New Tiered Agreement Opens Up Possibilities for Game Developers and Performers
Dear Member,
We are excited to share with you the debut of our Tiered-Budget Independent Interactive Media Agreement. This agreement opens up new work opportunities for members on both independent video games and projects of a smaller scope while affording performers all the protections of a union contract.
The contract contains three budget tiers ranging from $250,000 to $15 million and offers strong A.I. protections and secondary compensation for successful games based on unit sales. We recognize that many games, such as freemium and free-to-play games, operate under a different business model, and we are currently working on contracts to cover them, too! (If your project doesn't quite fit for whatever the reason, we invite and encourage you and your collaborators to reach out for special consideration.)
As you are no doubt aware, negotiations with the largest video game companies have been ongoing for some time, and the companies have been resistant to our proposals. This contract will not only bring new and exciting work opportunities to our members, but will demonstrate that the provisions we have been asking for are entirely reasonable, achievable and implementable. The Tiered Agreement has been written and organized in clear, logical terms so that employers and members alike can understand it.
A 2024 GDC survey of more than 3,000 developers found that about a third of respondents worked for an indie game studio — the highest percentage in any one category. This is a segment of the industry that is taking chances, setting trends and breaking new ground, and includes some of the most interesting and engaging projects out there. These developers with tighter budgets have consistently approached SAG-AFTRA, hoping to work with our talented members, and we are thrilled to make it happen.
Click HERE to read FAQs and HERE to read the contract in its entirety. Once you’ve had a chance to familiarize yourself with the provisions, we hope you’ll educate both employers and your fellow members about them. By informing indie devs about the availability of these contracts, you can turn a non-union job into covered work that offers strong protections and contributes to your Pension & Health.
After reading the material linked above, if you still have additional questions, please email interactive@sagaftra.org or call (323) 549-6815. We (Duncan Crabtree-Ireland and Sarah Elmaleh) will also be on Instagram Live (https://www.instagram.com/sagaftra/) today at 2 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. ET to discuss the new agreement.
In unity,
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator
Sarah Elmaleh, Chair, Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee
About SAG-AFTRA
SAG-AFTRA represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other entertainment and media professionals. SAG-AFTRA members are the faces and voices that entertain and inform America and the world. A proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO, SAG-AFTRA has national offices in Los Angeles and New York and local offices nationwide representing members working together to secure the strongest protections for entertainment and media artists into the 21st century and beyond. Visit SAG-AFTRA online at SAGAFTRA.org.