The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP)[a] is a trade association based in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California, that represents over 350 American television and film production companies in collective bargaining negotiations with entertainment industry trade unions that include, among others, SAG-AFTRA, the Directors Guild of America, the Writers Guild of America West and East, the American Federation of Musicians, and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.[2]
 | |
| Abbreviation | AMPTP |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1924 |
| Type | Trade association |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Location |
|
Membership | 350+ |
President | Carol Lombardini |
| Affiliations | MPA |
| Website | www |
Formerly called | Association of Motion Picture Producers |
Overview
As the entertainment industry's official collective bargaining representative,[3] the AMPTP, like the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), is a key trade association for major film and television producers in the United States. The AMPTP currently negotiates 80 industry-wide collective bargaining agreements on behalf of over 350 motion picture and television producers. AMPTP member companies include the major motion picture studios (including Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures, Walt Disney Studios and Warner Bros.), the principal broadcast television networks (including ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC), streaming services like Netflix, Apple TV+,[4] and Amazon,[4][5] certain cable television networks, and other independent film and television production companies.[citation needed]
History
The AMPTP was founded in 1924 as the Association of Motion Picture Producers (AMPP).[1] It merged with the Alliance of Television Film Producers (ATFP) in 1964[b] and was renamed the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers.[7] In 1966, it also merged with the Society of Independent Producers (formed in 1964).[8] In September 1975, Universal quit the Association during craft negotiations and United Artists and Walt Disney Productions also notified the Association of their intention to withdraw the following month.[9] Paramount and Universal formed a new organization, the Alliance. In 1982, the Alliance and the AMPTP merged to form the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.[7]
Since the formation of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers in 1982,[10] there have only been two presidents. Nick Counter was president of the AMPTP from 1982 until March 2009.[11] With Counter's March 2009 retirement, Carol Lombardini took over on an interim basis until becoming permanent president seven months later in October.[12][13]
The AMPTP was an affiliate of the MPAA and Jack Valenti was president of both organisations.[14][9]
Other former presidents and chairmen have included Joseph Schenck,[15] Lew Wasserman,[16] Sid Sheinberg,[9] Y. Frank Freeman[17] and Richard Jencks.[18]
Jarryd Gonzales served as AMPTP's spokesperson from 2015 to 2023.[19][20]
In October 2023, it was announced that over two thousand producers signed a petition to drop the word "producers" from the name of the company, saying it was "left over from a long-gone era". They feel that it no longer reflects the producers, but the CEOs of the studios.[21][22]
Post Production Guild
In 2022, post-production workers in New York City, represented by Communications Workers of America (CWA) under the name The Post Production Guild, signed union cards and asked AMPTP for voluntary union recognition. AMPTP declined to voluntarily recognize the union, saying they support "a secret ballot election process by which a union can become certified as the collective bargaining representative of employees". The CWA referred to AMPTP as "anti-union", alleging the workers are "supervisors" and ineligible for representation by the National Labor Relations Board. The group filed for a union election on March 8, 2022.[23]
See also
Notes
References
External links
- Official website
- Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) records, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
- The Motion Picture Production Code of 1930