Principal performer, background performer, stunt performer, singer, dancer … no matter the category of SAG-AFTRA membership, you must know the rates, terms and conditions of your contract.
Not All Contracts/Agreements Are Created Equal
Whether it be contracts for commercials, television and theatrical, streaming such as Netflix, new media, music video or others, each has unique terms and conditions attached. Plus, some categories have different provisions mandated as well. That’s why it is important to know and understand the stipulations and what to expect under each signed agreement. Some member categories have different provisions attached to different contracts/agreements as well.
To learn and understand each aspect of your contracts and what they provide, visit the Contracts and Industry Resources page on sagaftra.org. There you will find useful details pertaining to each aspect attributable to SAG-AFTRA members, including rate sheets, FAQs and other important information.
Types of Terms & Conditions
While some contracts share the same provisions for all members, others vary by membership category.
Unfortunately, many of the production staff, such as ADs, PAs, etc., are unfamiliar with many of our union agreements, so it’s possible that some of our guarantees may get overlooked.
Remember, the more information you are armed with going in, the better chances of not missing out on something to which you are contractually owed.
Are you working on an overnight shoot on location?
Are you aware of your “per diem” rights under your contract?
Are you a background performer working under Schedule X of the TV/Theatrical CBA and, if so, are you aware of the wardrobe allowances for background performers?
Are you aware that meal penalties are granted if six hours pass without a mandated 30-minute break, though in some cases there is a 12-minute grace period?
Are you a performer working under Schedule A of the TV/Theatrical CBA and are you familiar with the 15-minute rule, which adds 15 minutes of pay when, for example, makeup or wardrobe is removed after your day’s compensable pay period has deemed ended?
Is an AD telling you your background contract does not cover smoke or your overtime doesn’t begin until the 10th hour?
These and more are some of the basic terms and conditions you should know before arriving on set.
From the Membership
How has knowing and understanding the contract/agreement under which you are working helped you secure a production provision you may not have known about?
“Working on a multi-day call on a ‘disaster’ scene, the wardrobe staff requested all background actors (nine of us) to keep our personal wardrobe with the wardrobe department to ensure continuity. I was the only one, including production, that was aware of the personal wardrobe storage allowance … knowing that provision yielded us an extra $99 in wardrobe allowances” — Rick Markman
“I work frequently in animation voiceover, and while I was in a session, I was assigned an additional character. Because I was familiar with the TV Animation Agreement, I knew that the additional character exceeded the original allotment, and I was able to confirm with my agent afterwards that I would receive a 10% bump for the new assignment requested during the session.” — Miki Yamashita
“There was a movie that auditioned in L.A. and filmed in N.Y. All the hired dancers were told they would have to work as N.Y. locals, and many of them agreed. Knowing that a producer nor a performer can waive the rights of a SAG-AFTRA contract, I informed the other dancers and contacted SAG-AFTRA. All the dancers were switched to ‘distant hires on an overnight location,’ and all travel and accommodations were covered for the entirety of the filming.” — Danielle Towne, L.A. Local Board member, dancer
News
- Tags:
- Local News