EMMY AWARDS - DGA JOINS PROTEST OVER EMMY CHANGES

DGA JOINS PROTEST OVER EMMY CHANGES

The Directors Guild of America (DGA) has joined the Writers Guild of America (WGA) to protest against the announced plans by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences to pre-tape segments of next month's Emmy awards ceremonies. However, its message to the Academy is more strongly worded. The DGA's letter to TV Academy chief John Shaffner calls the academy's plans "a material breach of our agreement" that requires awards to directors be aired "live" and "in parity with the actors' awards." The DGA letter, signed by Associate National Director Warren Adler, intimates that unless the plans are reversed, the DGA will refuse to honor an agreement giving the Academy a significant cut in its residual rates for airing clips from TV shows during the telecast. The letter went on to accuse the Academy of acting unilaterally and failing to consult the Guild's Directors Council.

05/08/2009