Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/555596
SAGAFTRA.org | Summer 2015 | SAG-AFTRA 13 CAROL BURNETT TO RECEIVE LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD C arol Burnett has been named the 52nd recipient of SAG-AFTRA's highest tribute: the SAG Life Achievement Award for career achievement and humanitarian accomplishment. An inductee into the Television Hall of Fame and the winner of numerous awards, Burnett is a multi-talented performer, producer and writer. She is best known for The Carol Burnett Show, which ran for 11 seasons, from 1967 to 1978. It averaged 30 million viewers per week and received 25 Emmy Awards, making it one of the most honored shows in television history. SAG-AFTRA President Ken Howard said, "Carol Burnett is a creative dynamo and a comedic genius. She embodies the generosity and courage that the greatest actors use in creating enduring and memorable characters. From her heartbreakingly hilarious Starlet O'Hara to the adorably inept Eunice and alarmingly funny Miss Hannigan, Carol has delighted and inspired millions of viewers and thousands of comedic actors. She took risks as a performer and, through her courage, encouraged fellow actors to try new things and always, always reach for the sky. Her innate love of actors led to the creation of an ensemble cast that made The Carol Burnett Show a masterpiece of variety programming." Burnett will be presented the union's top accolade at the 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®, which will be simulcast live on TNT and TBS on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 5 p.m. PT. Carol Burnett LOW BUDGET RATES INCREASE G reat news for union actors: The minimum rates on all SAG-AFTRA's low budget agreements have gone up by a substantial 25 percent. Those rates had not increased in 10 years. In addition, there have been budget threshold increases to the Ultra Low Budget Agreement and the Modified Low Budget Agreement for all pictures signed to the applicable agreements on or after July 1, 2015. Low budget films are where experimental and cutting-edge filmmaking can be explored, but the tight budgets mean producers often have trouble affording union talent. SAG-AFTRA members have expressed that they enjoy working with young, up-and-coming filmmakers, and this gives them an avenue to do so under a union contract. It's about establishing relationships that could lead to greater things for both parties later on. Under the new agreements, budget thresholds for the Ultra Low Budget Agreement increased to $250,000 from $200,000 and the threshold for the Modified Low Budget Agreement increased to $700,000 from $625,000. The budget threshold for the Low Budget Agreement remains the same. It should be noted that the minimum rates reflect the lowest rate of pay performers can earn under these contracts, but that they are still free to negotiate higher rates and deferred rates. The diversity and background incentives have each increased 12 percent. That means it's financially advantageous for producers to hire a diverse cast and a greater number of union background actors, and that, in turn, creates greater opportunities for SAG-AFTRA members. The hope is that it will open the door to pictures that could not have able to been made under the previous thresholds, and create more jobs for performers. Check out the updated agreements online at sagaftra.org/productioncenter. 22 ND ANNUAL SAG AWARDS ® CALENDAR Oct. 1 Period to request paper final ballots in lieu of online voting begins Oct. 22 Submissions close Nov. 18 Nomination ballots mail to Nominating Committee members Dec. 1 Deadline for paying November 2015 dues and/or changing address with SAG-AFTRA to be eligible for final ballot Dec. 7 Nomination ballots due at the elections firm by noon PT Dec. 8 Records pulled for final balloting Dec. 9 Nominations announced Dec. 16 Final voting information mailed to members Jan. 13, 2016 Final day to request paper final ballots in lieu of online voting Jan. 29 Final votes must be cast online or ballots received by the elections firm by noon PT Jan. 30 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards ®