Last week, SAG finally sat back down with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers for some more negotiating for a new TV/theatrical contract -- this time with the help of a government mediator. But SAG walked out in a huff (or so I imagine -- they're actors, they're probably super dramatic!) shortly before 1 a.m. on Saturday, dissatisfied enough with the talks that they're now in the preparatory stages of putting a strike authorization to vote. Before the meeting last week, the two sides had not met with each other since mid-July. Commented the representative from SAG: "We don't suspend bargaining in tough economic times. Now more than ever, actors need a fair contract to help the struggling middle class make a living in the future, including a future working in new media." Which... I don't disagree with -- and I'd like to put it out there that normally I'm a Norma Rae, "YAY UNIONS!" kind of gal -- but where the AMPTP and I both get caught up is where SAG seems hell-bent on trying to get a slightly better deal than the ones the Director's Guild, Writer's Guild and AFTRA all got earlier this year. I mean, didn't the Writers kind of learn that lesson the hard way? Surely the actors were paying attention.

That said, even if the actors do authorize a strike -- and they'd need a 75% yes vote from their members to do it -- it doesn't necessarily mean that they'll strike right away, if at all. The AMPTP snottily disagrees, saying "Make no mistake about this: If SAG members authorize a strike, then a strike is all but guaranteed because SAG has shown no willingness to compromise on its unrealistic demands." But maybe the vote is just a play to get the AMPTP to play ball. Either way, now does not really seem to be the time for game-playing shenanigans. Thanks for making things interesting, jerks!