All About Indie Filmmaking: SAG v. AMPTP

Friday, February 20, 2009

SAG v. AMPTP

There is still no deal between SAG and the AMPTP. This past week had both parties in a flurry of negotiating. I'm actually not surprised. If their negotiations are anything like traditional negotiations for talent agreements then this could go on forever. The new offer from the AMPTP is at their Web site here.

What does all this negotiating mean?

For producers, it means that we are cautious about greenlighting a picture until the negotiations are completed. Why? Because there is still a possibility of a breakdown in negotiating, which could trigger a strike. If SAG is striking then we aren't filming and we are losing money.

SAG was offering Completion Guarantee contracts for independent projects as long as the independent projects agreed to the changes in the new contract. I have a Completion Guarantee on two of my projects. However, not every project qualifies and I am hearing that SAG may not even be offering anymore of these contracts.

I said it before and will say it again: Please SAG, don't strike!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...: Yup - Guaranteed Completion Contracts are no more...

http://www.filmmakermagazine.com/blog/2009/01/sag-nixes-guaranteed-completion.php; February 20, 2009 at 9:55 AM

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Filmmaking Terms

Abby Singer - The second to last set up of the last shot of the day.
Adaptation - A screenplay based on a written work, such as book or short story.
Attachment - Verbal or written agreement attaching talent to a film project.
Day Out of Days - Calendar detailing the days each actor will work on the film.
DDACS - Detailed Dialogue Action Continuity Script
Deal Memo - Short form deal between film production and cast or crew.
Development - The period in which the screenplay is finalized for pre-production and other key elements, like financing, cast, and crew, may be attached.
Digital Intermediate - The process of digitizing a 35mm or 16mm film print, resulting in a digital version of the film that can be corrected and from which a final output to film or tape is made.
HD - High Definition; a higher resolution than standard definition.
High or Low Hat - A camera mount that allows for filming low angles.
Magazine - Lightproof film container that attaches to the camera and holds both exposed and unexposed film.
Martini Shot - Final set up of the last shot of the day.
One Liner Schedule - Shooting schedule condensed with each day's schedule on one line.
Pay or Play Offer - An offer from the producer to talent stating that the talent will either be paid or played (required to perform) by a certain date.
Pick Ups - New shots to be filmed that were not part of the original shot list.
Post Production - The period following principal photography in which the film or TV episode is completed.
Pre-Production - Often referred to as Pre-Pro; the preparation period prior to principal photography.
Principal Photography - The primary period of shooting the film or TV episode.
Production Draft - The version of the script that is used during film production.
Reshoot - A period of filming during which shots of the movie or TV show are re-filmed.
Screenplay - A script for a movie or TV show.
Script Breakdown - Detailed list of items and people needed for each scene in the script, from which a schedule and budget are made.
Shooting Schedule - Detailed schedule of principal photography, including lists of items needed from each department.
Shot List - List of shots to be filmed during principal photography.