SAG Experimental Film Agreement in plain English at DVinfo.net

Michael Wisniewski · June 7th, 2004, 04:55 PM

Here's a good explanation, in plain english, of the SAG Experimental Film Agreement (click here)

Rob Lohman · June 8th, 2004, 07:00 AM

Thanks! That was an interesting read.

Barry Gribble · June 8th, 2004, 07:28 AM

That's great Michael, thanks.... I was planning on trying a SAG experimental in September but was sort of dreading it... It looks pretty doable though.

Michael Wisniewski · June 8th, 2004, 10:44 AM

Here's a follow up regarding actors and SAG waivers
------------------------------------------------------------------
Actors have to acquire 3 SAG waivers before they can join the union. SAG waivers are issued to non-union actors who perform in a SAG production.

EXCEPT for the Experimental Film Agreement. You will not be issued a SAG waiver for non-union actors you use under the Experimental Film Agreement.

Michael Wisniewski · September 25th, 2004, 03:08 PM

More info on using SAG Actors in Indie films (click here)

Michael Wisniewski · September 20th, 2005, 10:33 AM

Newest info on SAG agreements:

1. Contracts
2. SAG website

Reid Bailey · October 26th, 2005, 07:34 AM

FYI on the new agreements.

The experimental agreement has been replaced by the short film and ultra low budget agreement.
There is currently not an agreement that would allow deferred pay for feature length projects without obtaining a waiver directly from SAG.

I was disappointed to see them do away with the Experimental Film agreement :-(

I'm currently gearing up for a short under the Short film agreement. There is still a mountain of paperwork, but I think it will be worth it considering the level of talent responding to the notices.

Also, you can only defer salaries, you must pay mileage and any meal penalties.

Harikrishnan Ponnurangam · March 2nd, 2006, 02:14 PM

Hey Michael and Reid,

I'm also working on an indepdent feature. Went to Sag office in Chicago they are really nice about it and there is a talented pool of artist. Its kind of gives you confident on seeing their show reel.

Yes the experimental agreement is gone and replaced with Ultra low budge agreement.

:)Hari

Reid Bailey · March 30th, 2006, 02:51 PM

That's good to know about the Chi office. I was just talking to someone on another forum from that area, telling him to contact his local office.

Thanks for the heads up.

Greg Quinn · February 21st, 2007, 01:02 AM

I was speaking with my local SAG rep and the LA SAG rep, and they seem to be very accommodating about the Ultra Low budget agreement, etc. We're talking about $100/day + local employment law compliance (workers comp, etc.) which seems reasonable. My understanding about deferred payment is that it's a tough one to legally enable in any meaningful way.

Moderator: the initial posts in this thread are simply out of date and should be removed in the interests of clarity. Someone reading just the first few posts would have an incorrect idea of the current situation.

Matt Newcomb · April 10th, 2007, 12:08 AM

I think updating or starting a new thread is in order. I got all excited about being able to make a feature with SAG and non-union with deferred pay. :(

Barry Gribble · April 10th, 2007, 12:27 AM

You can definitely still use SAG actors with deferred pay. Check out the SAGIndie site:

http://www.sagindie.com/

Matt Newcomb · April 10th, 2007, 01:10 AM

Yes, but I believe the first post and article talk about doing it in a feature length setting, maybe I misunderstood, and you could never do it, but now deferred payment is only available for shorts.

Reid Bailey · April 24th, 2007, 11:35 AM

Yeah, the new agreements rule out deferred pay for feature length.
Maybe, if you're not in the NY or LA regions you could beg for a deferral, but it will be tough.
I think current pay for ultra-low budget features is $100 day. Since they have to be covered under workers comp etc, I think that works out to $135 a day, once all the taxes etc are handled.

Phil Anderson · October 10th, 2007, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reid Bailey

I think that works out to $135 a day, once all the taxes etc are handled.

This is indeed a very fair price to pay for any SAG actor. If you can get a B, or even a C player in your film, it way, way increases your distribution and sales potential.

Even if, say, you live in a city like Phoenix, if you had a B player who liked your script, you could fly them out, put them up in an okay hotel or someone's nice guest room, and get them to work on your film for a day for a total cost of SAG/air/food, of couple hundred bucks.

I'm not going to drop any names, but my experience in trying to get B players has been mostly quite positive. Their agents and managers are often more than willing to hear what you have to say and read your (WGA registered and copyrighted) script, especially if you are familiar with this SAG rule and mention it up front. There are some who aren't interested in something under mid-six figures, but most of them are at least open to hearing what you have to say and reading your writing.

Keep polishing your scripts folks!

June 7th, 2004, 04:55 PM	#1
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	SAG Experimental Film Agreement in plain English Here's a good explanation, in plain english, of the SAG Experimental Film Agreement (click here)

June 8th, 2004, 07:00 AM	#2
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Thanks! That was an interesting read. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

June 8th, 2004, 07:28 AM	#3
Barry Gribble Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 817	That's great Michael, thanks.... I was planning on trying a SAG experimental in September but was sort of dreading it... It looks pretty doable though. __________________ Barry Gribble Integral Arts, IMDB

September 25th, 2004, 03:08 PM	#5
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	More info on using SAG Actors in Indie films (click here) __________________ "Ultimately, the most extraordinary thing, in a frame, is a human being." - Martin Scorsese

September 20th, 2005, 10:33 AM	#6
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	Newest info on SAG agreements: 1. Contracts 2. SAG website __________________ "Ultimately, the most extraordinary thing, in a frame, is a human being." - Martin Scorsese

June 8th, 2004, 10:44 AM	#4
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	Here's a follow up regarding actors and SAG waivers ------------------------------------------------------------------ Actors have to acquire 3 SAG waivers before they can join the union. SAG waivers are issued to non-union actors who perform in a SAG production. EXCEPT for the Experimental Film Agreement. You will not be issued a SAG waiver for non-union actors you use under the Experimental Film Agreement.

October 26th, 2005, 07:34 AM	#7
Reid Bailey Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Fredericksburg, Va Posts: 220	FYI on the new agreements. The experimental agreement has been replaced by the short film and ultra low budget agreement. There is currently not an agreement that would allow deferred pay for feature length projects without obtaining a waiver directly from SAG. I was disappointed to see them do away with the Experimental Film agreement :-( I'm currently gearing up for a short under the Short film agreement. There is still a mountain of paperwork, but I think it will be worth it considering the level of talent responding to the notices. Also, you can only defer salaries, you must pay mileage and any meal penalties.

March 2nd, 2006, 02:14 PM	#8
Harikrishnan Ponnurangam Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: St.Louis, USA Posts: 145	Hey Michael and Reid, I'm also working on an indepdent feature. Went to Sag office in Chicago they are really nice about it and there is a talented pool of artist. Its kind of gives you confident on seeing their show reel. Yes the experimental agreement is gone and replaced with Ultra low budge agreement. :)Hari

March 30th, 2006, 02:51 PM	#9
Reid Bailey Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Fredericksburg, Va Posts: 220	That's good to know about the Chi office. I was just talking to someone on another forum from that area, telling him to contact his local office. Thanks for the heads up.

February 21st, 2007, 01:02 AM	#10
Greg Quinn Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San Diego, California Posts: 505	I was speaking with my local SAG rep and the LA SAG rep, and they seem to be very accommodating about the Ultra Low budget agreement, etc. We're talking about $100/day + local employment law compliance (workers comp, etc.) which seems reasonable. My understanding about deferred payment is that it's a tough one to legally enable in any meaningful way. Moderator: the initial posts in this thread are simply out of date and should be removed in the interests of clarity. Someone reading just the first few posts would have an incorrect idea of the current situation.

April 10th, 2007, 12:08 AM	#11
Matt Newcomb Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 212	I think updating or starting a new thread is in order. I got all excited about being able to make a feature with SAG and non-union with deferred pay. :(

April 10th, 2007, 12:27 AM	#12
Barry Gribble Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 817	You can definitely still use SAG actors with deferred pay. Check out the SAGIndie site: http://www.sagindie.com/ __________________ Barry Gribble Integral Arts, IMDB

April 10th, 2007, 01:10 AM	#13
Matt Newcomb Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 212	Yes, but I believe the first post and article talk about doing it in a feature length setting, maybe I misunderstood, and you could never do it, but now deferred payment is only available for shorts.

April 24th, 2007, 11:35 AM	#14
Reid Bailey Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Fredericksburg, Va Posts: 220	Yeah, the new agreements rule out deferred pay for feature length. Maybe, if you're not in the NY or LA regions you could beg for a deferral, but it will be tough. I think current pay for ultra-low budget features is $100 day. Since they have to be covered under workers comp etc, I think that works out to $135 a day, once all the taxes etc are handled.