Position Paper

BOYCOTTS OF FILMS OR TV SHOWS

All industry workers are affected by runaway production, and many Film Alliance members have vowed to fight it. That fight will extend to many arenas, but it cannot include boycotts of film or video product made legitimately under contract. The reasons are various, and the basics are simple: we will not undermine the work of our own industry's guilds and unions, nor will we undermine the work of any other members of the AFL-CIO.

The Film Alliance Steering Committee includes elected representatives of a number of guilds and unions, and therefore is not in a position to — nor would it want to — call for a boycott of any film or video product produced under legitimate guild or union contracts.

Made by DGA directors, many "runaway" films use actors working under legitimate SAG contracts, as well as cinematographers and camera operators who are union members. Undoubtedly, most large-budget productions use crews that include persons who are also members of IATSE and other guilds/unions (costumers, makeup artists, hairdressers, among others).

The SAG contract alone, including as it does Rule One, symbolizes the great strides that SAG has made in recent years to make its contract truly global. Even if SAG were the only guild employed on this film, members of other guilds and unions would owe it to them to not infringe on their work or livelihood. To boycott this film would be to undermine that work and to deprive members of SAG and other guilds/unions of rightfully-earned income.

Others are free to call for boycotts, but our leadership feels strongly that it is not in the best interests of any film industry workers to do so, nor will we support such efforts or boycotts.

All our members know that they are free to express their own opinions, and may not agree with the manner or means by which a particular film was made. We do not value or favor censorship, and we wish to hear divergent opinions at our meetings. We welcome any thoughtful discussions about any number of topics on which our members disagree with each other or with non-members — including personal opinions regarding boycotts.