Actors: Understanding Residuals

Residuals: One of the sweetest words to an actor's ears. However, the details are often not understood by many, so this week we try to demystify this topic. That said, even we at Get Taped don't know all the nuances, so if you have questions, drop a comment or click on the SAG-AFTRA link below.
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» Residuals 101: www.sagaftra.org/show-me-mone...
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#actorslife #auditiontips #residuals

[@sharonsquires3556]

Thanks Matt. I feel better knowing I'm not an idiot and that this stuff is not simple!!!

[@charlita25]

Thank you 🙏🏾 this the not topic I’ve been planning to research

[@annawright83]

Great video! Thank you SO much!!

[@GetTaped]

Glad it was helpful!

[@anthonyislas5414]

As an independent filmmaker, life would be a lot easier if the unions were more up to date and had a system like Wefunder so that everyone gets paid. It wasn’t until I started the venture of investing I started to understand it a bit and was able to break it down. Even to this day, I have a hard time wrapping my head around their system, since this is something they don’t teach in our film program. But I hope they do so in they future.

[@GetTaped]

Right there with you, Anthony. While actors love residuals, no one seems to know how they're calculated or "how it all works". It's very murky.

[@claudedowdy2117]

Great video. Very informative. 👍

[@GetTaped]

Glad you liked it!

[@jag4017]

You should have a podcast. I usually listen to crime and history. I swear your voice would be perfect.

[@GetTaped]

Thanks so much for that! I've always been in interested in podcasts, just never had the right idea for what to talk about. I mean, acting of course, but I would need a specific angle on the topic (and a catchy title!).

[@amandablohm3916]

Hi Matt! I just emailed you about this!

[@_Patchannel_]

Your videos have been very helpful. Thank you for your time. Would you mind sharing your knowledge/thought about usage and pay term especially in commercial please? Lately it’s challenging to comprehend (e.g. buyout = perpetuity?, usage for two years but archival perpetuity, video usage in all media for one year and perpetuity use of raw/original file, etc). Thank you. 🙏🏻

[@GetTaped]

Hey Patcha! Great question. Personally, I would never audition for anything that has the words PERPETUITY in it. Because first of all, it makes it so hard to really discern if the rate itself is any good. And even if the money seems good at the time, it's so hard to predict how that may come back to haunt you later. I realize most non-union commercials will try to do a buyout that works in their favor, but those terms should be a STARTING POINT for negotiations. If you have an agent, express to them what your minimum standard is for rate and/or for buyout terms. If you don't have an agent, you'll need to be business-savvy enough to make those deals yourself. Either way, the word NO is your greatest weapon. Resist the temptation to accept the terms simply because "you want to work" or "you need the money". I know that's tough, but it's also why it's a good idea to have a side-hustle that helps you so that you are able to stand your ground and say "no" to perpetuity.

[@_Patchannel_]

@@GetTaped hi.. thank you for your speedy reply. I understand what you are saying. I haven’t submitted myself to a breakdown with confusing terms, partly the long term sight of haunting later. When I googled them, I was still not sure of the answer.At some points I feel that a way to understand is to ask the source but that’s not a viable option. I was thinking if I can understand what each term means would be helpful. Thank you again for your reply. I’d really appreciate it. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@GetTaped]

@@_Patchannel_ gotcha. Yeah, I've not seen "archival perpetuity" before, or the "perpetuity use of raw/original file". I would ask for clarity at the time of the audition as a condition of employment. In other words, submit the audition if you want, but add a note that you need clarity on the definition of usage terms. We're in a time where in all aspects of society businesses like to invent new terms to confuse the average person. So the opaqueness is most certainly intentional on their part. But never be afraid to speak up to your agent, the CD, or the client when it comes to these confusing terms. And if they pass the buck to someone else, make sure that person gives a clear answer.

[@_Patchannel_]

@@GetTaped thank you again. 😃

[@adamkalb1]

2 Broke Girls knew this was going to happen. That show never sold a second streaming license to HBOmax, amazon prime and Appletv+ after the streaming rights from the first license expired. For people who still want to re-watch 2 Broke Girls today, Roku is the only streaming service that can take away anything from the residual income writers and actors of 2 Broke Girls would get from syndication and people buying DVDs. Roku is not ad-free and needs ads to pay for it, but I have yes patience for Roku.

[@MrBibi86]

*I couldn't imagine how stressful it would be for the person/people trying to keep up with all the checks. and the actors just hoping they are getting the right payment and not getting screwed over*

[@GetTaped]

Yeah we hope that the system runs smoothly and that no one intentionally tries to withhold residuals, but it happens. All the time, so we have to do our part to keep on top of it. The joys of being an entrepreneur!

[@carsonson_of_car64]

Thanks man! Just learning about the industry as a whole and this is important to know. Thanks!

[@GetTaped]

You’re so welcome! Glad to help.

[@portiacue5320]

"Closely guarded as the nuclear codes". 😅👍🏼

[@cuteONE22]

If I buy a DVD from Amazon, do actors get residuals? Like what is the best way for me to support a specific actor?

[@GetTaped]

What a great question! Yes, every time you buy a DVD, buy or rent a digital copy, the actor will eventually get a very small piece of that.

[@bbassnyyt]

Curious to know your thoughts about residuals in lieu of current strike. Particularly when you spoke about your Fast 8 residual experience, got me wondering....

[@GetTaped]

Well, they certainly would’ve been MUCH higher pre-streaming. Like, add a zero higher. Because after the theater, there would be a ton of DVD sales, digital rentals, digital purchases, and THEN it would start airing on cable. Now, it just goes straight to a streaming service where the view counts are kept hidden, the numbers are fudged, and the artists get screwed.

[@bbassnyyt]

@@GetTapedwow. im asking because I enjoyed your insights in your videos... are you optimistic for the aftermath of the strike / the next 10 years? i'm a journeyman actor similar to you. I didn't take residuals seriously because I've had to fight to get a dozen or so co-star roles... in the meantime, it was immediately apparent I couldn't solely depend on acting income. The numbers have been steadily waning since I entered the profession 10 years ago im in a different place now, but without our industry's tie to advertising (commercial/vo), id be SOL

[@GetTaped]

@@bbassnyyt sorry for the delayed response. I am VERY optimistic for the next phase of the industry. I do realize that we won't get absolutely everything we're asking for, because after all it's about compromise, but the core issues we're not willing to budge on will be sure to generate immediate gains on session fees and residuals. Not only that, but there is a backlog of projects right now. Like planes waiting on a runway. So when these strikes end, we expect the industry to really "take off" 😏

[@GetTaped]

UGH. Didn't even notice the autocorrect for the "ACTIVE" income graphic that shows up on screen. It corrected to "ACTING" without me noticing. Serves me right for editing so late at night...

[@JordanBlairBrown]

Do you get residuals if your scene gets cut from the film/show?

[@GetTaped]

Fantastic question! My experience is YES. My theory is that to withhold residuals they would have to know with absolute certainty I do not appear in a single frame of the show. It’s probably too much of a hassle to do that sometimes, so they default to paying. Or it’s just a producers discretion, and I’ve lucked out all these years.

[@solitarymaninblack]

Residuals in the acting industry. Comparing it to music royalties.

[@jaysofresh3482]

So basically while faizon love talking about kountry wayne skits not making money, he's not making ish off residuals?

[@GetTaped]

Residuals ain't what they used to be...

[@NoteFromSELF]

Typo: Acting Income.

[@GetTaped]

HA! Good catch! Wow. I wonder if that was just an auto-correct as I was typing, or just my poor editorial skills.

[@christopherallen9580]

So every few months you get a total of $20 to $50?

[@GetTaped]

Depends on the project and how long ago it originally aired. Some projects still pay thousands a year, some less than $1 in a year. Once you get a few dozen projects under your belt, the average of them all becomes a nice stream of passive income!

[@kobman4159]

So why is it, that out of all the professions actors think they deserve residuals, while many other professions in the same industry get nada?! VFX industry doesn't get residuals, while our art is on the same screen as your art.

[@GetTaped]

You have a strong argument, which is why the VFX artists that work on Marvel are trying to unionize. I’m in full support of that and stand in solidarity. In short, actors don’t feel we’re entitled to residuals INSTEAD of other departments. But our union can only fight the actor’s battle at the negotiating table. We can (and hopefully will) stand with you when the time comes.

[@kobman4159]

@@GetTaped You didn't stand with us, when Rhythm & Hues went bankrupt after winning an Oscar, or when we were complaining about AI exploiting our art. It's funny honestly, how you guys are ONLY fighting YOUR battle at OUR expense. At the expense of thousands of professionals losing their jobs, massive salary cuts and creating even bigger inequality between us, if you reach your deal. We don't need your solidarity now - We needed it BEFORE you decided you can ruin our lives for YOUR benefit.

[@GetTaped]

Strikes are a last resort, and I understand your anger on how the fallout affects every department. And while I am a union member, I do not represent the SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee or the big picture issues you mention. So if it’s your conviction that this strike divides us, well that saddens me. Because personally (and only speaking for myself - Matt here - and NOT speaking for any other actor or actors as a whole) I supported the WGA when they went on strike May 2, I would’ve supported the DGA if they had, and would support any other department striking in the future. This is a collaborative, and therefore complicated medium we’ve chosen to work in. We all affect each other, and can only succeed if we can walk in others shoes. So thank you for sharing your side, since I wasn’t as educated on VFX artists and their story.