Flat Deal Stunt Coordinator Notification

SAG-AFTRA is reaching out to our stunt community, particularly those who work as stunt coordinators under Flat Deal contracts, to advise about SAG-AFTRA’s recent arbitration victory. 

“Flat Deal” stunt coordinators who have been engaged to render services on more than one episode in a series must be provided separate contracts and the appropriate payments for stunt coordinating services rendered in a day or week on all episodes, whether under a daily, three-day or weekly contract. Warner Bros., however, had taken the position that payment of the Flat Deal minimum allowed for services to be rendered on more than one picture, episode of a series, or part of a miniseries. 

SAG-AFTRA filed a claim on behalf of stunt coordinators who were in this situation on the television production Claws. After a long and hard-fought claim and arbitration process, the arbitrator affirmed SAG-AFTRA’s contractual position. Namely, that the engagement of Flat Deal stunt coordinators is on a per-picture (per-episode, per-part) basis. Stunt coordinating services rendered during photography or rehearsals on episodes or pictures other than the picture/episode listed on the Flat Deal engagement requires additional contracts and appropriate payments to be provided to such Flat Deal stunt coordinators. Further, unlike principal performers and stunt performers who can be engaged under multiple picture contracts, allowing for the services to be rendered on more than one picture or episode in a given day or week, Flat Deal stunt coordinators CANNOT be engaged under such contracts. Flat Deal stunt coordinating services are for only single pictures or episodes per employment contract that is offered to them, with at least the appropriate minimum scale payment per episode.

If a producer attempts to circumvent the CBA/Television Agreement by offering you, a Flat Deal stunt coordinator, a single-picture contract for work on more than one episode in a day or week, you should request that the producer provide a new contract to cover each episode beyond the episode listed in the contract. Flat Deal stunt coordinators working in episodic productions MAY NOT agree to be employed under a multiple-picture contract. If the producer refuses to provide additional contracts and payments or you have questions, contact the SAG-AFTRA Stunt & Safety Department at (323) 549-6855 or ssd@sagaftra.org.

You may decline to accept new employment under a single-picture contract that is intended to cover multiple episodes in a single day or week because this would be less than the minimum scale payment. Should you, nevertheless, choose to accept the employment, notate the contract and Exhibit G and keep personal records to reflect the episode numbers and dates worked for the additional episodes as well as payment records, and complete a claim inquiry form here.

Submit the claim inquiry form along with all documentary evidence and information to support your claim inquiry to claims-ssd@sagaftra.org as soon as possible. Alternatively, you may confidentially advise SAG-AFTRA of the production where the violation was attempted or occurred at the above-provided contact information.