SAG president hopes WGA deal will be "stepping-stone" for actors

SAG President William Daniels said Monday that he hopes that the settlement reached between the Writers Guild of America and the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers will serve as "a stepping-stone" for SAG and AFTRA's upcoming negotiations with the studios. Appearing to distance himself from media speculation that the writers' agreement could provide a template for a similar agreement with the actors, Daniels observed that it is important to bear in mind "that actors have separate concerns, which will need to be addressed in a different way." Negotiations between the actors' unions and the AMPTP are set to begin on May 15. Meanwhile the WGA said in a statement that it is sending copies of the proposed 2001 contract to its 11,000 members, urging them to ratify it. Results are expected to be made known on June 5.