Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers

As the entertainment industry's official collective bargaining representative,{{cite web |last=Hess |first=John P. |date=September 3, 2012 |title=A Guide to Hollywood Unions |url=https://filmmakeriq.com/2012/09/a-guide-to-hollywood-unions/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328214512/https://filmmakeriq.com/2012/09/a-guide-to-hollywood-unions/ |archive-date=28 March 2019 |access-date=5 December 2019 |work=FilmmakerIQ.com |language=en}} the AMPTP, like the Motion Picture Association (MPA), 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,{{cite web |last1=Tran |first1=Diep |date=20 October 2021 |title=What We Know So Far About the IATSE + AMPTP Deal |url=https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/iatse-amptp-deal-vote-strike-74149/ |access-date=20 October 2021 |website=Backstage}} and Amazon,{{cite web |last=Sakoui |first=Anousha |date=30 July 2021 |title=Netflix joins Hollywood studio producers' alliance |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2021-07-30/netflix-joins-hollywood-studio-producers-alliance |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924060835/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2021-07-30/netflix-joins-hollywood-studio-producers-alliance |archive-date=24 September 2021 |access-date=2021-09-24 |website=Los Angeles Times}} certain cable television networks, and other independent film and television production companies.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}

The AMPTP was founded in 1924 as the Association of Motion Picture Producers (AMPP).{{cite web |title=Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) Records |url=https://collections.oscars.org/link/bio/1473 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328214458/https://collections.oscars.org/link/bio/1473 |archive-date=28 March 2019 |access-date=5 December 2019 |work=Margaret Herrick Library}} It merged with the Alliance of Television Film Producers (ATFP) in 1964{{efn|Founded in 1951.{{cite book |last1=Bognar |first1=Desi K. |title=International Dictionary of Broadcasting and Film |year=1999 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=1136054014 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Aqk0DwAAQBAJ |access-date=27 June 2018 |archive-date=14 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314220304/https://books.google.com/books?id=Aqk0DwAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}{{Page needed|date=December 2019}}}} and was renamed the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers. In 1966, it also merged with the Society of Independent Producers (formed in 1964).{{cite magazine|magazine=Variety|date=November 2, 1966|title=Society of Independent Producers Expected to Go for AMPTP Absorbtion|page=3}} 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. 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.{{cite book |last1=Katz |first1=Ephraim |last2=Nolen |first2=Ronald Dean |year=2013 |title=The Film Encyclopedia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OUujVPHXBZIC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110015256/https://books.google.com/books?id=OUujVPHXBZIC |archive-date=10 January 2020 |url-status=live |edition=7th |publisher=Harper Collins |page=31 |isbn=978-0062277114 |language=en |access-date=27 June 2018}}{{cite web |title=ALLIANCE OF MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION PRODUCERS |url=https://www.amptp.org/ |publisher=Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers |access-date=8 May 2023}}

Since its formation, the AMPTP has only had two presidents, beginning with Nick Counter from 1982 until 2009.{{cite news |title=Nick Counter dies at 69; former chief negotiator for major studios |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-nick-counter7-2009nov07-story.html |date=November 7, 2009 |type=Obituary |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=5 December 2019 |language=en |archive-date=5 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205222610/https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-nick-counter7-2009nov07-story.html |url-status=live }} With Counter's retirement in March 2009, Carol Lombardini took over on an interim basis until becoming permanent president seven months later in October.{{cite web |last1=Lang |first1=Brent |title=Obit: Former AMPTP President Nick Counter Chief negotiator of multiple labor disputes, Counter remembered as a consensus builder. |url=https://www.thewrap.com/obit-former-amptp-president-nick-counter-9805/ |website=TheWrap |access-date=8 May 2023 |date=6 November 2009}}{{cite web |date=15 October 2009 |title=Carol Lombardini Named AMPTP President Had been acting president since Nick Counter retired in April. |url=https://www.thewrap.com/carol-lombardini-named-amptp-president-8714/ |access-date=8 May 2023 |website=TheWrap}}

Jarryd Gonzales served as AMPTP's spokesperson from 2015 to 2023.{{Cite web |last=Robb |first=David |date=2015-05-06 |title=AMPTP Taps Former California GOP Strategist As New Spokesman |url=https://deadline.com/2015/05/alliance-of-motion-picture-television-producers-jarryd-gonzales-amptp-spokesman-1201421680/ |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Serjeant |first=Jill |date=2021-11-15 |title=Hollywood crew members narrowly approve contract with TV and film producers |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/hollywood-off-screen-workers-approve-new-contract-with-tv-film-producers-2021-11-15/ |access-date=2023-05-01}}

The AMPTP was an affiliate of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). Jack Valenti, former top White House aide to Lyndon Johnson, started his long tenure as MPAA president in 1966.{{cite news |last=Suplee |first=Curt |date=July 8, 1981 |title=The Movie Mystique: Moguls to Munchies |language=en |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1981/07/08/the-movie-mystique-moguls-to-munchies/ff16943a-e69e-4247-8309-bc6edb931cdb/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305003336/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1981/07/08/the-movie-mystique-moguls-to-munchies/ff16943a-e69e-4247-8309-bc6edb931cdb/ |archive-date=5 March 2017}}{{cite magazine|magazine=Daily Variety|date=October 10, 1975|title=AMPTP At Moment Of Truth|page=1}}

Other key 20th-century film industry executives who helped shape producer associations were Joseph Schenck,{{cite web |url=https://www.dga.org/Craft/DGAQ/All-Articles/0604-Winter2006-07/Features-70-Years-of-Milestones.aspx |title=70 Years of Milestones |work=Directors Guild of America |access-date=5 December 2019 |language=en |archive-date=5 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205222618/https://www.dga.org/Craft/DGAQ/All-Articles/0604-Winter2006-07/Features-70-Years-of-Milestones.aspx |url-status=live }} Lew Wasserman,{{cite magazine |url=https://variety.com/1993/film/news/lew-wasserman-at-80-105006/ |title=Lew Wasserman at 80 |first1=Richard |last1=Natale |date=March 15, 1993 |magazine=Variety |access-date=5 December 2019 |language=en |archive-date=2 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402015341/https://variety.com/1993/film/news/lew-wasserman-at-80-105006/ |url-status=live }} Sid Sheinberg, Y. Frank Freeman{{cite news | title=Y. Frank Freeman Dies at 78; Retired Paramount Executive | url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB091FF93E59147493C5A91789D85F4D8685F9 | newspaper=The New York Times | date=7 February 1969 | pages=37 | url-access=subscription | access-date=2021-10-09 | archive-date=19 October 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019090842/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB091FF93E59147493C5A91789D85F4D8685F9 | url-status=live }} and Richard Jencks.{{cite news |first=Paul |last=Liberatore |title=Retired CBS president Richard Jencks of Mill Valley dies at 93 |url=http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_26135039/retired-cbs-president-richard-jencks-mill-valley-dies |work=Marin Independent Journal |date=2014-07-11 |access-date=2014-07-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715014944/http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_26135039/retired-cbs-president-richard-jencks-mill-valley-dies |archive-date=15 July 2014 |url-status=dead }}

In October 2023, it was announced that over 2300 film and TV producers signed a petition to drop the word "Producers" from the AMPTP acronym (so that it would be AMPT), saying it was "left over from a long-gone era." They claimed that the alliance no longer reflected the interests of working producers, but rather the interests of studio CEOs.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/10/producers-petition-change-amptp-name-hollywood-labor-1235567984/|title=2,000+ Top Producers Sign Petition To Drop Second "P" From AMPTP, Part Of Larger Push To Address Inequities; Cathy Schulman, Jason Blum, Dede Gardner, Todd Garner Among Signees|first=Matt|last=Grobar|work=Deadline|date=October 10, 2023|accessdate=October 10, 2023}}{{cite web |date=October 10, 2023 |title=Producers Union Asks AMPTP to Drop 'P' From Its Name: 'Left Over From a Long-Gone Era' |url=https://www.thewrap.com/producers-union-petition-amptp-drop-p/ |accessdate=October 10, 2023 |work=The Wrap}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Kilkenny |first=Katie |date=2022-03-08 |title=N.Y. Postproduction Workers File to Unionize Over AMPTP's Voluntary Recognition Objection |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/postproduction-union-new-york-workers-cwa-file-election-1235106252/ |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=10 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220310010050/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/postproduction-union-new-york-workers-cwa-file-election-1235106252/ |url-status=live }}

• 1988 Writers Guild of America strike
• 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike
• 2023 Writers Guild of America strike
• 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://www.amptp.org/}}
• [https://catalog.oscars.org/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=68171 Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) records], Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
• [https://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5099/ The Motion Picture Production Code of 1930]

{{Film studios}}

{{2023 Hollywood labor disputes}}

{{Cinema of the United States}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1924 establishments in the United States

Category:Organizations established in 1924

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Los Angeles

Category:Trade associations based in the United States

Category:Communications and media organizations based in the United States

Category:Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles