hawt and steamy tumblelog action, starring Regarding the SAG New Media Contract
I appreciate that SAG is making an effort to reach out to new media producers, but they have to understand there is no unified accounting system in place to facilitate the terms of their new media contract, nor the resources on either side to enforce it. As a producer, I actually prefer the SAG Indie Ultra-Low Budget contract, though it prohibits projects “produced primarily for commercial exploitation.”
According to the SAG contract, after a 6-month “First Run Window” we’re obligated to “pay each Performer a pro rata share of 6%” of all revenues received from the project. This is in addition to SAG pension and health contributions. Okay, forget the specific numbers for a moment (we can’t afford it anyway) - the very notion of a first run window doesn’t work on the web. The beauty of new media is the timelessness and ubiquity and accessibility of it - a video goes up and it stays up. Essentially what SAG is doing here, not purposely I’m sure, is encouraging traditional (i.e. restricted) distribution methods and time tables.
My suggestion to SAG is to create an ultra-low budget/indie version of the new media contract, and more importantly, get out there and talk to indie producers and actors who work in new media. You have to understand the landscape better before you write contracts for it. There’s a reason why very few web series are under SAG contracts right now.
I’ll leave you with this snippet from SAG’s website, which illustrates the seriousness of their stance against non-union work in the online space.
Rule One states that no member shall work for or agree to work for a producer who is not signatory to the appropriate SAG agreement. Starting January 1, 2009 Rule One will be vigorously enforced in new media.
