DGA and studios agree to begin contract negotiations

The Directors Guild of America and the group representing the major Hollywood studios have agreed to begin contract negotiations next month, nearly seven months before the expiration of the current agreement.

The DGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers announced Wednesday that they have agreed to begin negotiating new film and TV contracts Nov. 4. The talks will be held at the alliance’s headquarters in Sherman Oaks.

“The DGA and the AMPTP have also agreed that neither organization will comment to the press regarding negotiations until negotiations have concluded,” the parties said in a statement.

ON LOCATION: Where the cameras roll

DGA Secretary-Treasurer Michael Apted and Fifth Vice President Thomas Schlamme will lead the negotiations for the guild.

“The guild’s core mission is to protect and extend the creative and economic rights of our members – directors and members of the directorial teams – no matter what challenges we face,” Schlamme said in an earlier statement. “Michael and I will work closely with the Negotiations Committee members and the guild’s professional staff to ensure the best and strongest possible outcome for our members.”

The DGA typically negotiates at least six months before its contracts are set to expire in the belief that studios are willing to make concessions in exchange for avoiding labor disruptions.

The DGA’s current film and TV network and cable contracts expire next June 30, the same time as the contract for the performers union SAG-AFTRA, whose leaders have indicated they will begin negotiations early next year.

The Writers Guild of America’s contract expires May 1. The union has not said when its negotiations will begin.

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richard.verrier@latimes.com

twitter: @rverrier