Performer/Producer: Crossing the Threshold

Are you one of the many SAG-AFTRA members who is both a performer and a content creator? Once you don that producer’s hat, you become financially responsible for your production, so it is important to understand your financial obligations to the cast. Moving a project from a film festival to a wider platform may trigger new payment requirements, so make sure you are familiar with the terms of the contract you have signed.

SAG-AFTRA offers different contracts to cover projects of different size budgets. Some, like the Student, Short Film and Experimental New Media agreements offer deferred payments to the performers, so there is no salary — unless the project is shown on a commercial platform. These projects may be shown at film festivals without triggering payments, but should they be picked up for a theatrical release, a premium cable channel, a streaming service or other similar platforms, then the producer (you), would be obliged to compensate the performers.

Ultra Low Budget, Modified Low Budget and Low Budget Theatrical agreements mandate initial compensation, but residuals would not apply until the project is shown on a commercial platform as described above.

As with all contracts, there are exceptions and finer points and legalese. The best source of information is your SAG-AFTRA staff. The Theatrical Contracts Department offers a monthly signatory workshop on all low budget contracts. Call (212) 827-1553 for theatrical contract questions or for the schedule of workshops. For TV and new media contract questions, call (212) 863-4270.

Don’t be a victim of your own success. If your project starts generating revenue, be prepared for the resulting financial obligations. After all, we’re talking about sharing the wealth with your fellow union members.