SAG-AFTRA Unveils New Video Game Agreement for Indie Devs

READ THE MEMBER MESSAGE HERE

SAG-AFTRA has rolled out a new tiered-budget video game agreement that provides game developers access to union talent on their projects. The Tiered-Budget Independent Interactive Media Agreement covers games with production budgets between $250,000 and $15 million.

“This committee and I were proud to introduce the original Low Budget Agreement in 2016 to cover the indie games space because it is so full of energizing experimentation and wonderfully heart-forward storytelling. Working with these teams can be deeply rewarding and I’m thrilled with the updated and expanded tiered structure in the new agreement, which will capture more of this work. I’m excited for my fellow performers, and excited that developers will have access to my amazing union peers,” said Interactive Media Negotiating Committee Chair Sarah Elmaleh.

“Independent studios and small-to-mid-sized projects are a driving force propelling innovation and creativity in the video game industry. This new contract provides them an opportunity to work with some of the world’s top performers,” said SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland. “Many SAG-AFTRA members also have a built-in fan base that passionately follows their work and expands a game’s potential audience.”

Key features of the contract:

• Offers customized session rates for three different production budget tiers:
  • $250,000 to $1 million.
  • $1 million to $5 million.
  • $5 million to $15 million.
• Simplifies and streamlines the base language of the full Interactive Media Agreement.
• Captures runaway project success with secondary payments, which can be prepaid at a reduced rate.
• Requires informed consent and compensation for the use of digital replicas of a performer.

The full text of the agreement, FAQs and a Producers Guide are available for review in our digital Production Center. 

SAG-AFTRA remains in negotiations with most of the industry’s largest video game companies over its Interactive Media Agreement. The new tiered agreement incorporates many of the sought-after provisions essential for the safety and sustainability of actors’ careers.

Developers interested in finding out more about the new agreement should contact interactive@sagaftra.org or call (323) 549-6815. 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.

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.