HOW TO BECOME A SAG SIGNATORY - PART III

Once SAG has received and reviewed all of the applicable documents requested and required, producers will be advised of what financial assurances will be required. The Financial assurances usually include, but are not limited to, the following:


A Security Deposit also known as the SAG bond by cashier’s check or wire transfer and related Security Deposit Letter and W-9.


It is very important producers are aware of and budget for the SAG bond. The amount of the SAG bond is usually equal to the amount of the estimated performers' payroll wages for the first two weeks of the production, plus applicable SAG-AFTRA Pension and Health contributions.


The SAG bond is held through the end of production and is then released back to the production company once all of SAG’s requirements have been met. The bond can put a constraint on cash flow but producers should be aware that the PGA has a new online Performance Bond service to speed up the bond return process even if you are not a PGA member.


In addition to the security deposit, SAG will require completion of various documents which may include Security Agreement(s); Guaranty Agreement(s); Assumption Agreement(s); Interparty Agreement(s), Basically, a lot of agreements to ensure performers are paid money owed to them under the applicable SAG-AFTRA contract.


When all of these requirements are fulfilled, your production will be given “clearance,” allowing verification that the Performers and Background Actors you’ve hired are in good standing and can work, also known as the Cast Clearance process.


At the time of this video, COVID-19 is still an issue so, SAG will require materials related to COVID-19 safety protocols for your production.


During production, SAG will require the completion and submission of Performer Contracts and Production Time Report Forms to your SAG-AFTRA Representative. If you are hiring a Principal Performer or Background Actor who is not yet a union member, you should submit the applicable Taft-Hartley Report, along with a head shot and resume.


Finally, after production is complete, you submit the Final Cast List and Casting Data Report Forms. At that point, SAG will conduct a final review to determine what, if any, outstanding items remain in order to begin the security deposit return process.