Dubbing

The Dubbing Modification Agreement (“Dubbing Agreement”) covers the the employment of performers dubbing English language sound track to be used in connection with motion pictures initially produced in another language or the dubbing of new English language sound track to replace an English sound track which lacks the appropriate fluency in English. Similarly, under the Spanish Language Modification (Dubbing) Agreement (“Spanish Dubbing Agreement”), the agreement covers the employment of performers for the purpose of dubbing sound track into Spanish language to be used in connection with motion pictures initially produced in a language other than Spanish. The dubbing performer must work “to picture,” synchronizing the on- and off-camera dialogue of the English language script adaptation. Looping and ADR work are not specifically covered under these dubbing agreements, they are instead covered by the Basic Codified Agreement, except in circumstances where a star performer loops his/her own performance in a foreign produced motion picture in association with dubbing performers.

All performers engaged to sing and provide voiceover dubbing are covered by the Dubbing Agreements.

Under the Dubbing Agreement, rates and residuals are based on the initial exhibition which fall under three categories: 

Category 1:  A live action or animated foreign language motion picture to be dubbed into English for the purpose of theatrical exhibition, Network Prime Time Television exhibition, or exhibition on a subscription video-on-demand ("SVOD") consumer pay platform with 15 million or more subscribers on the start date of the project in the United States and/or Canada.

(Network Prime Time Television are programs broadcast on ABC, CBS, The CW, FBC (Fox), and NBC between the hours of 8:00pm to 11:00pm daily except 7:00pm to 11:00pm on Sundays.)

Category 2: A live action or animated foreign language motion picture to be dubbed into English for initial exhibition in any market (e.g., broadcast, cable, and pay television, new media/streaming, home video, airline) other than those covered by Category I.

To begin working with SAG-AFTRA, start by sending the following documents to Voiceover@sagaftra.org: (These are the steps you must take prior to your first day of recording. We recommend giving yourself at least two weeks).

Step 1

• Submit a Preliminary Information Sheet (This is your application)
• Provide a weblink of the original foreign language project, copy of the original foreign-language script, a translated English/Spanish script, or any other identifying information (such as an IMDb link to the original production) so that SAG-AFTRA can verify that the project qualifies under the Dubbing Agreements.

Step 2

Next, you will be assigned a Business Representative who will work with you throughout your production. Your Business Representative will review your paperwork and email you to submit additional documents to complete and return, which include:

• Company Structure Documents
  • Corporation – Provide your Articles of Incorporation, state filing receipt, and executed Bylaws.
  • Limited Liability Corporations (LLC) – Provide your Articles of Organization, state filing receipt, and executed Operating Agreement.
• Company authorization Form
• Pre-production cast list
• Dubbing Agreement Letter of Adherence
• Theatrical Letter of Adherence
• SAG-AFTRA Health Plan Letter of Adherence

Step 3

Once your Business Representative has received your completed and signed paperwork, they will confirm that your production is cleared to work with SAG-AFTRA members and will email you the production ID number and production paperwork.

Next, you must verify with the union through the Cast Clearance Department that the performers you’ve hired for your project are in good standing. This is referred to as the Cast Clearance process.

Working With Non-SAG-AFTRA Members:

If you are hiring a principal performer who is not yet a SAG-AFTRA member, you must submit a Taft-Hartley Report to your Business Representative, along with the performer’s head shot and resume. The Taft-Hartley process allows a non-union member to become eligible to join the union. As long as the performer is deemed a qualified professional performer, there is no charge to the producer for hiring the performer and submitting a Taft Hartley Report. A “qualified professional performer” is a person who has had prior employment as a motion picture performer at least once within the last three years.

Step 4

During production, complete and submit the following to voiceover@sagaftra.org:

• SAG-AFTRA Performer Contracts
• Production Time Report Form (Exhibit G) for each day of production

Step 5

Performer payments due by the end of the payroll week following each week during which services are rendered under the Netflix Dubbing Agreement. For all other Dubbing Agreements, performer payments are due 15 working days after the date of employment. All compensation paid to performers under the terms of the Dubbing Agreements constitute wages and are subject to deductions for income taxes, social security and disability insurance. SAG-AFTRA recommends that you utilize the services of an experienced entertainment payroll company to process the performer payments, taxes, withholdings, and SAG-AFTRA Health Plan and SAG-Producers Pension contributions.

Submit copies of the payroll registers to voiceover@sagaftra.org.

Step 6

After production, ensure that you have submitted all of the following documents to voiceover@sagaftra.org.

• Performer Contracts
• Timesheets (Exhibit G)
• Final Cast List
• Payroll Invoices

Performers and Agents are encouraged to contact the Voiceover Department at voiceover@sagaftra.org or (323) 549-6815 to verify the signatory status of employers prior to the work date.