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In New York, everything's negotiable.
All of New York's major guilds and unions have pioneered progressive contracts and policies designed to encourage independent, low-budget filmmaking in the city and state. |
Progressive, proactive union leaders have transformed New York into one of the most responsive, production-friendly markets in America. Seven of the International Alliance of Theatrical & Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) locals have joined forces with Teamsters 817 to form the New York Production Locals.
There are contracts tailored to the needs of virtually any film production, from features to movies of the week, pilots to episodic TV, music videos to commercials. True one-stop shopping is possible when contracting NYPL's many union services.
SAG-AFTRA
SAG-AFTRA brings together two great American labor unions: Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Both were formed in the turmoil of the 1930s, with rich histories of fighting for and securing the strongest protections for media artists.
Their membership are actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, dj’s, news writers, news directors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other media professionals.
SAG-AFTRA is committed to organizing all work done under their jurisdictions; negotiating the best wages, working conditions, and health and pension benefits; preserving and expanding members’ work opportunities; vigorously enforcing contracts; and protecting members against unauthorized use of their work.
Sound good? Call the SAG-AFTRA New York office at 212-944-1030 or visit www.sagaftra.org.
The Directors Guild of America
The Directors Guild of America will do its part to help you make your next indie film affordable and enable you to enjoy a great deal of flexibility in structuring your budget.
The DGA's Low Budget Sideletter covers feature films budgets at $7 million or less. This agreement offers concessions which permit filmmakers to employ experienced directors, unit production managers and assistant directors.
To learn more, contact Fern Wakneen at (212) 581-0730.
East Coast Council of the I.A.T.S.E.
The East Coast Council of the I.A.T.S.E. offers breaks to filmmakers and television producers for many projects made in New York City and State.
If your project has a budget below $8 million, Council representatives will work with you to create a customized contract that defers part of the crew's salaries, overtime, pension and health benefits in exchange for future participation in the project's earnings.
For more information, call (212) 647-7300.
American Federation of Musicians, Local 802
The American Federation of Musicians, Local 802 represents the interests of 8,500 professional musicians in the Greater New York area. Put the Stamp of Musical Authenticity on your project. Their diverse members are among the world's virtuosi in chamber and orchestral music, as well as the downtown scene's cutting edge jazz musicians, rockers and indie experimenters.
From the exotic to the extreme, from the popular to the obscure, they have it all. They have competitive rates for films budgeted below $40 million; graduated rates for $12 million and under, and even better rates for those with budgets under $2 million.
To find out more, contact Media Services Supervisor Steve Danenberg, (212) 245-4802, ext. 119.
For a list of more unions and guilds visit our Links page.
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