Casting Directors Plan to Hold Vote

After a high-profile campaign that drew support from all of Hollywood’s guilds and a raft of celebrities such as George Clooney, Cameron Diaz and Martin Scorsese, casting directors have announced plans to hold elections on whether to authorize the Teamsters as their official representatives.

The casting directors abandoned their plans to strike after a day of negotiating with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers.

The AMPTP had previously refused to recognize Teamster representation of the group, with AMPTP President Nick Counter labeling casting directors as independent contractors rather than employees. The group represents about 500 members who cast actors in films and on TV. One of their chief demands is to earn benefits for their members.

-- Rachel Abramowitz