It's official..SAG-E

It's official, after checking my eligibility status online, I and five other wonderful actors are now SAG Eligible. I know I stated in an earlier post I was going to breakdown the process of the paperwork so here we go...


1st step


Fill out the SAG New Media preliminary application. This is a straightforward application which pretty much asks about the name of your production, whether, budget, distribution, etc. etc. The reason I just yadda yadda this is the form is readily available for download from sag's website www.sag.org and can be looked over


You will need to send in a Line Budget and a picture of your D/L along with the preliminary application.


Wait about 48 hours and call the New Media Dept. to confirm that you packet was received. If it was you will get assigned to a SAG rep.


The reps are busy!!! I'm never saying this in a malicious manner, but that's the realness. I can just imagine how much paperwork they have to sift through on a daily basis.


With that said, contact your rep to get acquainted and on their radar. Mine was very helpful and sent my second step packet via email the same day I spoke with her.


2nd Step


The second Packet you receive has all the good stuff you've been waiting for. The main ones to focus on are:


1. SAG New Media Agreement (two copies)

2. SAG - Producers Pension and Health Plans Letter of Adherence

These are the two main forms you need to fill out and mail back first!!!! This will cement you as a SAG Signatory Company.

Here's what will need to be mailed in Post Production

3. SAG Performer Contracts. They will include one for principal and one for Background. Fill these out accordingly. I edited the on my computer, then emailed them to my actors. I collected them during the table read. Make sure all pertinent fields are filled out correctly by both you and the actors. You as the producer will fill out the left side of the contract and the bottom, and the actor will fill out the right side and initial and sign at the bottom.

4. Final Cast List - Pretty much self explanatory.

5. Time Sheet - You will fill this out on the days of production. If you are wearing many hats as I did, make sure your actors sign in and out. You as the producer will fill out the rest after production (Meal breaks, transportation, etc).

6. Taft Hartley Form - You will need to fill out one for each performer you ar T/H into SAG including yourself. There's been a form revision, so you will need to list each actors Birthday on the form. On the second page there are boxes to check as to why you are T/H that actor. I just checked Other and put that the particular actor possessed the necessary skills, look and ability I was seeking. It's not brain surgery people, and doesn't require a dissertation to be written. You will need to Attach a Headshot and Resume for each actor that getting T/H, so please keep the H/r You obtained at the auditions.

There's another form called Form 16-B: SAG Pension and Health Reporting Form. You will only need to fill this out and mail this in if you used Union actors who were paid for their performances. Since everyone was on a deferred contract, this form was not necessary for me to mail in.

I mailed my post production packet on 11/22/2010. On 12/9/2010 after checking and trying to get in contact with my rep just to make sure she received everything and it was in order, I became SAG Eligible!!

Hope this helps anyone interested on taking this journey and every experience will be different. Now, back to editing :)