The Guide to SAG Day Rates and SAG Minimums (2024)

Italian film producer Dino De Laurentiis once famously said “If no producer, no movie”. As someone who produced over 500 films, of which 38 were nominated for Academy Awards, he also knew without recognizable talent, you have no distribution.

However it’s not just motion picture studio releases that depend on the skill of professional actors. It’s important to note, if you want to get your film seen and sold, you’ll arguably need union talent in major roles, which means you’ll need to know the SAG-AFTRA rates and rules.

What is SAG-AFTRA

SAG-AFTRA brings together two American labor unions: Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Both were formed in the 1930s, tasked with fighting for and securing the strongest protections for media artists. In 2012, the two unions merged forming a very powerful block that represents the interests of film, radio and television professional talent.

SAG-AFTRA Contracts List

SAG-AFTRA negotiates contracts that cover the work of media professionals in front of a camera or behind a microphone. The type of project will determine the type of collective bargaining agreement which applies and what the producer will have to pay the talent.

Below is a list of the different contracts SAG-AFTRA offers:

• Commercials

• Corporate/Educational

• Dubbing

• Interactive

• Music Videos

• New Media

  • New Media

  • Special New Media

  • Moderate Low Budget Projects

  • Ultra Low Budget Projects

  • Short Projects

  • Micro-Budget Projects

• Sound Recordings

• Television

  • Television

  • Television Live Action

  • Basic Cable Live Action

  • Television Animation

  • Basic Cable Animation

    See Also

    The Essential Guide to SAG-AFTRA Rates 2024 | Wrapbook

• Theatrical

  • Theatrical

  • Low Budget Theatrical

  • Moderate Low Budget Project

  • Ultra Low Budget Project

  • Short Project

  • Student Film

  • Micro-Budget Projects

What Producers Need to Know

If you are casting actors that are affiliated with the union, be it for an hour program or a film, you need to know the minimum wage day rate or weekly rates based on the theatrical agreements that apply to your production. The SAG minimum rate is determined by the type of project, the budget of the production and the intended distribution. You’ll need to provide all this information if you are going to enter into an agreement with SAG.You should submit an application to SAG-AFTRA no less than 4-6 weeks before your first date of work, including travel, rehearsal, and principal photography.

For the purposes of this article, we will go more in depth on four main areas:

1. Theatrical Contract Rates

2. Television Contract Rates

3. New Media Contract Rates

4. Commercial Contract Rates

1. Theatrical Contract Rates

For theatrical productions, SAG-AFTRA offers 7 tiers of contracts:

• Theatrical

• Low-Budget Theatrical

• Moderate Low-Budget Project

• Ultra Low-Budget Project

• Short Project

• Student Film

• Micro-Budget Agreement

Theatrical

The Theatrical Agreements apply to those films shooting entirely within the United States with a total budget greater than $2,000,000, as well as films shooting outside of the United States.

Low Budget Theatrical

The Low Budget Agreement applies to those films shooting entirely within the United States with a total budget of less than $2,000,000.

Moderate Low Budget

The Moderate Low Budget Project Agreement applies to those films shooting entirely in the United States with a total budget of less than $700,000.

Ultra Low Budget

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

Short Project

The Short Project Agreement applies to those projects shooting entirely in the United States with a maximum total budget of $50,000 and a maximum total run time of 40 minutes. Note that this does not apply to episodic nor animated projects.

Student Film

The Student Film Agreement applies to student films that satisfy course requirements at an accredited educational institution shooting entirely in the United States with a budget of less than $35,000 and a run time of less than 35 minutes (short films). Most terms will be subject to negotiation between producer and performer, therefore SAG does not provide a rate table.

Micro-Budget Agreement

What Projects Qualify?

• Entertainment Content – the type of project that would typically sign a new media agreement or the Short Project Agreement or the Student Film Agreement

• Budgeted at $20,000 or less per picture or per episode (if multiple programs)

• Recorded entirely in the US (and its territories)

• Live Action

• Scripted and Unscripted

• Permitted Exhibition:

  • Film Festivals

  • Free to the Consumer New Media (AVOD)

  • Required Screenings for Academy Award Consideration

  • Public Access TV

  • For Demo Purposes

  • In The Classroom (student producers)

What Doesn’t Fit Under this Agreement?

This Agreement won’t be right for everyone. The following would not qualify for the Micro:

• Animation

• Commercials

• Corporate or Educational Videos

• Music Videos

• Audio only content including audiobooks, podcasts, and radio plays

• Video Games

• News/Broadcast

• Projects including any nudity or simulated sex

• Projects including any hazardous stunts

• Projects where the producer has received any compensation in exchange for the right to distribute or exhibit it

What Are the Terms of this Agreement?

Most terms will be subject to negotiation between producer and performer, so SAG does not provide a rate table. Please note that this Agreement does not create eligibility to join the union.

2. Television Contract Rates

The Following salary rates apply to: (a) new series and new television programs, the principal photography of which commences on or after July 1, 2014; (b) ongoing series, the principal photography of which commenced prior to July 1, 2014 under the terms and conditions of the 2011 or any predecessor SAG Television Agreement. Here are the complete rate sheets for Television.

Live Action Television and Basic Cable

Producer SAG-AFTRA TV Animation Agreement Animation

For more information, view the complete Animation Rate Sheet.

3. New Media Contract Rates

The New Media Agreement covers original and derivative entertainment productions made for initial release on new media platforms. This could be anything from hour shows to a short clip.

For Budgets of at Least $50,000, But Less than $250,000

Stunt Coordinators:

Rates for Daily, Weekly and “Flat Deal” Stunt Coordinators track the rates in Schedule K-I, K-II, orSc K-III of the Basic Agreement that are current at time of photography.

For Budgets of at Least $250,000, But Less than $700,000

Stunt Coordinators:

Rates for Daily, Weekly and “Flat Deal” Stunt Coordinators track the rates in Schedule K-I, K-II, or K-III of the Basic Agreement that are current at time of photography (see above chart).

For Budgets of at Least $700,000, But Less than $1,000,000

For Budgets $1,000,000 and Above

Full rates as set forth in the 2017 SAG-AFTRA Television Agreement. Please note full terms and conditions of the SAG-AFTRA Television Agreement may apply to this budget level as well.

Here is the entire rate sheet.

4. Commercial Contract Rates

Here are the most recent session fees breakdown for Commercial Contract Rates.

In this chart, we’ve listed the media type and the cycles and rates.

SAG-AFTRA Day Rates and Minimums Wrap-Up

The saying goes “If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional, wait until you hire an amatuer”. It may be daunting to sift through all the fees and rates required by SAG-AFTRA, but at the end of the day having your creative project in the hands of professional talent will give you the most return on your investment. For further research, click here to access links to contract information, rates, FAQs and resources that help members and producers navigate the media and entertainment industries.