What does Low Budget Digital Media Agreement mean?
Low Budget Digital Media Agreement is a SAG-AFTRA contract designed for low-budget digital projects, including web series, short films, and podcasts with budgets under $250,000. This agreement allows producers to hire SAG-AFTRA talent while keeping costs manageable. It is ideal for small independent productions that aim for online distribution.
Key Points of the Low Budget Digital Media Agreement:
- Budget Limit: The total production budget must be under $250,000.
- Flexible Pay Rates: Pay rates for actors are flexible under this agreement, allowing low-budget projects to hire professional talent at affordable rates.
- Residuals for Streaming: Actors may receive residuals based on the project’s success on streaming platforms such as YouTube or Vimeo.
Negotiation Tips:
- Deferred Payment: Actors may negotiate for deferred payments, particularly if the project is expected to gain significant viewership after its release.
- Profit Participation: In cases where a digital project may become commercially successful, actors can negotiate for a share of profits.
- Back-End Bonuses: For successful projects, actors may negotiate for bonuses based on the number of views or streams the content receives.
Example:A web series created under the Low Budget Digital Media Agreement hired SAG-AFTRA actors while keeping production costs below $250,000, with actors receiving residuals based on viewership.
Example: A podcast produced under this agreement paid actors using flexible rates while negotiating for back-end bonuses based on the number of downloads and streams.
Did You Know?
SAG-AFTRA offers low-budget agreements specifically for digital media projects, making it easier for indie creators to hire professional actors for web series and podcasts!
Learn More:
For more detailed information, visit the official SAG-AFTRA Low Budget Digital Media Agreement page.
