Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/681774
SAGAFTRA.org | Spring 2016 | SAG-AFTRA 15 NEW COMMERCIALS CONTRACT AIMED AT COLLEGE STUDENTS T he SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contracts Department, in conjunction with the Commercials Contracts Standing Committee, has developed the Student Commercials Agreement to assist in the coursework of undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in filmmaking, television or commercial classes at an accredited educational institution. The agreement gives members the opportunity to work on student commercial projects, and foster relationships and ground-floor collaborations between future industry professionals and SAG-AFTRA members. Most performer payments are deferred, which means even students creating low budget or no-budget student commercial productions have the opportunity to work with professional actors. The agreement is also a way to introduce students to the process of creating a signatory production and working with union staff, which will increase the possibility of future commercial work being produced under a SAG-AFTRA contract. UPTOWN ANIMATION AGREEMENT REVAMPED A standalone agreement covering digitally produced animation programs that air on Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. has been renegotiated with Uptown Productions Inc. The SAG-AFTRA National Board approved the contract at its January meeting. The new agreement's terms and conditions have been changed to conform to the SAG-AFTRA Animation Agreement in the following areas: • Standard non-commercial opening and closing; • Singers in standard openings; • Recording of pickup lines; • Work in value-added promotional announcements; • Theatrical reuse residuals; and • Content made for high-budget subscription video-on-demand programs In addition, the contract adds late- payment penalties for all residuals and it offers a higher session rate than the SAG-AFTRA Animation Agreement. Improvements were made in several other areas, including crediting over- scale compensation and eliminating the discount for performers under 12 years of age. T he Motion Picture & Television Fund has announced plans to build a $35-million state-of-the-art care facility, to be named the Kirk Douglas Care Pavilion, on its Woodland Hills campus. The announcement was timed to coincide with Douglas' 99th birthday on Dec. 9, after he and his wife donated $15 million to the MPTF Foundation. With the pledge, Douglas, who was the 1998 SAG Life Achievement honoree, and his wife became one of largest donors to the organization, totaling more than $40 million in lifetime philanthropy. The new facility will be a two-story home for 80 industry members struggling with Alzheimer's as well as those with long-term skilled nursing care needs. It will be a welcoming environment for residents, with more of a "neighborhood" feel than a typical hospital setting. Construction on the building is expected to begin this year. Take a virtual tour of the new building at mptf.com/kirkdouglas. MPTF ANNOUNCES KIRK DOUGLAS CARE PAVILION FINDING ANSWERS YOU NEED GETTING EASIER T he union is upping its member service game with a new resource that will give members an easier and more convenient way to get the information they need. A new call center will put members in touch with knowledgeable staff in Los Angeles and New York and will offer expanded hours of service from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT. Members will be able to contact their union by phone, email and live web chat. A member app is also in development that will offer easy access to residuals informa- tion, a proj- ect search, member news, local deals and discounts, and more. MPTF Artist's rendering