April’s 'Contracts Happy Hour' Reminds Content Creators That Working with SAG-AFTRA Is Easier than Ever

As the sun went down on April 27, around 80 producers, content creators, agents and performers gathered at Koerner Camera Systems for the Portland Local’s spring 2018 Contracts Happy Hour.

After mingling over drinks and hors d’oeuvres, the audience settled in to learn more about the variety of agreements Northwest producers can use to hire SAG-AFTRA talent for their projects. Contract Administrator Chris Comte walked the group through several of the union’s contracts, including:

• The Modified Low Budget Contract, for film productions with budgets less than $70,000.
• The Ultra Low Budget Contract, for film productions with budgets under $250,000.
• The New Media Contract, for non-theatrically released projects with budgets under $50,000.
• The Short Film Contract, for less-than-35-minute film productions with budgets under $50,000.
• The Student Film Contract, for less-than-35-minute productions shot under the supervision of an accredited film school with budgets under $35,000.
• The Corporate/Educational Waiver, which allows producers to use both union and non-union performers in their casts.
• The Pacific Northwest Regional Commercials Code, for commercials made in the Pacific Northwest and played in the Pacific Northwest. This new, simplified commercials contract offers Northwest producers reduced session fees and varying periods of use.

Comte noted during his presentation that he can set up many of these contracts in as little as 48 hours — all producers and content creators need to do is contact him at the SAG-AFTRA Seattle office at (206) 282-2506 or chris.comte@sagaftra.org.

After brief remarks by Oregon Media Production Association President Jacqueline Gault, herself a SAG-AFTRA-signatory producer, Comte answered questions from the audience. Then it was time to mix and mingle; the assembled performers and content creators ate, drank, and discussed their many options for working together.

Your local board has programmed a number of exciting workshops to help us up our game in our market. Be sure to visit the Local Events page of our web site to find out about them.

Photo: Contracts Administrator Chris Comte explains the numerous SAG-AFTRA contracts available to local producers at the Portland Local’s Contracts Happy Hour. Photo by Jeff Rosick.