If your cast is union, you can’t defer pay (unless it’s classified as a short or
student film), but you may qualify to do your film under a special agreement
with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) called the SAG Indie Program. This program works with independent filmmakers so that they can afford to use union
actors in their films. The agreements that SAG offers to independent filmmakers include
Student Film Agreement: You don’t have to pay the actors to be in your
film as long as your film is done under an accredited school and you are
a student. The film’s budget has to be less than $35,000. The film cannot
be sold or distributed (you can use it to showcase your filmmaking skills
and help get a paid filmmaking job in the future).
Short Film Agreement: The budget must be under $50,000 and 35 minutes in length or less. You can defer actors’ salaries. If you sell the film,
you owe the actors $100 for each day they worked on set. The bonus is
that you can use union (SAG) and non-union actors.
Ultra Low Budget: The total film budget must be under $200,000. You
can mix union and non-union actors, and you pay a $100 daily flat rate to
your talent. This is the agreement I recommend if your budget is under
$200,000 and you’re planning on having it distributed.
Modified Low Budget: The budget must be under $625,000 but may be
increased to $937,500 (under special casting considerations). Reduced
rates apply for actors, determined by the number of days they work.
You must use all union players. Actor’s rate is $268 a day.
Low Budget: The budget for the film must be under $2.5 million. You
pay your actors reduced union rates of $504 a day, and you must use all
union players.
Sta