Important Notice to TV Animation Voice-Over Industry

TO ALL PRODUCERS, AGENTS AND SAG OFF-CAMERA VOICE ACTORS INVOLVED IN THE PRODUCTION OF ANIMATED TELEVISION SERIES

RE: SERIES CONTRACTS It has come to the attention of SAG that certain producers may be attempting to enter into agreements with off-camera voice actors (“performers”) for employment in animated television series as series contract performers or series regulars, with provisions that may include a contract term with options. However, these agreements are not providing the minimum compensation required to obtain such rights. The Screen Actors Guild Television Animation Agreement provides for minimum session fees to be paid for each film or segment. It does not provide for employment as a series contract performer. Consequently, any provisions contained in the employment agreement that attempt to bind the performer to the series, rather than an individual episode or that attempt to set salary and conditions of employment over a “contract term,” with options, by payment of a session fee, are invalid and of no force or effect. In order to employ a performer as a series contract performer, a producer would be obligated to engage the performer pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Screen Actors Guild Television Agreement, not the Television Animation Agreement. This would include the payment of not less than the applicable series performer minimums (e.g. for a one-half hour episode, $2,411 per episode, if a 13+ guarantee). If you have any information regarding this type of employment, please contact Deborah Berg, senior manager, television contracts at 323/549-6833 or at dberg@sag.org. Thank you.