SAG`s basic theatrical agreement applies to films with a budget of more than $2,000,000. While premium talent is usually paid well above the SAG minimum, this is the price actors can expect on a low-budget studio project or moderate independent film. The SAG daily rate is $1,030 and $3,575 for the week. Excerpt from Section 7D of the Short Film Agreement (as of January 2016): No. The short film contract is a mixed casting contract! This means that both SAG and non-unionized actors can work on the project. Disclaimer: Some of this information has changed since 2016, when I originally wrote it. While I was doing my best to do everything right, I may have misunderstood some things. This is not legal advice and is intended to give you a basic overview and understanding of how things work. If you are a member of SAG and want to be involved in your own film, the film must be a SAG project, even if you are the only SAG actor in the film. Sorry. Amazon, Instagram, YouTube – these are just some of the goals that the Screen Actors Guild calls “new media.” Whether you`re making a movie or a series, both fall under this deal as long as your budget ranges from $50,000 to $1,000,000.
This is an introduction to working with SAG under the Short Film Agreement to answer the most common questions that arise and demystify the process. I have heard anecdotes of footsteps that producers have asked to lie on timesheets to avoid overtime. Don`t be that person. SAG players are quite affordable with a low-budget deal with deferral, and in addition to being extremely unethical to deceive the actors of the commitment you have made to them, it could get you into trouble with the union and prevent you from working with SAG in the future. ↩ Unlike SAG Class A fares, you`ll have to pay a little more if New York is one of your cities, which is why most opt for the first deal. The 1st utilization rates are: We`ve compiled the awards for a movie`s main talent, but if you`re looking for SAG background rates or even a stuntman, please check out our breakdown of all SAG performance categories in the movie. This means that payment can be deferred 100% (exception: overtime of more than 12 hours a day, more about it later) until the film meets certain distribution criteria (see below). And don`t worry, you can also stay in touch with SAGindie at 323.549.6064 (remember, SAGindie does NOT process documents. But we are available for encouraging discussions and gossip in the neighborhood if necessary).
As with most SAG deals, the more time you set aside for actors, the less you have to pay them per day. The short film agreement applies to films (not new media projects) that are: If you are working on a film with an MLB contract or higher before being SAG, you sign SAG employment contracts and you should definitely keep copies of the pay slips (which show that you have been paid MLB or more with SAG) in case there is a problem with your SAG eligibility that arises to SAG (through the production of the Taft-Hartley report is submitted). 2. Name Power There are many well-known actors in the syndicate who can bring credibility and interest to your film. This can help you in your fundraising efforts, link more “nominated” actors to your project and help you expand your network. Having a name can also help with distribution. If you are lucky enough to know or have a renowned actor who is interested in your film, you can consider yourself lucky. At first, there is a student film agreement. You must be enrolled in a film program to be eligible, and the union will make the final decision as to whether it is acceptable and you can use the student film contract. But even if you can`t take advantage of the student film contract, there are two other contracts that can be extremely useful.
Short project agreements cover films with a total budget of less than $50,000 and a maximum duration of 40 minutes. Unlike other SAG daily rates, actors` salaries are fully negotiable. The SAG MODERATE low-budget agreement applies to films with a budget between $300,000 and $700,000. The SAG daily rate is $361, while the SAG weekly rate is $1,251. Non-unionized actors are allowed, while substantive actors are not covered. What I can tell you, and this is not from anyone at SAG, is from conversations with other filmmakers, is this: The reality is that most short film producers only pay the $125 and don`t care about all of the above. This does not mean that they are right or that they follow the law or that I recommend or tolerate the practice in any way. Despite three low-budget options, the SAG Ultra Low Budget deal only applies to films (and short films) that cost $300,000 or less. While there is no weekly SAG scale for Ultra Low Budget projects, the daily SAG rate is $206. OK, so if that`s not true, why bother? Casting is one of the most important elements of your film – choosing the right actor for the role can make your film, and casting the wrong actor can break it. It`s pretty easy to get actors interested in your film, and you don`t need to be limited to your friends and family unless that`s the aesthetic you`re pursuing.
There are a lot of actors and a lot of people who want to be actors and work on your next project. If you place a casting notification, you`ll likely be inundated with headshots of actors. Because the actors may not understand the agreement on the short film and will ask you questions. There are two fundamental misconceptions that actors will have: For non-unionized actors at The Deadline, we created a contract similar to the SAG short film contract, but without the deferred payment. Of course, all this is negotiable. At this point, your project has moved from new media to their traditional counterpart. For movies, you should refer to SAG Theatrical Rates. For series, SAG Television Rates. For the record, the flexibility granted depends on the region you work with. If you`re in New York or Los Angeles, union representatives will likely be stricter on paperwork and the like.
↩ You`re making a short film, aren`t you? I mean, you wouldn`t try to make a feature for $20 – would you? Because if you make shorts, the payment is 100% negotiable. When you create a feature film, I hope you have a Costco card that allows you to extend that $20 for meals for an entire crew for the duration of your shooting schedule. The handles become grumpy if they are not fed. I don`t remember if a sale alone is enough to trigger the payment, or if the sale should generate a profit for the film. I didn`t expect to sell my short film or make a profit from it because I`m not crazy. ↩ 1) The union has reached a compromise with very low-budget filmmakers like you. Instead of postponing the payment and fighting with a brutal payment that would prevent you from distributing your movie (just ask your friends for their experimental contract horror stories), they decided to introduce a flat rate. And there are NO upgrades. Nothing. It`s a good deal. This is probably also your SAG agreement if you`re photographing a wild place. .