Last updated on 2019-08-10
Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and Netflix have agreed to an industry-transformative contract covering dramatic live-action productions.
Netflix is a giant in itself. What happens when you combine actors rights with a platforms desire to succeed together. You get a very happy work force.
The first-of-its-kind deal between the union and the global streaming service recognizes performance capture as covered work and includes coverage of dubbing, which applies to all of Netflix’s foreign-language live-action and animated motion pictures dubbed into English.
The new deal also includes gains in theatrical residuals, greater rights for members in the areas of options and exclusivity, improved overtime rules for stunt performers and specific protections for members regarding harassment and auditions.
To summarize the above, what this means is that these two entities have come to an agreement that the rights of the actors is critically important. From wages to members rights to protections from what caused parts of the Me Too moments (by this I mean the following. Members would be listened too, heard, and actions would be taken seriously should anything feel amiss).
As an actor myself, both stage and screen, this is HUGE. To be taken even more seriously as an actor means the quality of production both on screen and behind the scenes is about to enter a whole other level. They are stepping it up which means, my fellow thespians, we are going to be more than alright although we too must be on par.
While I may not be apart of the Union yet I am looking forward to the day I have my SAG card.
Additional details on the new deals arrangement is as followed
• Minimum salary and turnaround provisions shall now be applicable to all Netflix programs regardless of whether they trigger the “high budget SVOD” thresholds, an important breakthrough for performers.
• Netflix has recognized that performances recorded using performance capture technology is covered work with all the protections of any other type of performance, subject to a mutual reservation with respect to fully animated motion pictures.
• Concessions in the area of consecutive employment for guest stars and day performers employed on episodic series.
• All Netflix dubbing for foreign language live-action and animated motion pictures dubbed into English in the United States to be done under a union agreement with improved terms.
• The agreement covers how to pay residuals for motion pictures that were produced under a SAG-AFTRA theatrical contract that are exhibited on Netflix.
• Stunt performers will no longer have adjustments considered in determining their eligibility for overtime for episodic productions.
Historic new limitations on the ability to advance pay residuals.
The deal, which except as specified follows the Codified Basic Agreement and Television Agreements, was overwhelmingly approved by the National Board at its one-day videoconference plenary today. The agreement expires on June 30, 2022.
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