Screen Actors Guild v. A. Shane Co.

Defendant/appellant A. Shane Company (appellant) ap-

peals from the judgment confirming arbitration awards, which ordered appellant to pay salary and pension and health benefits to Todd Allen, a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), respondent herein. SAG requests that we award it attorney fees, pursuant to Labor Code section 1128, subdivision (b).

Facts

A pilot for a television series, “High Mountain Rangers,” was shot and included Todd Allen as an actor. Appellant was the producer of the series and entered into a series option agreement with Mr. Allen, incorporating relevant SAG basic agreements of 1986. Exercise of the option was dependent on the sale of the series to a major television network. During the summer of 1987, appellant and Mr. Allen participated in a variety of preproduction activities in the hope of the series being picked up. Included in these activities were two wardrobe fittings.

Subsequently, the details of the production were fully negotiated with the network. Appellant’s representative called Mr. Allen’s agent and notified her of the amount of relocation fee being offered. She was unhappy with the amount and believed it to be below SAG…