Year book of motion pictures (1951)

a church, a school, a jukebox or on television. To protect the interests of the motion picture actors, the Guild took tlie matter to the National Labor Relations Board, which is expected to call elections in 1951 in which film actors may affirm their choice of the Screen .Actors Guild as bargaining agent for players in all types of motion jjictures. A major and continuing problem faced bv the Guild is unemployment of its members. Because present Federal labor laws are permitting thousands of non-professionals to deprive experienced motion picture actors of work in pictures, the Guild will seek to negotiate a new contract with the film proilucers which will afford some protection for (iuild members against "liil-and-run" competition for ading jobs by persons who have no intention of making a li\elihood from a( ting. I he great employment of non-professionals for one or two-day bits in pictures has not l)een occasioned by a legitimate search for new talent by the producers. The Guild is an "open union" which recognizes that new talent must be under development at all times for the picture industry. But we oppose the trend in recent years of allowing nonlalenied amateurs to take a day's work in a small part from a talented, experienced motion picture actor whose life is devoted to the industry on which he depends for a livelihood. Despite our many problems, the Guild faces 1951 with confidence, sure in the knowledge that "movies are your best entertainment." SDGA IN 1950 By J. P. McGOWAN Chairman, Public Relations Committee XPANSION was the keynote of the Screen Directors Guild of America during 1950. With the approval of the appropriate Governmental departments, and to meet changing national conditions, SDG, Inc. was reorganized as the Screen Directors Guild of America, Inc., so that jurisdiction would apply to the whole of United States, Canada, the territory of Hawaii, Alaska and other countries where Guild members were, or would be, employed— subject to local restrictions governed by the laws of the land. Under this authority a classification was established in the by-laws which granted membership in the Guild to all television directors and their assistants. A Television Cloimcil was elected by its own membership which has the responsibility of creating basic agreements covering wages and working conditions in the TV held, somewhat similar to the independence granted assistant directors in controlling their own immediate affairs. The elected Council consists of Robert W. Breckner, president; Seymour Berns, first vice-president; Philippe DeLacy, second vicepresident; Stuart Phelps, secretary; Jack P. Orbison, treasurer, and board members Philip Booth, J. V. .\gnello, George M. Cahan, Richard DeMille, Robert S. Finkel, Gordon Minter, William L. Padgett. Edgar J. Leaman is executive authority as television consultant. Membership consists of 54 TV directors and 14 TV assistants, the latter known in the video industry as "floor managers." This action met with strong opposition from the Radio and Television Directors' (.uild anil a charge of unfair labor practices was made l)y R I DC; before the NLRB regional directoi, paiticularly regarding Station REC.A TV, when 13 directors and six assis tants of its staff became members of the SDGT Council. However, in mid-December. 1950, Howard LeBaron, regional director of the board, advised the SDGA that the unfair labor practices charge made by RDTG had been dismissed for lack of evidence. The Screen Directors Guild of America is now what might be termed a three-way partnership—motion picture directors; television directors and their assistants; motion picture first and second assistant directors— each with its own sphere of activity within the Guild governed by the board of directors. It is a strong and healthy partnership of first class craftsmen who are among the most progressive in our industry. True, we have differences of opinions at times. It is an obvious fact that none of us is altogether right all the time. But together we have always managed to settle our differences in the realization that we must all work together. The best interests of each is tied up inseparably with the best interests of all. .And it must be kept that way if we are to perpetuate our democratic foundation of free thought, free choice and free action. This close cooperation has a direct bearing on the Guild's ability to bargain with its employers 8:6