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.
What is SAG-AFTRA
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 Contracts List
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:
-
-
New Media
-
Special New Media
-
Moderate Low Budget Projects
-
Ultra Low Budget Projects
-
Short Projects
-
Micro-Budget Projects
-
-
-
Television
-
Television Live Action
-
Basic Cable Live Action
-
Television Animation
-
Basic Cable Animation
-
-
-
Theatrical
-
Low Budget Theatrical
-
Moderate Low Budget Project
-
Ultra Low Budget Project
-
Short Project
-
Student Film
-
Micro-Budget Projects
-
What Producers Need to Know
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:
-
Theatrical Contract Rates
-
Television Contract Rates
-
New Media Contract Rates
-
Commercial Contract Rates
1. Theatrical Contract Rates
For theatrical productions, SAG-AFTRA offers 7 tiers of contracts:
Theatrical
The Theatrical Agreements apply to those films shooting entirely within the United States with a total budget greater than $2,000,000, as well as films shooting outside of the United States.
SAG Day Rate Per Performer |
Current Rates |
| Performer | $1,088 |
| Stunt Performer | $1,088 |
| Stunt Coordinator (employed at less than “flat deal” minimum) | $1,088 |
| Airplane Pilot (Studio) | $1,454 |
| Airplane Pilot (Location) | $1,892 |
|
SAG Weekly Rate Per Performer |
Current Rates |
| Performer | $3,774 |
| Stunt Performer | $4,054 |
| Stunt Coordinator (employed at less than “flat deal” minimum) | $4,054 |
| Airplane Pilot (Studio and Location) | $4,054 |
| Airplane Pilot (Flying/taxiing – daily adjustment) | $1,247 |
SAG Day Rate Per Background |
Current Rates |
| Background Actors | $187 |
| Special Ability Background Actors | $197 |
| Stand Ins/ Photo Doubles | $220 |
Low Budget Theatrical
The Low Budget Agreement applies to those films shooting entirely within the United States with a total budget of less than $2,000,000.
| Performer | Current Rates |
| Day Performer | $703 |
| Weekly Performer | $2,441 |
| Daily Stunt | $703 |
| Weekly Stunt | $2,622 |
| Daily Stunt Coordinator (employed at less than “Flat Deal” minimum)* | $1,082 |
| Weekly Stunt Coordinator (employed at less than “Flat Deal” minimum)* | $4,034 |
| Stunt Coordinators (Employed On A “Flat Deal” Basis) Per Day* | $1,684 |
| Stunt Coordinators (Employed On A “Flat Deal” Basis) Per Week* | $6,636 |
Moderate Low Budget
The Moderate Low Budget Project Agreement applies to those films shooting entirely in the United States with a total budget of less than $700,000.
| Performer | Current Rates |
| Day Performer | $379 |
| Weekly Performer | $1,315 |
| Daily Stunt | $379 |
| Weekly Stunt | $1,412 |
| Daily Stunt Coordinator (employed at less than “Flat Deal” minimum)* | $1,082 |
| Weekly Stunt Coordinator (employed at less than “Flat Deal” minimum)* | $4,034 |
| Stunt Coordinators (Employed On A “Flat Deal” Basis) Per Day* | $1,682 |
| Stunt Coordinators (Employed On A “Flat Deal” Basis) Per Week* | $6,636 |
Ultra Low Budget
The Ultra Low Budget Project Agreement applies to those films shooting entirely in the United States with a maximum budget of $300,000.
| Performer | Current Rates |
| Day Performer | $216 |
| Daily Stunt Coordinator (employed at less than “Flat Deal” minimum)* | $1,082 |
| Weekly Stunt Coordinator (employed at less than “Flat Deal” minimum) | $4,034 |
| Stunt Coordinators (Employed On A “Flat Deal” Basis) Per Day | $1,682 |
| Stunt Coordinators (Employed On A “Flat Deal” Basis) Per Week | $6,636 |
Short Project
The Short Project Agreement applies to those projects shooting entirely in the United States with a maximum total budget of $50,000 and a maximum total run time of 40 minutes. Note that this does not apply to episodic nor animated projects.
| Performer | Current Rates |
| Day Performer | $216 |
| Daily Stunt Coordinator (employed at less than “Flat Deal” minimum)* | $1,082 |
| Weekly Stunt Coordinator (employed at less than “Flat Deal” minimum) | $4,034 |
| Stunt Coordinators (Employed On A “Flat Deal” Basis) Per Day | $1,682 |
| Stunt Coordinators (Employed On A “Flat Deal” Basis) Per Week | $6,636 |
Student Film
The Student Film Agreement applies to student films that satisfy course requirements at an accredited educational institution shooting entirely in the United States with a budget of less than $35,000 and a run time of less than 35 minutes (short films). Most terms will be subject to negotiation between producer and performer, therefore SAG does not provide a rate table.
Micro-Budget Agreement
What Projects Qualify?
-
Entertainment Content – the type of project that would typically sign a new media agreement or the Short Project Agreement or the Student Film Agreement
-
Budgeted at $20,000 or less per picture or per episode (if multiple programs)
-
Recorded entirely in the US (and its territories)
-
Live Action
-
Scripted and Unscripted
-
Permitted Exhibition:
-
Film Festivals
-
Free to the Consumer New Media (AVOD)
-
Required Screenings for Academy Award Consideration
-
Public Access TV
-
For Demo Purposes
-
In The Classroom (student producers)
-
What Doesn’t Fit Under this Agreement?
This Agreement won’t be right for everyone. The following would not qualify for the Micro:
-
Animation
-
Commercials
-
Corporate or Educational Videos
-
Music Videos
-
Audio only content including audiobooks, podcasts, and radio plays
-
Video Games
-
News/Broadcast
-
Projects including any nudity or simulated sex
-
Projects including any hazardous stunts
-
Projects where the producer has received any compensation in exchange for the right to distribute or exhibit it
What Are the Terms of this Agreement?
Most terms will be subject to negotiation between producer and performer, so SAG does not provide a rate table. Please note that this Agreement does not create eligibility to join the union.
2. Television Contract Rates
The Following salary rates apply to: (a) new series and new television programs, the principal photography of which commences on or after July 1, 2014; (b) ongoing series, the principal photography of which commenced prior to July 1, 2014 under the terms and conditions of the 2011 or any predecessor SAG Television Agreement. Here are the complete rate sheets for Television.
Live Action Television and Basic Cable
| Performer | Current Rates |
| Day Performer | $1,082 |
| Weekly Performer | $3,756 |
Producer SAG-AFTRA TV Animation Agreement Animation
SAG-AFTRA Television Animation Series |
Current Rates |
| Minimum Compensation per film or segment of film more than 10 minutes in length | $1,088.00 |
| Minimum Compensation per film or segment of film 10 minutes or less in length | $986.00 |
| For each voice after the third for performers employed on films or segments of films 10 minutes or less in length | $318.00 |
| Fourth audition for the same role (first two hours) | $81.00 |
| Time spent in fourth audition in excess of two hours (in 1⁄2) hour units) | $20.25 |
For more information, view the complete Animation Rate Sheet.
3. New Media Contract Rates
The New Media Agreement covers original and derivative entertainment productions made for initial release on new media platforms. This could be anything from hour shows to a short clip.
For Budgets of at Least $50,000, But Less than $250,000
| All Performers except Stunt Coordinators | $125 per day |
| Background Actors & Stand-Ins | $96 per day |
Stunt Coordinators:
Rates for Daily, Weekly and “Flat Deal” Stunt Coordinators track the rates in Schedule K-I, K-II, orSc K-III of the Basic Agreement that are current at time of photography.
| Position | Current Day Rate | Current Weekly Rate |
| Stunt Coordinator | $1,030 | $3,840 |
| Stunt Coordinator Flat Deal | $1,274 | $4,898 |
For Budgets of at Least $250,000, But Less than $700,000
| Day Performers | $335 per day |
| Weekly Performers | $1,166 per 5 day week |
| Background Actors | $125 per day |
| Stand-Ins | $135 per day |
| Daily Stunt Performers | $335 per day |
| Weekly Stunt Performers | $1,251 per 5 day week |
Stunt Coordinators:
Rates for Daily, Weekly and “Flat Deal” Stunt Coordinators track the rates in Schedule K-I, K-II, or K-III of the Basic Agreement that are current at time of photography (see above chart).
For Budgets of at Least $700,000, But Less than $1,000,000
| Day Performers | $630 per day |
| Weekly Performers | $2,190 per 5 day week |
| Background Actors | $166 per day |
| Stand-Ins | $194 per day |
| Daily Stunt Performers | $630 per day |
| Weekly Stunt Performers | $2,350 per 5 day week |
For Budgets $1,000,000 and Above
Full rates as set forth in the 2017 SAG-AFTRA Television Agreement. Please note full terms and conditions of the SAG-AFTRA Television Agreement may apply to this budget level as well.
Here is the entire rate sheet.
4. Commercial Contract Rates
Here are the most recent session fees breakdown for Commercial Contract Rates.
In this chart, we’ve listed the media type and the cycles and rates.
| MEDIA TYPE | Cycles & Rates (On-camera principal rates) |
| Traditional Digital (e.g., social media, YouTube, brand websites, retailer websites, third-party websites, etc.) |
4 week - $700 1 year - $3,400 |
|
Gaming Platforms/ Virtual Worlds/ Augmented Reality/ Emerging Platforms |
All use fees may be freely bargained |
| Streaming Platforms (inclusive of all other digital uses) |
4 week - $1,100 13 week - $2,550 |
| Class A (Capped at $20k for each 13-week cycle. The cap rises along with the % bump in scale payments – e.g., if performer is paid double scale, the cap is doubled as well) |
1st use – $783.10 14 – 18 each use - $137.37 |
| National Cable (including local cable, simulcast, and non-streaming Video on Demand (VOD) i.e., VOD accessed via your TV provider) |
4 week - $1,500 13 week - $4,100 1 year - $13,500 |
| Local Cable (including simulcast and non-streaming VOD i.e., VOD accessed via your TV provider) |
4 week - $300 13 week - $800 1 year - $3,000 |
| Wild Spot (including local cable simulcast and non-streaming VOD i.e., VOD accessed via your TV provider) |
4 week (all markets) - $800 |
|
Diginets |
Per Use: $29.33 13 weeks: $5,000 |
|
Theatrical/Industrial |
Up to 30 days use – $783.10 |
|
Dealer |
4 week - $700 1 year - $6,200 |
|
Spanish Language Program |
4 week - $1,000 13 week - $3,000 1 year - $10,000 |
|
All other North American use (ITN/Unwired Networks, Class B, Class C) |
4 week - $325 1 year - $3,500 |
SAG-AFTRA Day Rates and Minimums Wrap-Up
The saying goes “If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional, wait until you hire an amatuer”. It may be daunting to sift through all the fees and rates required by SAG-AFTRA, but at the end of the day having your creative project in the hands of professional talent will give you the most return on your investment. For further research, click here to access links to contract information, rates, FAQs and resources that help members and producers navigate the media and entertainment industries.
