Short Project (SPA)

The Short Project Agreement is designed for projects with a maximum budget of $50,000 and a maximum total run time of 40 minutes.

We recommend you submit your project at least 4 -6 weeks before the start of principal photography, rehearsals or traveling performers.

The Industry-Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee has created safety bulletins. These are safety guidelines recommended by the Safety Committee. CLICK HERE for more information  

We recommend you submit your project at least 4 - 6 weeks before the start of principal photography, rehearsals or traveling performers. Failure to submit a Signatory Application in a timely manner may result in delays and/or your project not granted clearance by SAG-AFTRA.

The Micro-Budget Project Agreement is designed to provide a streamlined signatory process for independent producers who have a project with a budget of $20,000 or less per picture (or per episode of episodic projects). Click here to learn more!

Step 1

Begin by filling out the Signatory Application.*

Please submit your application no less than 4-6 weeks before your first date of work, including travel, rehearsal, and principal photography. Failure to submit a Preliminary Information Form or Signatory Application in a timely manner may result in delays and/or your project not being granted clearance by SAG-AFTRA.

* Please note, student projects would sign to the Student Film Agreement, and would begin by filling out the Student Film Agreement Preliminary Information Form.

Step 2

Within 2-3 business days, you will be assigned a Signatory Business Representative. Your Business Representative will send you a zip file including some important information and additional documents that we will need.

Step 3

Once we receive and review the requested documents, you will receive a link to DocuSign the Short Project Agreement and Pension & Health Adherence Letter.

Step 4

When all of the requirements above have been fulfilled, your Signatory Business Representative will grant you production “clearance,” which will allow the performers that you have cast to begin work.

Step 5

Complete the following documents during production

1. Each performer must sign a “Performer Contract – Short Project Agreement”
2. If working in a zone with background coverage, each covered background actor must sign a “Background Actor Contract – Short Project Agreement”
3. Complete a “Production Time Report – Exhibit G” for each day of production
4. Complete the “Final Cast List Information Sheet” at the end of production

Step 6

Unless you are deferring payment to your performers, submit all paychecks to performers and background actors no later than the Thursday following the week worked and, upon request, copies to your SAG-AFTRA business representative. Along with paychecks, submit a P&H Contribution form and the corresponding contributions to the P&H plan.

Step 7

Follow the instructions given to you by your SAG-AFTRA Signatory Business Representative for submission of the following to SAG-AFTRA:

• Signed copies of each Performer Contract and Background Actor Contract (include, if applicable, all performer deal memos, riders, side letters, addendums, long forms, etc.)
• All completed “Production Time Report – Exhibit G” forms
• The Final Cast List Information Sheet

And that’s it!

If you have any questions, please contact your SAG-AFTRA Business Representative!
Short Project Agreement General Inquiry Line: (323) 549 - 6680