Italian film producer Dino De Laurentiis once famously said “If no producer, no movie”. As someone who produced over 500 films, of which 38 were nominated for Academy Awards, he also knew without recognizable talent, you have no distribution.
However it’s not just motion picture studio releases that depend on the skill of professional actors. It’s important to note, if you want to get your film seen and sold, you’ll arguably need union talent in major roles, which means you’ll need to know the SAG-AFTRA rates and rules.
SAG-AFTRA brings together two American labor unions: Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Both were formed in the 1930s, tasked with fighting for and securing the strongest protections for media artists. In 2012, the two unions merged forming a very powerful block that represents the interests of film, radio and television professional talent.
SAG-AFTRA negotiates contracts that cover the work of media professionals in front of a camera or behind a microphone. The type of project will determine the type of collective bargaining agreement which applies and what the producer will have to pay the talent.
Below is a list of the different contracts SAG-AFTRA offers:
If you are casting actors that are affiliated with the union, be it for an hour program or a film, you need to know the minimum wage day rate or weekly rates based on the theatrical agreements that apply to your production. The SAG minimum rate is determined by the type of project, the budget of the production and the intended distribution. You’ll need to provide all this information if you are going to enter into an agreement with SAG.You should submit an application to SAG-AFTRA no less than 4-6 weeks before your first date of work, including travel, rehearsal, and principal photography.
For the purposes of this article, we will go more in depth on four main areas:
