Harper Assails Proposal Aimed at Actors, Agents

Screen Actors Guild presidential candidate Valerie Harper on Monday criticized a tentative deal governing relations between actors and talent agents, saying she is confident members will reject the accord because of potential conflicts of interest.

The most controversial part of the new “master franchise” agreement would allow limited investments by ad agencies and advertisers in talent agencies. Agents have pushed for a relaxing of the rules so they can attract capital, but Harper and others say joining agents with advertisers blurs the line between agent and employer.

“It is an absolute lie that agents won’t become our employers,” Harper said.

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James Bates