What Is SAG-AFTRA? The Short Version
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What SAG-AFTRA is: SAG-AFTRA is the union for actors and media performers, formed in 2012 when the Screen Actors Guild merged with AFTRA.
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SAG actor: A SAG actor is a union member, and hiring one means your production needs to be union covered.
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SAG covered: “SAG covered” means the producer (or a signatory acting for them) has agreed to follow a union contract’s rules on pay, working conditions and benefits.
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Contracts by type of work: SAG-AFTRA contracts are organized by type of work, so a commercial, a video game and a feature film each fall under a different agreement.
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Two ways to get covered: Producers either sign with the union directly or work through a third-party union signatory that holds the agreement for them.
If you’ve seen “SAG-AFTRA” on a casting notice or heard someone on set ask whether a job is “SAG” and wondered what it actually means, you’re in good company.
So, what is SAG-AFTRA? It’s the labor union for more than 160,000 actors, voice performers, broadcasters, singers and other people who make their living in front of a camera or a mic. When your production hires its members, you’re agreeing to follow the union’s rules on how those performers get paid and treated.
For producers and advertisers new to union work, the name usually shows up well before anyone explains it. Below, we walk through the SAG-AFTRA meaning, what makes someone a SAG actor, what “SAG covered” means for your shoot and the main SAG agreements you’re likely to run into.
What is SAG-AFTRA?
The acronym SAG-AFTRA stands for the Screen Actors Guild- American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. SAG-AFTRA is the labor union that represents performers across film, television, commercials, and other media, and it negotiates the collective bargaining agreements that set minimum pay and working conditions for its members.
SAG-AFTRA is an entertainment and media labor union that represents many talented performers including:
- Actors
- Broadcasters
- Stunt doubles
- Radio hosts
- Voiceovers
- Announcers
- Dancers
- Singers
- Stunt Drivers
SAG-AFTRA negotiates and enforces collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) that establish minimum standards for wages, working conditions, and other benefits for its members who work in film, television, commercials, and other media.
Who Does SAG-AFTRA Represent?
Who SAG-AFTRA Represents
A SAG actor is any performer who belongs to SAG-AFTRA, and the union covers far more than film actors.
- On-camera On-camera actors and background performers
- Voice Voiceover artists, announcers and narrators
- Broadcast Broadcast journalists, program hosts and DJs
- Music Singers, dancers and recording artists
- Stunts & more Stunt performers, stunt coordinators and puppeteers
SAG-AFTRA members agree to work only on productions covered by a SAG-AFTRA agreement. If you want to cast a SAG actor, your job has to be union covered.
SAG-AFTRA represents a variety of members including:
- On-camera actors and background performers
- Voiceover artists, announcers and narrators
- Broadcast journalists, program hosts and DJs
- Singers, dancers and recording artists
- Stunt performers, stunt coordinators and puppeteers
For a producer, the important part is what the membership asks of the performer. Under the union’s Global Rule One, members agree to work only on productions covered by a SAG-AFTRA agreement. So if you want to cast a SAG actor, your job has to be union covered. Performers usually become eligible to join by working on a union production, often through a SAG-AFTRA Taft-Hartley form.
What Does It Mean to Be Covered by SAG-AFTRA?
Being covered by SAG-AFTRA means the work is done under a signed union agreement. The term gets used two ways: for the production that signs the agreement, and for the performers hired to work on it.
SAG-Covered Productions
A SAG-AFTRA covered production is one where the producer has signed a union agreement, which makes them a “signatory.” Coverage attaches to the job itself, so once a production is signatory, the contract’s terms apply to every performer in a covered role. That includes non-members hired under Taft-Hartley.
Being covered typically means you’ll need to:
- Pay performers at least the contract minimum
- Follow the contract’s rules on hours, meal breaks, overtime and safety
- Make pension and health contributions on performer earnings
- Submit union paperwork on time, from employee forms to final casting reports
If your company isn’t a signatory, you can still produce a covered job by working with a company that already holds the agreement. That’s what third-party SAG-AFTRA signatory services are for.
SAG-Covered Performers
A SAG-covered performer is anyone hired into a covered role on a union production. For the length of that job, they get the contract’s protections: at least minimum pay, set rules on hours and breaks, and pension and health contributions on what they earn. Union members generally agree to take work only on covered productions, which is why casting SAG talent means your job has to be covered.
Performers who want to join the union can find eligibility requirements and fees on SAG-AFTRA’s steps to join page.
What are SAG-AFTRA Contracts?
SAG-AFTRA contracts are collective bargaining agreements between the union and producers. Each one spells out how performers are hired, paid and treated for a specific kind of work, from a 30-second spot to a feature film. The purpose of these agreements are to develop orderly, fair and peaceful labor relationships between producers and members. Terms include:
- Fair and reasonable working conditions
- Clear methods for resolving misunderstandings and disputes
- Fair treatment and pay of employees
SAG-AFTRA contracts benefit everyone involved, but producers who violate them can face claims and fines. Here’s what applies at each stage of a union production:
- Pre-production: A SAG-AFTRA-signatory must be obtained prior to shooting and depending on the contract, you must either become a signatory (submit your application 4-6 weeks prior to production) or work with an authorized third-party signatory. There is also an array of documentation that must be provided to get production clearance during pre-production.
- Production: Performers complete their SAG employee forms, and payroll plus pension and health contributions must go out within the deadlines set by each contract.
- Post-production: Final Casting Lists may be due depending on the contract and final payments must be submitted within the deadlines dictated within your agreement.
Understanding your SAG-AFTRA contract for your particular production type will ensure your project runs smoothly without risking any breaches or penalties.
Conclusion: From “What Is SAG-AFTRA?” to Your First Union Shoot
So, what is SAG-AFTRA? It’s the union behind most professional on-camera and voice work, and a SAG-covered production is one that has agreed to follow its rules. Once you know which SAG-AFTRA contract fits your project, the rest of the process gets a lot less intimidating.
As a third-party signatory to SAG-AFTRA Commercials, Co-Ed (Industrial) and Interactive Media Contracts, CMS Productions is happy to assist with helping you hire the best talent for your upcoming production. Contact us today to set up a consultation.
FAQ’s
SAG-AFTRA is the U.S. labor union representing more than 160,000 actors, voiceover artists, broadcasters, singers, stunt performers and other media professionals. It negotiates contracts that set minimum pay, working conditions and benefits for work in film, TV, commercials, video games and more.
SAG-AFTRA stands for Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. The combined name dates to 2012, when the two unions merged into one.
“SAG covered” means a job is produced under a signed SAG-AFTRA agreement. The producer, or a third-party signatory working for them, has agreed to follow the contract’s rules on pay, working conditions and pension and health contributions for every performer in a covered role.
A SAG actor is a performer who is a member of SAG-AFTRA. Members generally agree to work only on union-covered productions, so casting a SAG actor means your project needs to be covered by a SAG-AFTRA agreement.
SAG-AFTRA contracts are agreements between the union and producers that set the terms for hiring union performers. There are separate SAG agreements for commercials, corporate and educational video, TV, theatrical film, video games, music videos, sound recordings and new media.
Your production needs to be covered by a signatory, but that signatory doesn’t have to be you. Many producers work with a third-party signatory that holds the SAG-AFTRA agreement and handles the union paperwork and payments for the job.
Yes, in many cases. A producer can hire a non-member for a covered role and report the hire to the union using a Taft-Hartley form. That performer then works under the same contract terms as members on the job.
