SAG-AFTRA Leaders Call for Closer Cooperation Between US, Chinese Media Artists 

April 24, 2019

IM  -  

Leaders of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) who recently returned from a visit to China, have called for closer cooperation between US and Chinese media artists, according to a report by the Xinhua news agency.

“There are so many stories to tell in the US and China, and as the world increasingly focuses on China and wants to know those stories, we need to protect the artists that tell them and advance our culture,” says David White, national executive director of SAG-AFTRA. “We want to do that in cooperation and collaboration with China, so our countries and people better understand each other.”

SAG-AFTRA represents 160,000 media artists, including actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news directors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists, and other media professionals.

“It’s important to connect with young filmmakers early and grow with them. So we have contracts for every budget level in the industry, from ultra-low budget all the way to big studio pictures. These contracts set the standards for the whole industry and our members are not allowed to work on films or shows that don’t sign them,” says Gabrielle Carteris, president of SAG-AFTRA.

During the visit, participants also discussed residuals, which Carteris says is, “very little money, but it can add up and allow talented professionals to stay in the business.”

“This was an important beginning,” White adds. “We are looking forward to more and more of these productive exchanges in the years to come.”

---