Signing a SAG Ultra-Low Budget

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After all the auditions, call backs, "holding", the stomach churning excitement / nerves leading to the reservation job comes the job of signing the contract. As with almost any other job in the world contracts must be signed to ensure that all parties on board and you will see the project through to completion. This applies to the entertainment industry.

Yuck! I hate this part.

I have a legit agent, so I'm currently a bit on my own. Which is fine, although I have to say two of my biggest fears about it were) scaring producers / directors off too demanding and b) to fully utilize the set, and in some cases not getting paid because I am inexperienced.

I spent many an hour pouring over the contract as a non-union actor, which is what the sign itself fully and completely legally binding. Recently, however, are the property of the transition to SAG I learned some fascinating things, and relieving.

If you were offered a job at SAG film will be a SAG rep assigned to the film and the film itself will be listed in the database SAG (Screen Actors Guild was able to say more ?!?). When producers are paid their deposit SAG (which has a small amount compared to the film and put there to protect the actor lined plug gets pulled, or they run out of money to pay, etc.) will be released SAG actors contract / agreement that will then be given to you to sign up.

Now, on the same page as well as manufacturers of ultra low budget film you'll probably have to negotiate a few things. Technically, they had to pay $ 100/day and food on the set. If you shoot it out of the city should also receive a $ 100/travel days (plus $ 60 per-diem for each day you travel). In addition, you should get per diem in cash for meals that you will not be fed to setu.Proizvođač also be paid for all transportation and accommodation. Before the SAG contract manufacturers will probably send you another contract or as a Screen Actors Guild likes to call them "Deal Memos," which will help clarify what exactly all agree. You can negotiate any elements here, such as waiving the per diem, putting the cost of flight in the final pay check, denouncing the hotel, because you know someone locally you can stay with, etc, etc. But ultimately, no matter what you sign, the final SAG Ultra Low Budget Cast agreement is a business that is legally binding - replace anything you sign .**

This is a great relief for me when it came time to sign a contract recently. I am not well versed in legalese and was finding the whole thing awkward and scary. I love people, I'm about to do, I realized how much stress and strain are at getting things into production and wanted to make sure that I was a burden that was one of only SAG actors on the cast. But I was not interested in putting themselves in compromising position and I sold it, either. So I researched the project, made ​​sure that it is listed with SAG, and that the "legal" for me to do (you can lose your status if the unions agree to make a movie that is not union) and signed the proposed agreement for a reminder. There were a few funny / gray areas in the 10 + pages I have signed the legalese, but I knew I would eventually be protected by SAG contract - that if there is something in the contract is not in my favor, either due to oversight on my part or the part of producers to be given SAG contract.

** Keep in mind that I only heard it from one representative from SAG office. And as with any information, there is always room for misinterpretation. I promise to write an update if I learn differently - and as always, if you know better, do not hesitate to contact me or comment on

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