'Mad Men' Now Playing a Union Tune

Seems such as the artists aren't as mad at Lionsgate any longer: the American Federation of Artists has showed up in a contract with Lionsgate, producers of AMC's "Mad Males.""We are thrilled to have began rapport with Lionsgate that will bring justness to artists within the television output of 'Mad Males,'" AFM leader Ray Hair told "The Hollywood Reporter."The sale will dsicover the background music artists receiving union wages, residuals and pension and health improvements. "And," mentioned union official Marc Sazer, "(they'll) receive another factor that was overdue respect, plus an acknowledgement in the dignity approved to professional artists.InchSazer's the best choice in the Recording Artists Association, an AFM subgroup focusing around the interests of artists who be employed in movies, TV, appear tracks and ads. He mentioned the agreement resulted from "calm private discussions, educational picketing (and) gathering the support of numerous AFM Residents together with other entertainment industry unions and guilds."The sale is relevant only to "Mad Males," not company-wide to be able to such other Lionsgate characteristics since the March 23 opener "The Hunger Games," which set accurate documentation this year's week for first-day advance ticket sales which is the initial installment in the planned franchise. However, mentioned Hair, "we are pursuing broadening our coverage inside the company's other TV and film projects."A Lionsgate representative declined to comment.The AFM agreement isn't Lionsgate's only recent activity round the deal front: lately, the business showed up in a contract to purchase Summit Entertainment, the studio behind the hit "Twilight" franchise. The Hollywood Reporter