Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1250805
J U N E 2 0 2 0 I 5 On May 15, the DGA announced the fast- tracking of nearly $9 million in foreign levies to 5,000 directors over the past week. As production remains suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Guild has continued its work to expedite vital income when it is most needed. Foreign levies are fees collected by foreign countries in part to compensate rights holders for the effects of re-use, copying, rental and retransmission of their films and television programs. This income to members as well as non-member directors was made possible by the DGA's successful efforts over three decades ago to negotiate agreements with foreign collecting societies, and challenge the studios' claims to these monies. "This present situation sheds light on why we fight so hard to advance our members' rights, and the difference it can make. Similar to our efforts with residuals, the DGA has been working around the clock to expedite distribution of this biannual run of foreign levies when it's most needed," said DGA National Executive Director Russell Hollander. "And also similar to residuals, foreign levies are a stream of income that would not have been possible without our Guild's decades-long fight to financially connect members to the success of their work." Through the years, the DGA foreign levies department has distributed over $242 million to directors – including more than $28 million to 6,700 non-members – and donated over $3.5 million to the Motion Picture & Television Fund. DGA Fast-Tracks Distribution of $9 Million in Foreign Levies The 2020-2021 DGA Rate Cards will soon be available online in the Contracts section of the DGA website (www.dga.org). Covering the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021, these new rate cards incorporate the wage increases that were negotiated as part of the Basic Agreement (BA) and Freelance Live and Tape Television Agreement (FLTTA). The new rate cards will be posted prior to June 1, 2020. New Rate Cards Available Online The Rate Cards are intended for general informational purposes. If you have a specific question, call the DGA Contracts Department at (310) 289-2010.