SAG Experimental Film Agreement
SAG EXPERIMENTAL FILM AGREEMENT
1. Scope
If Producer intends to employ one or more professional performers in an
xperimental Film within the meaning of the SAG Experimental Film Letter
Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the "Agreement") and qualifies to do so
according to Screen Actors Guild (hereinafter "SAG" or "the Guild"), the
Agreement shall be executed by the Producer.
2. Application for SAG Experimental Film Letter Agreement
Submit the following not less than one (1) month prior to the date
Producer intends to start work with professional performers to the nearest Guild
office.
A) Copy of the final shooting script. A treatment is not
sufficient.
B) Detailed budget listing all deferred and current expenses
necessary to produce the Experimental Film. A cover sheet
is not sufficient.
C) Shooting schedule
D) A Form PA documenting registration of the copyright in the
screenplay which has been stamped as received by the U.S.
Copyright Office.
E) All chain of title documents relating to the ownership of the
copyright in the screenplay, including but not limited to, a
writer's agreement, a production services agreement, a
literary property agreement, or a copyright assignment.
F) A completed Information Sheet from the Producer indicating the
following:
i. Title
ii. Start date
iii. Estimated wrap date
iv. Intended number of actual shooting days
v. Medium to be used
vi. Current expenses
vii. Crew salary deferrals
viii. Above the line (other than performers) deferrals
ix. Equipment, stock and processing deferrals
x. Total budget
xi. Sources of financing
xii. Owner of the film
xiii. Any prior liens in the film
xiv. Reason for producing the project
xv. Intended distribution
SAG Experimental Film Agreement
The documents listed in A. through F. above shall constitute a
pplication to the Guild to produce the Experimental Film named on the
Information Sheet and to employ professional performers in the Experimental Film
under the Agreement. If the Guild, in its sole discretion, approves the
application submitted in connection with the Experimental Film, the Producer
shall be so notified and required to execute the SAG Experimental Film Letter
Agreement, financial assurances documents (which may include but is not limited
to, UCC-1 financing statements and security agreements), and, a security deposit
to be held by the Guild's bank in the applicable amount: $1,000 (for projects
one (1) hour or more in running time); or $500 (for projects less than one (1)
hour in running time).
In addition, Producer must submit to the Guild a list of all
professional performers to be employed in the Experimental Film and
documentation of Worker's Compensation coverage that covers potential lost wages
in the amount of the current day performer minimum under the Basic Agreement per
day on behalf of any performer employed on the Experimental Films.
Producer shall submit two (2) copies of the executed Agreement, the
UCC-1 financing statements, the security agreements, any other required
signatory or financial assurances documents and insurance documentation to the
Guild not later than one (1) week prior to any work by professional performers.
The Guild shall make available to the Producer Experimental Film Employment
Contracts, a Final Cast List Information Sheet and Production Time Reports.
3. Experimental Film Defined
A) Primary purpose of the Experimental Film is a learning
experience in which the Producer has the opportunity to work
with professional performers. Producer may also produce this
project to show before the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and
Sciences for possible Award consideration. In this connection,
the Producer will be allowed to exhibit the Experimental Film
in a paying movie theater for a limited period of time in
order to qualify for Award consideration. Producer may also
produce the Experimental Film to display it to non-paying,
non-public, established entertainment industry members to
showcase his/her talent. Producer may also produce the
Experimental Film for limited distribution on public access
television, as further described in Section 5 below.
B) Maximum total budget - $75,000.
C) Maximum shooting schedule - 30 days of principal photography
(not including retakes, added scenes and looping).
D) Must be shot entirely in the United States.
4. Exclusions
A) Any project not meeting the definition outlined in section 3
above.
B) Any project intended for exhibition, sale, release,
distribution or other public display in theatrical motion
picture houses, free television, basic cable, pay cable,
videocassettes/discs, holography, interactive media of any
type, or to educational or industrial markets, as more
particularly defined in the Screen Actors Guild
Industrial/Educational Agreement.
SAG Experimental Film Agreement
C) Any trailer or demo produced for the purpose of fund-raising.
D) Any project which the Guild believes, for any reason
whatsoever, cannot or will not meet the definition in section
3 above.
E) The exclusions outlined in this section 4 shall not limit the
Guild's right, in its sole discretion, to deny the
Experimental Agreement to any person or entity.
5. Exhibition Rights
The Experimental Film may be exhibited without compensation to the professional
performers:
A) At film festivals;
B) Before the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for
possible Award consideration. (Note: In this regard, the
Producer will be permitted, notwithstanding the exclusion in
section 4(B) above, to exhibit the Experimental Film for one
(1) week in a paying movie house to qualify for such
consideration.);
C) To non-paying, non-public, established entertainment industry
members to showcase the talent of the producer, director,
writer, performers or other members of the production or post-
production team;
D) On one (1) public access channel for not more than one (1)
year from the first run date, provided neither the producer
nor any of the principals in the production receive any
compensation for such exhibition and provided further that the
Guild is advised of the first air date and the station on
which the Experimental Film will run.
6. Further Distribution
A) Producer agrees that prior to exhibition of the Experimental
Film beyond the scope of Section 5, above, it shall:
i. Obtain the consent of each professional performer who rendered any services
in the Experimental Film and negotiate with each such professional performer an
amount to be paid not less than his/her total salary, including overtime, under
the SAG collective bargaining agreement applicable to the distribution intended.
The rate of pay shall be based on the day performer rates in effect at the time
of principal photography of the Experimental Film. Such consent may not be
obtained at the time of original employment. Consent obtained at the time of
original employment shall be ineffective. Note that if a professional
performer's performance does not appear in the distributed version, such
professional performer shall not be entitled to residuals and shall not be
entitled to negotiate an above minimum upgrade payment, however, such
professional performer shall receive the minimum upgrade payment.
SAG Experimental Film Agreement
ii. Consecutive employment provisions of the applicable collective bargaining
agreement do not apply when calculating the upgrade payment. However, Weekly
professional performers must be employed and paid in units of no less than one
(1) full week. Additional days in any final partial workweek for a Weekly
professional performer may be prorated at one-fifth of the weekly base rate for
each day from commencement of the professional performer's work in such workweek
until his/her final dismissal.
iii. Make contribution to the SAG-Producers Pension and Health Plans based on
the gross compensation due the professional performers at the percentage
applicable at the time of principal photography on the Experimental Film.
iv. Not enter into a distribution or licensing agreement without agreement from
each professional performer concerning such distribution. Please note that the
negotiated upgrade payment becomes due upon execution of a licensing,
distribution or exhibition agreement.
v. Professional performers must receive payment no later than the first date of
exhibition or availability outside the allowed markets.
vi. Condition any licensing, distribution or exhibition deal or sale, assignment
or transfer on the execution of a Distributor's Assumption Agreement or Buyer's
Assumption Agreement by the distributor, buyer, exhibitor, licensee, or
assignee, as applicable.
vii. Obtain an executed Assumption Agreement from the appropriate party.
7. Production Requirements
A) Production Time Reports
Producer shall complete the Production Time Reports in ink detailing the
specific time of reporting, travel, beginning and end of meals and dismissal on
set. The professional performers shall review and sign the Production Time
Report at the end of each day. Performers will not be asked to sign blank
Production Time Reports. The original completed Production Time Reports shall be
delivered to the Guild by the Friday following the week of work. Failure to
comply with the requirements concerning Production Time Reports shall cause the
Guild to be entitled to liquidated damages in the amount of $275.00 per day of
breach.
B) Employment Contracts
Each professional performer shall receive from Producer the Experimental Film
Agreement Employment Contract for execution by the end of his/her first day of
work on the Experimental Film. Such contract must be completed in ink by
Producer before delivery to the professional performer. A copy of this
Experimental Agreement shall be delivered to the professional performer and
performer's representative not later than the first day of work.
The contract shall be executed in four (4) copies. One (1) fully
xecuted original shall be given to the professional performer not later than the
end of his/her first day of work. One (1) original shall be delivered to the
performer's representative. One (1) original shall be delivered to the Guild.
One (1) original shall be retained by producer. Delivery to the Guild and
performer representative shall be made within four (4) days of the professional
performer's first day of work.
SAG Experimental Film Agreement
Failure to timely deliver the fully executed contract to a professional
performer shall entitle each such performer to liquidated damages in the amount
of $10.00 per day until performer receives the fully executed employment
contract. Failure to timely deliver the employment contracts to the Guild shall
entitle the Guild to liquidated damages in the amount of $10.00 per day per
contract until the Guild receives each such employment contract.
C) Payments Due for Exceeding 30 Day Shooting_Schedule or $75,000
Budgetary Limit Professional performers' salaries, including
overtime (except as provided in Section 10, below), shall be
deferred until distribution beyond the scope of section 5,
above, except that should Producer exceed the thirty (30) day
shooting schedule or should the Producer's costs exceed
$75,000, professional performers' salaries will be immediately
due and payable as follows:
i. Any professional performer who works outside the allowed
Shooting Schedule (see Section 3C) shall be entitled to be
paid the current rates under the SAG Modified Low Budget
Letter Agreement for such days or weeks of work outside the
allowed period(s).
ii. In the event Producer's costs exceed $75,000, all professional
performers are immediately due upgrade to the rates under the
SAG Modified Low Budget Letter Agreement.
iii. Producer shall make contribution to the SAG-Producers Pension
and Health Plans based on the gross compensation paid each
such performer at the current rate under the Basic Agreement.
IV. Such salary payments do not entitle Producer to any
distribution beyond in Section 5, above.
D) Non-Deferred Monies
i. Car mileage allowance reimbursement
ii. Public transportation costs (due the day of work)
iii. Liquidated damages for meal period violations
iv. Per diem
v. Reimbursement for expenditures made at request of
Producer, for example,
special hairdress, special make-up, or wardrobe
vi. Liquidated damages for failure to timely deliver
employment contracts
vii. Salary for work by a performer in excess of twelve
(12) hours on any day, in excess of five (5) days in
any workweek, or in excess of the thirty (30)
shooting days.
viii. Liquidated damages for rest period violations
ix. Liquidated damages due the Guild for contract
violations
E) Hazardous Work
The Producer shall not require any performer to do stunt or hazardous
work without first obtaining, from that performer, express written consent prior
to the commencement of the performer's services in the Experimental Film. The
Producer will fully discuss the physical requirements of the role at the time of
audition or interview.
SAG Experimental Film Agreement
The producer shall notify the Guild of hazardous or stunt
activity and the day on which such activity shall occur. The Producer shall
provide a safety expert who shall be present and available for consultation at
the place of such activity. An animal handler or qualified trainer shall be
provided when Producer requires a performer to work with animals.
F) Nudity
i. The Producer will notify the professional performer or performer's
representative of any nudity or sex acts expected in the role prior to the first
interview or audition. The professional performer shall also have prior
notification of any interview or audition requiring nudity and shall have the
absolute right to have the person of performer's choice present at that
audition. Total nudity shall not be required at such auditions or interviews;
the professional performer shall be permitted to wear "pasties" and G-string or
its equivalent.
ii. During any production involving nudity or sex scenes, the set shall be
closed to all individuals having no business purpose in connection with the
project.
iii. No photographs will be permitted other than production stills made by a
photographer assigned to the production.
iv. The appearance of a professional performer in a nude scene or the doubling
of a professional performer in such a scene shall be conditioned upon the
professional performer's express, written consent.
v. If a professional performer has agreed to appear in such scenes and then
withdraws consent, the producer shall have the right to double the performer. A
professional performer may not withdraw consent as to film already photographed.
8. Consecutive Employment and Availability
Professional performers shall have the right to accept other
professional employment during the course of production of the Experimental Film
and in consideration thereof, the Guild waives the requirement of consecutive
employment as defined in the Basic Agreement. In exchange for this waiver,
Producer agrees to waive his/her right to exclusive services of the professional
performer during photography. Scheduling shall be subject to each professional
performer's availability. The professional performer shall attempt to provide
thirty-six (36) hours notice of a conflicting professional engagement.
9. Worktime
All time, from time the professional performer is required to report
until dismissed, shall be counted as work time for the purpose of calculating
overtime and rest periods, excluding meal periods. The deferred salary agreed
upon shall be compensation in full for eight (8) hours of work and shall be due
for each day in connection with which the performer reports for work even if
eight (8) hours of work is not required by Producer.
SAG Experimental Film Agreement
10. Overtime
Performers shall be due time and one half for the ninth and tenth hours
or parts thereof, in tenth of hour (six (6) minute) units of work time, which
overtime may be deferred and will only become payable as more particularly
described elsewhere in this Agreement.
If a performer is required to work beyond twelve (12) hours in any day,
such performer shall be due overtime at double the straight time rate for any
time worked in tenth of hour (six (6) minute) units, which salary may not be
deferred. For the purpose of calculating such overtime, the rate shall be based
on the current rates under the Screen Actors Guild Modified Low Budget Letter
Agreement.
11. Meal Periods
Allowable meal periods shall not be counted as work time for any
purpose. The performer's first meal period shall commence within six (6) hours
following the time of his/her first call for the day; succeeding meal periods
shall commence within six (6) hours after the end of the preceding meal period.
An allowable meal period shall be not less than one-half hour and not more than
one (1) hour in length. Producer shall immediately be liable for $25.00 in
liquidated damages due each affected performer for each half-hour of delay or
fraction thereof.
12. Travel
A) Producer may fly professional performers coach class but must
fly such performers on a nationally known, established
commercial airline and, if available, on the airline of the
performer's choice. If any member of the production staff is
flown any class other than coach, all professional performers
must be flown in first class.
B) Producer shall provide accidental death and dismemberment
insurance in a principal sum not less than $100,000.00 to
the professional performer or the performer's designated
beneficiary when performer is required to travel by plane at
the request of Producer.
13. Overnight Locations
A) An overnight location is any location at which a performer is
required to remain overnight.
B) All performers shall be provided with reasonable lodging and
meals at all overnight locations.
C) If meals are not provided by the Producer, then Producer
agrees to pay to each professional performer the following
amounts:
$10.50 Breakfast
$15.00 Lunch
$27.50 Dinner
SAG Experimental Film Agreement
Such per diem shall be paid to performer in cash not later than the
morning of the day of work.
14. Transportation
A) Los Angeles thirty (30) mile studio zone - The Los Angeles
studio zone is the area within a circle thirty (30) miles in
radius from the intersection of Beverly Boulevard and La
Cienega Boulevard, Los Angeles, California. Producer may
require any performer to report anywhere within the studio
zone. Those professional performers who are required to report
to location within the studio zone shall be immediately
reimbursed at the rate of $.30 per mile for their actual
travel to and from such location.
B) New York eight (8) mile studio zone - The New York studio zone
is the area within a circle eight (8) miles in radius from the
center of Columbus Circle, New York City. Producer may require
any performer to report directly anywhere within the studio
zone accessible by public transportation. Those professional
performers who are required to report to location within the
studio zone shall be immediately reimbursed for the actual
cost of their public transportation to and from such location.
C) Other areas - Professional performers shall be reimbursed for
the actual cost of reasonable forms of travel to locations.
When the reasonable mode of travel is by car, performer shall
be reimbursed at the rate of $.30 per mile.
D) Any area outside studio zones - Producer shall provide
transportation to any area outside the studio zones.
15. Make up, Hairdress and Wardrobe
Producer shall immediately reimburse any professional performer
required to purchase unique or particular make up, hairdress or wardrobe.
16. Rest Period
Each professional performer is entitled to a twelve (12) hour rest
period from the time he/she is dismissed until recalled for whatever purpose. In
the event the rest period is invaded, the professional performer shall be
entitled to immediate payment of liquidated damages equal to one (1) day's pay
under the SAG Modified Low Budget Letter Agreement. The damages for rest period
violation may not be deferred.
17. Use of "Double"
The Producer agrees not to "dub" or use as a "double" in lieu of the
professional performer, except in the following circumstances:
A) When necessary to expeditiously meet the requirements of
foreign exhibition.
B) When necessary to expeditiously meet censorship requirements,
either foreign or domestic.
C) When, in the reasonable opinion of Producer, failure to use a
double for the performance of hazardous acts might result in
physical injury to the performer.
D) When the performer is not available, or
E) When the performer fails or is unable to meet certain
requirements of the role, such as singing or the rendition of
instrumental music or other similar services requiring special
talent or ability other than that possessed by the performer.
18. Acknowledgment
The credits shall include the following statement: "Special Thanks to
Screen Actors Guild." Producer shall include the SAG logo or union bug in the
credits of the Picture. Contact your Business Representative at the local SAG
branch for artwork.
19. Application of Basic Agreement
Except as expressly modified herein, all terms and conditions of the
current Screen Actors Guild Codified Basic Agreement for Independent Producers
shall apply to the engagement and performance of professional performers
hereunder. All disputes arising hereunder shall be subject to arbitration in
accordance with Section 9 of the Basic Agreement.
Your signature below will indicate your agreement to the provisions hereof.
22nd day of January 2003
In connection with the project currently entitled:
THE G! TRUE TINSELTOWN TALE: DUDE, WHERE'S MY CAR?
(Title)
By: /s/ Tal L. Kapelner
(Signature)
Type Name: Tal Kapelner
On behalf of: TALLY-HO VENTURES, INC.
(Company name)
Position in Company: President
By: /s/ Elizabeth Moseley
On behalf of Screen Actors Guild, Inc.
Revised as of 7/1/01
