Simply the finest actor organization I have ever seen. I have been a guest speaker many times and have found talented actors who have eventually become clients of mine.

– David Ziff (V.P. Commerical Department – CESD, LA)

Getting Paid (Part 4 of 4)

Box Office Bonuses: While back end points are based on a percentage of the profits, box office bonuses are usually a flat rate, based upon Daily Variety’s weekly box office chart.  They work as follows: If your film earns $1 million dollars in the box office as per Daily Variety, then you will get a […]

Getting Paid (Part 2 of 4)

Profit Participation on Lower Budgeted Films:  Sometimes actors receive back end points if they are working below the SAG minimum and on a lower budgeted film.  SAG has 3 alternatives for films budgeted under $2.5 million: Low, Modified Low and Ultra Low Budget Agreements.  These agreements allow producers to pay less in up front fees, […]

Getting Paid (Part 1 of 4)

There are different ways an actor can get compensated on a feature film: 1) Flat compensation, which is an “up front” daily or weekly rate, payable in lump sums or on a weekly basis; 2) back end compensation, which pays an actor out on the “back end” of a project, once the film has been […]

Most Favored Nations (PART 2 OF 2)

Most Favored Nations or MFN is particularly useful for SAG Ultra Low and Modified Low Budget films, where the pay scale is considerably reduced from the SAG Basic Agreement day/weekly rates.  If my client is only getting $100/day on a SAG Ultra Low Budget project (a film budgeted for under $200,000), I want to ensure […]

Most Favored Nations (PART 1 of 2)

The “Most Favored Nations” clause came about as an international trade term, giving one country equal status to another country with respect to tariffs, regulations and quotas.  In the talent agreement context, this concept is used similarly, so an actor receives equal treatment to all other actors on a project with respect to any number […]

Do Actors Need Attorneys?

Since this is my first blog for TAN, I want to start generally as an introduction to contracts in the acting profession.  As a general rule, it’s best not to sign ANY contract unless you have an attorney reviewing the contract and/or you understand EVERY word in the contract and the risks and consequences of […]