SAG celebrated its 75th anniversary this weekend in the face of a grim reality: There are only eight days left to negotiate a deal with the major producers and studios before its TV/theatrical contract expires.

Adding to the headaches for SAG's leadership, its campaign against ratification of the tentative deal cut by sister union AFTRA nearly 40,000 actors are in both unions was undercut over the weekend when Tom Hanks became the most high-profile member to sign an e-mail message from more than 100 actors urging a yes vote on the AFTRA contract.

So far, little progress has been made in the negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers, and SAG's chief negotiator Doug Allen has indicated he expects the talks to extend past the June 30 deadline.

Many in the industry speculate that SAG has slowed the negotiations process in order to see what happens with its "Vote No" campaign against sister union AFTRA's recently brokered primetime/TV contract. The AMPTP has blamed SAG's preoccupation with voting down the AFTRA contract as the reason for the slow progress.

More from Leslie Simmons with The Hollywood Reporter

See also:

Variety: Pro-AFTRA effort grows

For More Information

Screen Actors Guild

American Federation of Television & Radio Artists