The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) will face legal challengesin both the US and Canada if it tries to stamp its authority beyond USterritory through its controversial Global Rule One, according to producersassociations in those two countries.

Last week, the US-basedAlliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers (AMPTP) and the CanadianFilm and Television Producers Association (CFTPA) threatened to take SAG tocourt, with the AMPTP saying the intended new rule contravenes the scope of itscontract with SAG and the CFTPA saying it represents "interference ofcontract" with its agreement with the Alliance of Canadian Radio andTelevision Artists (ACTRA).

The terms ofGlobal Rule One, which take effect May 1, are not clear but SAG'sintention is: to prohibit its members from shortchanging themselves in terms ofsalary and benefits while working abroad on so-called "runawayproductions".

While SAG saysexceptions will be made - for example, a production not intendedprimarily for distribution in US -- the onus will be on the individual memberto seek clearance before signing a non-SAG contract.

"We areentitled to set policy for our membership," SAG spokesperson IlyanneMorden Kichaven told ScreenDaily.

The financialramifications of Global Rule One on producers will depend on the number of SAGmembers employed on a production. But money is a secondary issue, according tothose opposed to the rule.

"SAG'sjurisdiction stops at the US border," said John Barrack, CFTPA nationalvice-president, industrial relations and counsel. "[SAG] can say all itwants that it has control beyond that, but they have no jurisdiction. We have afreely negotiated deal with ACTRA just as [UK producers group] PACT has with[UK actors union] Equity."

Barrackdismissed the notion of exceptions, pointing out that that the decision as towhich projects might be exceptional was SAG's alone.

This is the cruxof the argument, particularly for performers who hold dual membership. SaidSAG's Morden Kichaven, "If someone is a SAG and ACTRA member who isa Canadian who lives in the US and accepts the employment [brokered through anagent] in the US we recommend they contact the guild to determine if they arein violation of Rule One."

Many productionsproduced by Toronto-based Alliance Atlantis, like the hit television series CSI:Crime Scene Investigation,which airs on the US network CBS, might not qualify.

One Canadianservice producer, who asked not to be identified - "I can't affordto start a war with SAG" - said that Global Rule One is a"rank-and-file" issue that will affect mainly "dayplayers", those engaged in minor roles.

"There area lot of actors in LA who are working part-time at [coffee shop chain]Starbucks. They're saying 'If we can use this as stop gap fromseeing work go up to Canada, we can get our work back,'" thisproducer said. "SAG can't blackball me. It's all union workunder ACTRA contracts. But they can put the imposition on their members'the LA agents I'm talking with about upcoming projects are sayingwe'll have to sign to SAG [contracts]."

But PatrickWhitley, president of Canada's largest service production companyDufferin Gate is taking a "wait-and-see" attitude: He thinks theissue will go to court before it has an impact on his bottom line.

In the meantime,Whitley said, "If an actor says he has to work SAG we'll move on toanother actor. It may be a different scenario on May 1st but were going aheadon the basis that [SAG] doesn't have jurisdiction. We're puttingour offers out under ACTRA contracts."

Said CFTPA'sBarrack, "You take any company that has bargaining rights in a particularcountry, if it opens a plant in another country, the union doesn't gowith it. The laws don't change because actors are mobile. Everyone inthis business thinks the rules don't apply to them but the legislativeprinciples are the same as auto workers as it is for actors."

In its statementthe CFTPA said, "Performers should be aware SAG has no ability to makethese claims with reference to work performed outside of the U.S.

The CFTPA alsotook a passing shot at Canadian performers union ACTRA, suggesting that ACTRAsupports SAG despite its encroachment on ACTRA's jurisdiction.

But ACTRA issueda responding statement clarifying just how far that support goes."We're not in a position to encourage the engagement of USperformers in Canada," said Stephen Waddell, ACTRA's NationalExecutive Director. "We're working in the opposite direction. Ouragreement is to encourage the engagement of Canadian performers. Our statedobjectives in past negotiations is to narrow the gap between our minimumagreements and SAG's."

Waddell saidthat ACTRA supports SAG as a fellow trade union but that it opposes SAG'sBoard of Governors in its stance concerning so-called runaway production."All production in Canada is Canadian production," he said.

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