Casting Low Budget Films | SAG or Not to SAG

[@TeacherRaf]

A SAG waiver, applied a max of twice per year, is a gem of information that I'm grateful to learn. A big thank you Sean & J.

[@JHorton]

I'm not 100 percent that's actually a thing. But Sean does know that stuff better than I.

[@alexpollock6932]

I’m in the middle of making my first film and I recently had to recast a major role with a SAG actor. Funny enough he was my first choice but I couldn’t cast him cause I wasn’t a SAG production. Than later when I met my producer, he told me about SAG micro which only cost $70. Cut to now and I have a SAG actor who’s perfect for the role. We start shooting again in a few days. Very excited to work with him. I would say if someone is perfect for the role do it, other wise don’t worry about it. Just cast accordingly and rest easy knowing SAG actors are available to us

[@TeacherRaf]

What's SAG micro?

[@alexpollock6932]

@@TeacherRaf it’s called a micro budget agreement. You pay $70 dollars to SAG and they allow you to use SAG actors in your production. Everyone in the cast has to sign the agreement, even non union actors I believe. You don’t have to pay union rates or anything, my film is mostly volunteer. SAG actors can get in a lot of trouble for doing non union work, even stuff like KZbin videos if they’re not careful. So this is SAG’s way of throwing actors and small filmmakers a bone.

[@TeacherRaf]

@@alexpollock6932 Thank you. Would you have a link to a template or similar of one?

[@alexpollock6932]

@@TeacherRaf sorry, I don’t have one and I don’t think I can share the document. Tried sharing a link to the website but it got taken down. Look up SAG micro budget agreement and click the first link. It’ll let you apply and it tells you on the website what’s eligible and ineligible.

[@TeacherRaf]

@@alexpollock6932 Thank you! I see how the form is integrated into the website itself page by page... On another note, it makes me wonder how this agreement can be printed out after it's filled out so the actors can sign a copy -- as all of the information is being input into the official website...?

[@LIVIDACE]

This was very informative. Thank you so much guys.

[@JHorton]

Our pleasure!

[@DrTbird]

I had to recast the majority of my cast to non SAG a few days before shooting. I had 3 different SAG reps and they didn’t prep me for all the fees.

[@JHorton]

Yeah that’s rough. I haven’t went over the changes myself but I hear the updates to the contracts suck

[@1kikiscott]

Hi! Thank you so much for this! I am making a SAG-AFTRA ULB feature and I have a questions. I’m hiring both SAG and non-SAG actors in my ULB film. Is it true that the non-SAG actors must be paid the same rate as the SAG actors?

[@JHorton]

The last time I did it. I did have to pay everyone the SAG wage. And it all went through an approved payroll company. that said, they have changed some stuff in the last year. I have not really looked into it in depth.

[@musicluver1979]

go FICOR.