Directors Guild of America signs four-year deal with major studios

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The Directors Guild of America has signed a tentative four-year contract with the major studios, allowing this year’s round of major labor negotiations to conclude with little drama or fanfare.

The DGA did not disclose the terms of the deal, which must still be approved by the union’s board and sent to members for ratification.

“In keeping with the Guild’s long-standing practice, the terms of the agreement will not be publicly released until the National Council completes its review,” the union said in a statement.

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers has now signed four-year agreements with all three major above-the-line guilds. SAG-AFTRA members voted to ratify their contract last week, and the Writers Guild of America approved a four-year deal in April.

“The AMPTP is pleased to have reached a preliminary agreement with the DGA,” the studio group said in a statement. “We appreciate the hard work and dedication of our guild partners in reaching a fair deal that helps advance a stable and successful entertainment industry.”

The talks have been going on since May 11. The current contract was set to expire on June 30.

After the crippling strikes of 2023, the AMPTP began negotiations this year with the aim of guaranteeing a longer period of labor peace. The contracts with the major unions have had a term of three years since the 1980s, but the AMPTP initially hoped for a term of five years.

Once the WGA agreed to a four-year term, the pattern was set for the SAG-AFTRA and DGA negotiations.

As with the WGA, the focus of the DGA discussions was mainly on the health fund, which lost $38.8 million in 2024 and $4.6 million in 2023. The WGA agreed to higher premiums and deductibles in exchange for a cash injection of $321 million. It was also expected that the DGA agreement would include a mix of higher employer contributions and a reduction in benefits.

As with the other guilds, the DGA is also interested in better protection of artificial intelligence. The union also sought measures that would ensure more recruitment of DGA members.