SAG reaches interim pacts with indies

LOS ANGELES, April 17 (UPI) -- The Screen Actors Guild said it signed interim deals with a U.S. independent film producer, allowing actors to work on select projects if a strike occurs.

The Film Department, Mark Gill and Neil Sacker's year-old company, announced it reached pacts with SAG for nine films.

SAG's guaranteed completion contracts are available to independent feature productions that aren't financed or distributed through any company represented by Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, Variety reported Thursday.

"Effectively, this allows our films to proceed into pre-production in April, May and June against production starts in July, August and September -- a time during which production volume looks likely to be down by at least 50 films, as the studios are currently unable to proceed," Gill said.

Industry observers say the "guaranteed completion contracts" indicates SAG doesn't expect a quick resolution to talks with AMPTP, which began earlier this week.

SAG announced in March it would offer contracts to independent feature producers, in which producers would agree to observe the terms and conditions of any SAG interim deal offered during a strike. By signing a contract, independents would not have to worry about a strike shutting down their productions, Variety said.