DGA Monthly

6 I D G A M O N T H L Y photos by Howard Wise (Los Angeles) and Marcie Revens (New York) DGA Annual Meetings in Los Angeles and New York — Continued See more photos from the 2026 DGA Annual Meetings in the Membership News section of www.dga.org Before detailing the achievements of the new agreement, Hollander set some background. "At Council and Committee meetings, in surveys, and conversations with members, three priorities emerged consistently: ensuring the future of the Health Plan, protecting jobs, and helping our members remain competitive as Artifi cial Intelligence threatens to reshape our industry. These priorities became the foundation of our bargaining strategy. I'm proud to report that we achieved meaningful progress in all three areas while also securing gains in wages, residuals, creative rights, working conditions, diversity, safety, and other areas. The result is a four-year contract that delivers meaningful improvements for every category. And it delivers something our industry needs right now: stability." Illustrated by charts, Hollander explained key highlights of this deal that included: the largest increase in employer contributions in the history of the Health Plan; a commitment from the companies to work with us to advocate for a federal production incentive; a renewal of the strongest AI protections in the entertainment industry including a new Employer-funded AI skills enhancement program to help members understand evolving technologies and remain competitive as the industry changes; meaningful economic gains in wages and residual bases; and a continuing "Pilot Directed by" credit, the fi rst new credit established since the 1970s. "As I said at the outset, the industry continues to confront signifi cant challenges. The Negotiations Committee met these challenges head on," said Hollander. "And, in doing so, we provided the industry with stability at a moment when stability is needed to encourage increased production. We are proud of what we accomplished, and we are proud to recommend this Agreement for a yes vote." In addition to President Nolan's State-of-the-Guild Report and Avnet and Hollander's detailing of the tentative new agreement, attendees of the New York meeting also heard a special address from DGA National Vice President Laura Belsey on items of specifi c interest to members on the East Coast. Both meetings also featured the following series of reports: • Secretary/Treasurer's Reports DGA Board member Kabir Akhtar (Los Angeles) Asst. Secretary-Treasurer Joyce Thomas (New York) • AD/UPM Council Reports Former Western Council Chair Linda Montanti (LA) Eastern Council Chair Joe Guest (NY) • AD/SM/PA Council Reports Western Council Chair Gary Natoli (LA) Eastern Council Chair Erika Wortham (NY) • DGA-Producer Pension & Health Reports Pension & Health Plans CEO Lisa Read (both locations) Prior to adjournment, the fl oor was opened to questions from the membership. Members of the Guild's professional staff were present at both meetings to provide answers and insight. Both events ended with a cocktail reception, giving attendees an opportunity to catch-up with their colleagues. Former Western AD/UPM Council Chair Linda Montanti Eastern AD/UPM Council Chair Joe Guest Members relax and enjoy the receptions after the DGA Annual Membership Meetings in LA and NY. Western AD/SM/PA Council Chair Gary R. Natoli Eastern AD/SM/PA Council Chair Erika Wortham DGA Board member Kabir Akhtar Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Joyce Thomas

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