What does Commercials Contract (Traditional Media) mean?
Commercials Contract (Traditional Media) is the SAG-AFTRA agreement that covers actors working in traditional media commercials for television and radio. This contract ensures actors receive fair compensation, including session fees, residuals, and protections for health and pension. It is commonly used for national, regional, and local commercial campaigns, providing guidelines for ad agencies and production companies to hire union talent.
Key Points of the Traditional Media Commercials Contract:
- Residuals: Actors earn residual payments when commercials are aired multiple times or syndicated across regions.
- Session Fees: The contract sets minimum session fees for each day of filming, ensuring actors are paid fairly for their time.
- Health and Pension Benefits: Actors receive benefits for their work in commercials, including contributions to health and pension plans.
Negotiation Tips:
- Buyout vs Residuals: In some cases, actors may negotiate for a one-time buyout payment instead of residuals, especially for short-term campaigns.
- Regional Market Pay: For national commercials, actors can negotiate higher residuals or pay if the ad runs across multiple markets.
- Exclusivity Clauses: For campaigns involving brand exclusivity, actors can negotiate for increased compensation to cover the restriction.
Example:An actor appeared in a national TV commercial and earned residuals each time the ad was aired, ensuring ongoing compensation over several months.
Example: A commercial actor negotiated a one-time buyout for a local ad campaign, receiving a higher upfront fee in lieu of residuals.
Did You Know?
Actors in national TV commercials can earn significant residuals if the ads run frequently or across multiple regions!
Learn More:
For more detailed information, visit the official SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contract page.
