Ultra Low Budget Project

Please be sure to visit sagaftra.org/backtowork for the latest guidelines, resources and FAQs on planning for a safe return to production.  

Please submit your application no less than 4-6 weeks before your first date of work, including travel, rehearsal, and principal photography.  Failure to submit a Preliminary Information Form or Signatory Application in a timely manner may result in delays and/or your project not being granted clearance by SAG-AFTRA.

If you are planning to commence or resume production on a SAG-AFTRA covered project that requires any in person interaction between individuals, the union will be requiring materials related to your COVID-19 safety protocols. While this document doesn’t cover everything you need to know, this guide is intended to help you get started on the process. 

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SAG-AFTRA is pleased to announce two new agreements for low budget projects in addition to some updates to existing agreements. These changes will be effective February 1, 2020. More information will be available online shortly.

The first new agreement is the Ultra Low Budget Project Agreement (“UPA”). This will replace the previous Ultra Low Budget Agreement entirely as well as replace the Special New Media Agreement for non-episodic productions budgeted under $300,000. Some highlights of the UPA include:

• Applies to non-episodic content only
• Applies to projects filmed entirely in the United States
• Applies to projects with a maximum budget of $300,000
• Rates for day performers are set at 20% of basic agreement scale* and will increase annually with scale
• Producers no longer have to declare their intended exhibition market and residuals will be based on the initial release of the project

The second new agreement is the Moderate Low Budget Project Agreement (“MPA”). This will replace the previous Modified Low Budget Agreement entirely as well as replace the Special New Media Agreement for non-episodic productions budgeted between $300,000 and $700,000. Some highlights of the MPA include:

• Applies to non-episodic content only
• Applies to projects filmed entirely in the United States
• Applies to projects with a budget greater than $300,000 and a maximum of $700,000
  • Diversity in casting and background actor incentives are available
• Rates for daily and weekly principal performers are set at 35% of basic agreement scale* and will increase annually with scale
• Producers no longer have to declare their intended exhibition market and residuals will be based on the initial release of the project

The Low Budget Agreement will now be called the Low Budget Theatrical Agreement (“LBA”), and rates for daily and weekly principal performers will be set at 65% of basic agreement scale (and will increase annually with scale). The LBA will remain limited to projects with an initial theatrical release, with budgets greater than $700,000 but no more than $2,000,000. A diversity in casting incentive will remain available.

The Special New Media Agreement will remain limited to projects with an initial new media release and will now have four categories. Categories A and B will only apply to episodic content made for new media. Categories C and D will apply to both non-episodic and episodic content made for new media.

• Category A will have day performer rates set at 20% of basic agreement scale* and background actor rates set at 75% of background actor scale. (Rates will increase annually with scale.)
• Category B will have daily and weekly principal performer rates set at 35% of scale* and background actor rates set at 75% of background actor scale. (Rates will increase annually with scale.)
• Category C will have daily and weekly principal performer rates set at 65% of scale and background actor rates set at basic agreement scale.* (Rates will increase annually with scale.)
• Category D will have principal performer and background actor rates set at basic agreement scale. (Rates will increase annually with scale.)

More information will be posted shortly. We look forward to working with you on your next low budget project!

*Stunt coordinators must be covered and paid the rate set forth in Schedules K-I, K-II or K-III of the Codified Basic Agreement that is current at the time of photography

The Ultra Low Budget Project Agreement applies to those films shooting entirely in the United States with a maximum budget of $300,000.

Step 1

These are the steps you must take prior to your first day of travel, rehearsal/table read, or principal photography, whichever comes first (we recommend giving yourself at least three weeks).

Start by completing the Signatory Application for Ultra Low Budget Project Agreements.*

Please submit your application no less than 4-6 weeks before your first date of work, including travel, rehearsal, and principal photography. Failure to submit a Preliminary Information Form or Signatory Application in a timely manner may result in delays and/or your project not being granted clearance by SAG-AFTRA.

A SAG-AFTRA Business Representative will contact you within a few days and send you a packet of information and documents.

Step 2

Required Documents

Complete and return the following requested documents:

1. Signatory Producer’s Company Formation Documents
   1. If you are producing as an individual, please send us a copy of your government issued identification.
2. Company Authorization Form, if applicable
3. SAG-AFTRA Agreement for Independent Producers of Non-Episodic Projects*
4. SAG-AFTRA-Producers Pension Plan Adherence Letter*
5. Television/Theatrical Production Checklist*
6. Ultra Low Budget Project Agreement*
7. Complete Pre-Production Cast List
8. A copy of the shooting script
9. Day Out of Days
10. Line Item Budget

*These items may be sent by your Business Representative via DocuSign to the authorized signer.  Contact your Business Representative if you have any questions.

Step 3

Required Documents (cont.)

Also complete and submit documentation that indicates who is employing the performers:

• Corporation – Provide your Articles of Incorporation and executed Bylaws.
• Limited Liability Corporations (LLC) – Provide your Articles of Organization and executed Operating Agreement.
• DBA - Fictitious Business Name Statement with Clerk’s stamp

NOTE: It’s very important that the information you provide in this step is consistent with the information previously submitted.

Step 4

Once we’ve received and reviewed all of the applicable documents, your SAG-AFTRA Business Representative will contact you and let you know the amount of the security deposit, which you must deliver to the union as follows:

1. Security Deposit (cashier’s check or wire transfer)
2. Security Deposit letter
3. W-9 or W-8BEN form

When all of these requirements are fulfilled, your Business Representative will give your production “clearance,” which will allow the performers you have cast to begin work.

Step 5

During production, complete and submit the following to your SAG-AFTRA Business Representative:

1. Delivery of each week’s payroll checks to the Union: Itemized checks made payable to each performer must be delivered to your Business Representative no later than the Thursday following each payroll week. (Please note, this Agreement requires production to engage an entertainment payroll house to process performers’ payroll.)
2. Delivery of each week’s total Pension and Health contributions: In addition to the payroll checks, you must deliver a check made payable to the SAG-AFTRA-Producers Pension Plan in the amount of the total Pension and Health contributions for the previous week’s payroll, accompanied by a completed Pension and Health Plans Theatrical Weekly Report of Contributions.
3. SAG-AFTRA Performer Contracts for Ultra Low Budget Theatrical Motion Pictures
4. Complete a Production Time Report Form (Exhibit G) for each day of production.

Step 6

After production, complete and submit the following to your SAG-AFTRA Business Representative:

1. Final Cast List
2. Detailed Final Cost Report

Your SAG-AFTRA Business Representative will conduct a final review of your file to determine what, if any, outstanding items remain in order to begin the security deposit return process.

And that’s it!

If you have any questions throughout the process, please contact your SAG-AFTRA Business Representative.

Thank you for working with SAG-AFTRA.