Producer’s Guide to Working with SAG-AFTRA on
a Low Budget Theatrical Motion Picture
SAG-AFTRA Signatory Producers have access to the world’s most talented and
professional performers for their projects, but becoming signatory does require
completing some paperwork. We understand that dealing with paperwork isn’t as
much fun as shooting your project, so to ease this burden we’ve created this
guide to completing the signatory process.
Documents
The Signatory Package Zip Files that are posted on the Production Center at
sagaftra.org are provided so that producers may review and consider them
before beginning the signatory process. They are for demonstration purposes
only---documents with signature lines are watermarked “SAMPLE” and cannot be
executed.
For your reference, the Signatory Package Zip Files are divided into 2 folders:
Signatory Documents and Production Documents. You will use the
Signatory Documents to sign with the Guild, and the Production Documents
to manage the production and post-production phases of your project.
Once you have decided to begin the signatory process, start by following the
steps outlined in the Pre-Production section below.
Pre-Production
These are the steps you must take at least 3 weeks prior to your first day of
travel, rehearsal, or principal photography, whichever comes first.
1. Unless you have already done so, start by filling out the Preliminary
Information Sheet Low Budget Modified Low Budget Ultra Low
Budget 4.22 (attached at the end of this Guide). Email it to
signyourpicture@sagaftra.org. A SAG-AFTRA Business
Representative will contact you within a few days to explain the steps
to becoming a SAG-AFTRA Signatory Producer. He/she will also send
you a packet of information and documents. The documents in that
packet are not samples and can be fully executed.
2. At this point you should send us the following documents from your
Producers Guide Low Budget 9.32 1 of 5packet:
? Information Sheet Theatrical 4.24
? Distribution Checklist Theatrical 4.14
? Adherence Letter Theatrical 2009 2.1
(Return two signed originals)
? Low Budget Agreement 1.5
(Return two signed originals)
? Adherence Letter Pension and Health Plans 2.3
(Return two signed originals)
? Production Checklist Theatrical Television 4.7
3. We also need to know who is employing the actors. If your company is
a:
? Corporation – We will need your Articles of Incorporation and
completed Corporate Resolution 3.11.
? Limited Liability Company (LLC) – We will need your Articles
of Organization, LLC Operating Agreement, and completed
Limited Liability Company Resolution 3.19.
? Partnership or Joint Venture – We will need your Fictitious
Business Name Statement (if applicable) and Partnership
Agreement (if applicable).
Note: It’s very important that the information you provide in this step is
consistent with the information submitted in Step 2 above. For
example; if you’ve submitted your company’s official name as Film,
L.L.C. in Step 2, submitting it as Film LLC (without the punctuation) in
Step 3 could cause problems with your paperwork.
4. Also send the following required production documents:
? Complete Pre-Production Cast List 5.1; if you intend to use
the “Diversity in Casting Incentive,” please use the Pre-
Production Cast List Affirmative Action 5.2 form.
? A copy of the shooting script
? Day Out Of Days Form 6.15
Producers Guide Low Budget 9.32 2 of 5? Line Item Budget; this budget must be detailed and complete,
including all above-the-line and below-the-line costs.
5. We also need to review any agreements you have that affect the
ownership of the film and its story. These are called ‘Chain of Title’
documents. Chain of Title documents usually include, but are not
limited to, the following:
? A copy of Form PA (relating to the screenplay) and proof of its
receipt by the US Copyright Office (USCO). The writer (or
copyright owner) of the script should have filed this document
with the copyright office. They should be able to provide you
with both documents;
? Complete chain of title documents relating to the film and the
underlying rights, including proof of filing each with USCO (For
example, certificate(s) of authorship, “work made for hire”
agreements, and copyright assignments); and
? Copies of all distribution, license, and/or sales agency
agreements pertaining to the right to distribute the Picture in all
media and territories worldwide.
6. Once we’ve received and reviewed all of the applicable documents
listed above, your SAG-AFTRA Business Representative will contact
you and let you know what financial assurances are needed. Financial
assurances usually include, but are not limited to, the following:
? Security Deposit (in the form of a cashier’s check or wire
transfer) and related Security Deposit Letter 3.5 and W-9
Form-Request For Taxpayer ID Number & Certification 9.24.
? Security Agreement
? Assumption Agreement(s)
? Intercreditor Agreement(s), if applicable
? And all other financial assurances that may be required,
including, but not limited to, a Collection Agreement, Guarantee
Agreement, and/or a Residuals Reserve and corresponding
Custody Agreement.
Not all of the financial assurance documents are referenced here because the
ones that may be required for your project are determined after the initial review.
Producers Guide Low Budget 9.32 3 of 5
When all of the requirements outlined above are fulfilled, your SAG-AFTRA
Business Rep will give your production “clearance”, meaning that the Performers
and Background Actors may now start work. This is the point at which you
should contact the department known as “Station 12” to check the status of the
Performers and Background Actors you’ve hired for your project.
Important Notice Regarding Signatory Documents
Who may sign? Signatory documents must be executed by an authorized
person or persons.
? Corporations – Any person who is authorized by the President or
Secretary of the Corporation on the Corporate Resolution. The Corporate
Resolution may be signed only by the President or Secretary of the
Corporation.
? Limited Liability Corporations – The Manager or Managing Member as
indicated by the Articles of Organization, the Operating Agreement and
authorized by the Limited Liability Company Resolution.
? Limited Partnerships – The General Partner as identified in the
Partnership Agreement.
? Sole Proprietorships – The Individual Owner.
? D/B/A (“Doing Business As”) – The Individual.
Production
During production, complete and submit the following to your SAG-AFTRA
Business Representative:
1. SAG-AFTRA Performer Contracts for Low Budget Theatrical Motion
Pictures
2. Production Time Report Exhibit G 6.14 (submitted on a weekly
basis)
3. If you are hiring a performer or background actor who is not a SAG-
AFTRA member, you will need to complete a Taft-Hartley Report
Principals Theatrical-Television 6.1, or a Taft-Hartley Report
Background Theatrical-Television 6.2, and submit them to SAG-
AFTRA, along with head shots and resumes.
Producers Guide Low Budget 9.32 4 of 5Post-Production
After production, complete and submit the following documents to your SAG-
AFTRA Business Representative:
1. Final Cast List Information Sheet 7.1
2. Casting Data Report 7.2, and Casting Data Report Stunt
Performers And Coordinators 7.4 (if applicable).
3. If you intend to use the “Diversity in Casting Incentive,” please use the
Casting Data Report Low Budget Affirmative Action 7.3.
4. Detailed Line Item Final Cost Report
If you have any questions, please contact your SAG-AFTRA Business
Representative.
Producers Guide Low Budget 9.32 5 of 5
SCREEN ACTORS GUILD-AMERICAN FEDERATION OF
TELEVISION AND RADIO ARTISTS PRELIMINARY
THEATRICAL INFORMATION SHEET ULTRA LOW-
BUDGET AGREEMENT, MODIFIED LOW-BUDGET
AGREEMENT OR LOW-BUDGET AGREEMENT
(Motion Pictures made for initial Theatrical release only)
Please complete the yellow highlighted areas completely – PRINT CLEARLY
(it is important that you do not leave any areas blank).
Project Title:
Production Information:
Contact Person: Position in production:
Contact Information:
Home: Work: Cell: FAX: E-mail address:
Producer (if different than above):
Name:
Contact Information:
Home: Work: Cell: FAX: E-mail address:
Signatory Information:
Are you signing as (check one only):
Individual: Business or Corporation:
If signing as a business are you a:
Corporation: LLC: Business: DBA: Other:
Name of Person or Company:
Address: (Alternate or Mailing Address - optional)
Street: Name:
Suite: Address:
City: City:
State & Zip State & Zip
Attn:
About the Film:
Briefly describe the storyline:
Start Date: Completion Date:
Medium (film, digital, video)
Is it live action or animated?
Projected Edited Length:
Is there a prior lien on the film?
Do you have a distribution Agreement?
Who wrote the Screenplay?
Who owns the project?
Preliminary Information Sheet Low Budget Modified Low Budget Ultra Low Budget 4.22 1 of 4
Where are you shooting (city/state,
etc.)
If more than one location, list dates for
each location
Number of shooting days:
Total number of speaking roles: SAG- Non-
AFTRA: SAGAFTRA:
Financial Information:
Project Financed by:
Cash expenditures
Equipment
Film and processing
(Including digital media):
Post production:
Total budget:
Additional information:
Please place a check mark if you intend to include any of the following in your production:
Minors: Animals: Singers: Stunts: Nudity:
Films produced under the SAG-AFTRA Low-Budget Agreements must be filmed entirely within the United
States and its territories.
PLEASE RETURN this document along with your Drivers License (or corporate paperwork if signing as
business) via return email signyourpicture@sagaftra.org SAG-AFTRA Theatrical contracts division at
5757 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036 or fax at (323) 549-6886 at least 3 weeks before
production.
Further information on all the SAG-AFTRA Low-Budget Agreements is available on this website. If you
live in the vicinity of Los Angeles or New York, we recommend that you attend a SAG-AFTRA
Independent Filmmaker’s Signatory workshop for questions on these agreements. For a workshop
reservation call the SAGIndie Outreach Program at (323) 549-6064 or book online at
www.SAGIndie.org. If you live in an area covered by one of the SAG-AFTRA Local offices listed below,
please call the telephone number provided.
Notice Regarding Minors
Please note that if you are employing minors (those under 18 years of age) you are required by state law
to make sure that they have obtained minor work permits (the phone number of one office providing
permits is 562- 590-5048.) If you are employing minors during school days or school hours you will be
required to provide a teacher on set. Minors are only allowed to be on set a limited amount of hours. Go
to: http://www.studioteachers.com/bluebook/bb8.html.
Preliminary Information Sheet Low Budget Modified Low Budget Ultra Low Budget 4.22 2 of 4
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
You are hereby reminded that it is the obligation of the SAG-AFTRA signatory to comply with all
legal requirements for employment of performers including, but not limited to, those pertaining to
Workers Compensation.
PLEASE RETURN by fax to the appropriate number listed below. A Business Representative will contact
you within 2 – 3 business days to follow-up on your request, explain the process and forward the
appropriate paperwork. If you do not receive a return call please call to check that the fax was received.
For projects filming in:
Alaska Idaho Montana Texas Seattle
Arizona Iowa Nebraska Oklahoma South Dakota
Arkansas Kansas Nevada Omaha Utah
Colorado Los Angeles New Mexico Oregon Washington
Hawaii vicinity North Dakota San Diego Wyoming
Fax to Los Angeles office – Theatrical Contracts – (323) 549-6886. Telephone (323) 549-6828.
For Ultra Low Budget productions only in these areas please fax to the Chicago office – (312) 573-0318.
For projects filming in:
Alabama Maine New York Tennessee
Connecticut Maryland North Carolina Vermont
Delaware Massachusetts New Jersey, Ohio Virginia
Florida Michigan Pennsylvania Washington D.C.
Georgia Minnesota Philadelphia West Virginia
Illinois Mississippi Puerto Rico Wisconsin
Kentucky Missouri Rhode Island
Louisiana New Hampshire South Carolina
Fax to New York office – Theatrical Contracts – (212) 944-6774. Telephone (212) 827-1553.
For Ultra Low Budget productions only in these areas please fax to the Chicago office – (312) 573-0318.
Telephone (312) 573-8081.
For projects filming in the San Francisco and Northern California areas:
Fax to San Francisco office – (415) 391-1108. Telephone (415) 391-7510
Although the signatory process will be handled by the Los Angeles or New York SAG-AFTRA office, if
you are filming in an area with a Local SAG-AFTRA office, please feel free to contact them ahead of time.
Local SAG-AFTRA offices can be reached toll-free at (800) 724-0767. Local numbers are below:
Preliminary Information Sheet Low Budget Modified Low Budget Ultra Low Budget 4.22 3 of 4
LOCAL STATES COVERED LOCAL STATES COVERED
ARIZONA Arizona, Utah NASHVILLE Kentucky,
Tel: (480) 264-7696 Tel: (305) 670-7677 Tennessee
Don.livesay@sagaftra.org Fax:(305) 670-1813
or (800) 844-5439
BOSTON Maine, NEW YORK Connecticut, New
Tel: (617) 262-8001 Massachusetts, See above York, Northern New
Fax: (617) 262-3006 New Hampshire, Jersey (as
Rhode Island, designated by zip
Vermont code)
CHICAGO Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, NEVADA Nevada
Tel: (312) 573-8081 Minnesota, Missouri, Tel: (702) 737-8818
Fax: (312) 573-0318 or North Dakota, Ohio Fax: (702) 933-9118
((800) 599-1675 South Dakota,
Wisconsin
COLORADO Colorado, Kansas NEW MEXICO New Mexico
Tel: (720) 932-8193 Nebraska, Wyoming Tel: (505) 268-2127
Fax: (720) 932-8194 Fax: (505) 268-2151
DALLAS Arkansas PHILADELPHIA Delaware,
Tel: (214) 379-1171 Northern Texas (as Tel: (215) 760-8535 Pennsylvania,
Fax: (214) 379-1172 designated by zip Fax: (866) 226-6983 Southern New
or (877) 344-7276 code) Jersey (as
Oklahoma designated by zip
code)
DETROIT Michigan PORTLAND Oregon
Tel: (248) 351-2678 Tel: (206) 402-5958
Fax: (248) 351-2679 Fax: (206) 402-3489
or (800) 378-6741
FLORIDA Alabama, Florida, SAN DIEGO Southern California
Tel: (305) 670-7677 Louisiana, Mississippi Tel: (702) 737-8818 (as designated by
Fax: (305) 670-1813 North Carolina, Fax: (702) 933-9118 zip code)
or (800) 844-5439 Puerto Rico, South
Carolina
ORLANDO
Tel: (407) 788-3020
Fax: (407) 788-3080
GEORGIA Georgia SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco:
Tel: (404) 239-0131 Tel: (415) 391-7510 Northern California
Fax: (404) 239-0137 Fax: (415) 391-1108 (as designated by
zip code)
HAWAII Hawaii SEATTLE Alaska, Montana,
Tel: (808) 596-0388 Tel: (206) 402-5958 Washington
Fax: (808) 593-2636 Fax: (206) 402-3489
or (800) 305-8146 or (800) 378-6741
HOLLYWOOD Greater Los Angeles UTAH Utah
See above (as designated by zip Tel: (480) 264-7696
code) Don.livesay@sagaftra.org
HOUSTON Southern Texas (as WASHINGTON DC Maryland, Virginia
Tel: (214) 379-1171 designated by zip Tel: (301) 657-2560 Washington DC,
Fax: (214) 379-1172 code) Fax: (301) 656-3615 West Virginia
or (877) 344-7276 or (800) 253-9730
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