DGA Members Explain Why They’re Voting Yes on New Contract: ‘I’d Like to Get Back to Work’

variety.com:

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Members of the Directors Guild of America have until Friday to vote on their new contract, and those contacted this week by Variety were overwhelmingly voting yes.

In interviews, members noted the contract includes significant gains in residuals, creative rights, safety provisions and working hours.

But several also indicated that they have no interest in compounding Hollywood’s labor strife. Most directors and below-the-line DGA members have been out of work since the Writers Guild of America strike began on May 2. “I’ve been around long enough that is a pretty good deal, and I’d like to get back to work,” said Matt Rebenkoff, who has worked as a first assistant director on “Don’t Look Up,” and “Jumanji: The Next Level.” The sentiments expressed in interviews run counter to the prevailing mood on Twitter, where members have been urging a “no” vote.

Opponents of the deal include prominent writer-directors such as Warren Leight, Larry Charles and Lilly Wachowski. Some dissenters have argued that the contract does not deliver sufficient protection against artificial intelligence, while others say the DGA should not ratify its deal until the WGA gets an agreement, in a show of solidarity. RELATED CONTENT: DGA Spells Out Details of New Contract But the supporters have argued that the contract serves the needs of DGA members, and that ratifying it does not undermine the guild’s support for the writers. “I think it’s a great contract,” said director Jen McGowan. “There are lots of good gains, and I think voting no is not going to get us a better contract.” The agreement includes a 76% increase in overseas streaming residuals, plus an extra day of shooting on TV dramas and a “second cut” for