembers “a time” when he was able to collect “a lot of residuals” for that work, revenue of the sort “does not really exist” when it comes to projects he’s taken on of late in the brave new world of streaming. “I definitely want [the industry] to just rethink how those residuals work, so it’s not one-and-done when you make your project,” said the director. “These things get sold and resold, and traded from streamer to streamer.
I feel that we should get a piece of that, for sure.” Judd Apatow, who is back tonight for his fourth go-round as host of the DGA Awards, agreed that “there’s all sorts of issues with how people are paid and residuals,” with Top Gun: Maverick DGA nominee Joseph Kosinski observing, like Appel, that “the whole landscape of how people are consuming media is changing, so making sure that the agreements keep up with that is important.: “I’ve got a movie I’m prepping right now, so I’m just hoping everyone can come to an agreement soon,” said the director nominated tonight for Top Gun: Maverick, “so we don’t have to think about anything else, and [can] just get back to the business of shooting films.” Kosinski’s next movie from Apple Studios is an untitled Formula One racing movie starring Brad Pitt.
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