Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1530033
74 SAG-AFTRA | Fall/Winter 2024 | sagaftra.org Paperwork? Paperwork! Don't let the scary prospect of filling out forms thwart your indie filmmaking dreams! Though the four filmmakers produced in different locations and used different agreements, they all found the signatory process to be very straightforward. Sroka describes his signatory rep as "terrific." He adds, "They kind of guided me through." Though there was paperwork that needed to be submitted, the signatory rep made everything less daunting. SAG-AFTRA advises low-budget producers to begin the signatory process four to six weeks before the first day of work — which means the first day of rehearsal, travel, a table read or the start of principal photography. Anytime you bring the cast together, that's when work — and the cast's compensation — begins. While applying early is recommended, depending on how far along you are in the process, you may not hear from SAG-AFTRA right away, as each project has specific needs and complexities. Please be patient! Your reps are hard at work behind the scenes. Assistant director Olivia Bosek, cinematographer Jay Keitel and director Aemilia Scott during production of Evan Bass's How You Are to Me, produced in New York using the Short Film Agreement, now called the Short Project Agreement. TAKE THREE TIPS! Many producers don't know they likely have at least two SAG-AFTRA reps who help them through the process. The signatory representative assists you as you get your signatory paperwork together. You'll also have one or more contracts/claims representatives. Before you begin production, ask your signatory rep who your contracts/ claims reps are and be sure to keep their contact information handy. Micro-Budget Project Agreement productions will not be assigned a rep. If you used an agreement that required a deposit, be sure to read your clearance email, as it will give you the information you need to provide to SAG-AFTRA to get your deposit returned. Reach out to your signatory representative after you've submitted your final paperwork. They can help you initiate the deposit return process. Got an offer from a distributor? Congratulations! Contact the union if you have any questions about how residuals will work or if an upgrade will be necessary for that type of distribution. 74 SAG-AFTRA | Fall/Winter 2024 | sagaftra.org Depending on which agreement you end up using, you'll need to get a number of documents in order. Among the required pieces are: a script, a budget, company formation documents, the cast list, the applicable signed agreement, SAG-AFTRA Health Plan and SAG-Producers Pension Plan adherence letter, and a Day Out of Days report (a chart used by producers to tally the number of paid days for each cast member). To see what specific preproduction documents are required for different agreements, visit sagaftra.org/lowbudget. Sound? Speed. Signatory! One piece of advice Sroka has for those eager to begin producing their own projects is to write with an eye to keeping the budget low, and think about where you will shoot. "Keep location, location, location in mind," he says. "Ask yourself, 'Can I get this? Do I have to pay for this?'" Sroka and Hartley used their own home as one of the locations to keep costs down. "Among the great joys of doing your own film is being able to ELECTRONIC BASS ENTERTAINMENT WATCH THIS How You Are to Me and Our (Almost Completely True) Love Story can be viewed on tubitv.com. Details on where to watch Oh Myh Dating Hell can be found on the series' Instagram profile @ohmyhdatinghell.