The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) have rejected the "last, best and final offer" from Hollywood's biggest film studios for a new contract.

The union, which represents approximately 120 000 actors, voted by nearly 75 per cent to turn down the offer, mainly over the studios' clause that the contract begin from when it is signed. The national governing board of the SAG Actors Guild wants the deal to start from when the last one expired in June last year.

SAG said in a statement: "The (studios') last-minute, surprise demand for a new term of agreement... is regressive and damaging and clearly signals the employers' unwillingness" to negotiate a deal.”

But the studios, represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, maintain they cannot offer SAG a "better deal" than the one accepted by other Hollywood trade unions in 2008.

The rejection brings the possibility of strike action to an almost definite reality, threatening the production of countless movies and TV series. However, prominent SAG members such as George Clooney, Cameron Diaz and Charlize Theron have been speaking out against strike action, insisting walkouts would be disastrous for the industry at a time when people are already suffering from the global economic downturn.

The entire heat Towers crew is praying the situation gets sorted out. We’re still reeling from the Writers’ strike and can’t imagine our lives missing their favourite TV series and new movies for months on end!

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