What You Need to Know About the New SAG-AFTRA Agreement: Other Items (Part One)

With the 118-day strike finally resolved and a new collective bargaining agreement up for a ratification vote, there is a lot to digest and understand about how things will be moving forward. With that in mind, Casting Networks is producing a series of articles in which we will break down particular parts of the new agreement and discuss how it affects you.

This entry focuses on other items not yet covered. It is the first of two pieces covering this.

Among the items we’ll cover this time are the various schedule breaks (particularly Schedule F), stunt coordinators and sexual harassment protection.

Schedule F and Other Schedule Breaks

For years, the Schedule F fee for a motion picture was $65,000. That has now increased to $80,000.

The half-hour TV and new media movies has also increased to $37,500, from $32,000, while one hour and longer TV and new media movies are up to $45,000, from $32,000.

There are also increases for what is referred to as a multi-part closed-end motion pictures (but is actually a miniseries of at least three hours). Those go from $40,000 to $47,500 per picture and from more than $4,650 to more than $5,150 per week. The “per week” test must only be met during the weeks worked.

As of one year after the ratification of the agreement, Schedule D increases to $5,150 or less per week and $35,000 (from $32,000) for TV movies, $6,350 or less per week (from $6,200) and $65,000 (from $60,000) for theatrical films.

Schedules E, G and H also increase to the same numbers, $5,150 or less per week for TV movies and $6,350 (from $6,200) or less per week for theatrical.

Stunt Coordinators

Stunt coordinators working on TV and new media films who do not perform on-camera stunts will now participate in residuals. They will be paid as a day player for TV reruns, high budget subscription video on demand (SVOD) residuals and certain other exhibitions like foreign free television.

For flat deals, the Schedule K, Part III minimums have increased 10 percent as of November 9, 6.5% effective July 1, 2024, and 5% effective July 1, 2025. Those increases will be compounded.

For flat deal overtime, the deal addresses the exploitation of stunt coordinators being asked to work beyond their hours. The AMPTP has agreed to issue a bulletin reminding productions to be mindful of the schedules of stunt coordinators on flat deal contracts. Such coordinators should not be required to arrive at the production site earlier or remain there later than necessary unless there are tasks to be performed that require their presence.

Sexual Harassment Prevention

The first part of the agreement involves the use of intimacy coordinators.

Effective immediately, producers must use their best efforts to engage one for scenes involving nudity or simulated sex and will consider in good faith any request by a performer to engage one for other scenes.

A producer is not permitted to retaliate against a performer for such a request.

When it comes to the AMPTP’s non-discrimination and anti-harassment policy, including instructions for reporting violations, that must be provided to employees within 30 days of the ratification of the agreement.

Instructions on reporting violations shall also be on call sheets and visible signage in production areas frequented by employees, including background actors. Such instructions will also be made available to background actors via background casting agencies or electronic voucher applications, as well as from the 2nd AD (assistant director) on request.

Background Actors and Sex/Nudity

There are further updates to the agreement regarding sex, nudity and background actors.

Background actors will be notified ahead of an interview or audition by the producer of any nudity or simulated sex expected in the role (if known by the producer at the time) prior to an interview or audition.

The producer will also notify the background actor of any nudity or simulated sex expected in the role no less than 48 hours in advance of the background actor’s call time on the day the scene is to be shot. The exception to this rule is if the background actor is hired with less than 48 hours notice.

For background actor casting agencies, the producer will provide the agency with as much information as possible regarding the background actor’s requirements in any nude and/or simulated sex scene. The producer will also instruct the agency to communicate this information to prospective background actors prior to booking.

The AMPTP will bulletin background actor casting agencies about these requirements as well.

There’s also the issue of training.

AMPTP members agree to review and update their harassment prevention training programs, as well as recommend to the Contract Services Administration Trust Fund and the DGA Training Plans that they revise their programs for the crew.

This will cover best practices when working on scenes requiring nudity/simulated sex, including handling scenes and situations of a “triggering” nature in a trauma-informed manner.

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