MOVIE GUILDS & UNION SECRETS (LOW-BUDGET WAVERS)

HOLLYWOOD UNIONS: The WGA, DGA, SAG & IATSE 

(Movie Union Secrets, Misbeliefs & Tricks)

Independent Filmmakers (like you) and Independent Film Companies (like yours) do not have to hire union Actors, Writers & Directors (there is no law in America that states you must) for you have not become a “signator” of each of the guilds and union basic agreements that they movie studios and television networks have contractually agreed to.

However, if you are being financed directly by a Hollywood Studio, that has signed with the 4 Guilds (aka: creative word for “union”), then you must be a union shoot and must hire Writers, Actors & Directors that are union members.

norma-rae-union-sign

Oops: That is unless the Studio is playing a game they call “Negative-Pickup Deals”, which is their sneaky way of circumventing the Guilds.

NEGATIVE PICKUP DEAL: Means that the studio (Warners, Paramount, Disney, Sony, etc.) isn’t financing you to make a movie for them to distribute; rather they are simply stating that they will (A) Not Finance you but rather (B) Buy your movie (price to be negotiated) when it is done.

For if they ( a movie studio or TV network) directly financed you, and they have signed with the Unions, then you will have to be a “Signator”, another phrase for you have a contractual agreement (you are a “signator”, you “signed”) with the Guilds & Unions, and more than likely, this will be an expensive film.

However, if the studio(s) want to buy your film, and they know that it is low-budget and if you’re forced to be a “signator” then you can’t afford to make it, for what the studio is willing to purchase it for, then they ARE NOT FINANCING YOU they are simply making a deal to BUY IT and the price is already set.

Then, once you are done…they will “Pick-Up Your Negative” (aka: Negative Pickup Deal, yes-yes, today it’s not called a negative) and you do not have to be a Guild & Union shoot.

Then you can take this “Negative Pickup” studio deal to a commercial bank, with a completion bond, and secure an 18-month Production Loan (aka: Monetize a Contract)…Interesting?

Why don’t you “Google” or “Bing” NEGATIVE PICKUP DEALS…

WHAT IS A HOLLYWOOD UNION? and HOW MANY MOVIE GUILDS ARE THERE?

So let’s chat “Guilds & Unions” and “Low-Budget”:

CREW-1

In Hollywood ABOVE-THE-LINE there are 3 guilds…

The Writers banded together to form their guild.

The Directors banded together to form their guild.

The Actors banded together to form their Guild.

It appears that ABOVE-THE-LINE people don’t like being part of a Union for that sounds like something that truck drivers and janitors belong to… However, BELOW-THE-LINE, crew, who are just people looking for gigs be they a Cinematographer, a Grip, a Gaffer, a Soundman, a Production Designer, etc. they are comfortable saying they are a member of a Union.

Anyway; ABOVE-THE LINE there are 3 GUILDS and BELOW-THE-LINE there is 1 Union…for a total of 4 organizations, that in reality are not there to help you…THE PRODUCER!

First off, I want you to understand the phrase “LOW-BUDGET”.

What number (dollar amount) do you call Low-Budget; what do Studios call Low-Budget; what do Banks call Low-Budget; and what about the 3 Guilds & 1 Union “what do they call Low-Budget?”

DOV SIMENS / DEAN / HOLLYWOOD FILM INSTITUTE

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WHAT IS LOW-BUDGET?

Why don’t you find out for yourself by going directly to the 3 Guilds & 1 Union; get frustrated; not get the proper information; then I will tell you the “Bottom-Line”…and always remember, “This is America, you can hire who you want, when you want and the only wage rules are (A) Minimum wage and (B) Workers Compensation”… So be very wary about Actors, Writers, Directors or Guilds & Unions telling you what you have to do with your own money.”

(Secret: Look below. “Brothers McMullen”, “Clerks” and “Paranormal Activity” were all non-union. QUESTION: Did the Producers or Directors or Actors of these movies get into trouble? Gotcha thinkin’)

BrothresMcMullen         CLERKS     Paranormal Activity

Anyway, back to “who are the Guilds & Unions”?

WGA, SAG, DGA and IATSE.

  1. (FIRST) ABOVE-THE-LINE (3 Guilds)
  • 1. SCREEN ACTORS GUILD (aka: SAG): www. SAG .org
  • 2. DIRECTORS GUILD (aka: DGA): www. DGA .org
  • 3. WRITERS GUILD (aka: WGA): www. WGA .org
  1. (SECOND) BELOW-THE-LINE (1 Union)
  • 4. INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE of THEATRICAL STAGE EMPLOYEES…. (aka: IATSE): www. IATSE-intl .org)

Now, go to each of these 4 websites and look for “LOW-BUDGET” Agreements and discover the Rules, Regulations, Costs & Fees.

Then you will be able to make a decision if you desire your first feature film to be a Guild & Union Shoot, or hire Guild & Union people but not sign with the Guilds & Union, or be entirely independent and only hire non-guild and non-union.

It’s your call.

Always remember….. This is America and you can hire whoever you want to hire, whenever you desire to hire him/her, with the only rules (aka: laws) for employment being (A) Minimum Wage and (B) Workers Compensation.

 

HOLLYWOOD’S SECRET FILM SCHOOL

FS-$89 (2)

Hello,

I’m Dov Simens and enjoy my 3 affordable Film Programs (Live, DVD or On-Demand)…

…www.WebFilmSchool.com

Happy Filmmaking,

Keep Up to date… Join our e-mail list.

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 *** NO-BULL

 

4 comments on “MOVIE GUILDS & UNION SECRETS (LOW-BUDGET WAVERS)”

  1. IndieDoubleStandards says:

    If only it were that simple. Studios have made a lot of investors buy into the fact that shooting indie film using SAG/AFTRA and IATSE is necessary. They have also been tricked into thinking a completion bond is necessary for indie film. Put those three things together along with needing some sort of name in your film to get distribution and you cripple the quality of the film, which is exactly what the studios want. The only way to get past this is to use your own money and, yeah, that’s not really advisable. So, while you’re absolutely right, you can hire whomever you want, you are ignoring the stranglehold that the unions and the studios together have put on indie film.

  2. Robin Smith says:

    Enjoyed this site -currently thinking of diving further into the process of bringing life to the big screen. Thanks!

  3. Randy says:

    Hello Dov, I’ve enjoyed your 2 day film school. I wrote, produced, starred, and filmed a “proof of concept” opening scene. Post is complete with a .30 second trailer, scene is 6 min. Are there resources that you would recommend for financing. My goal is 250K.

  4. Henry Larry says:

    Great information on movie guilds and unions. It is interesting to learn about the different agreements and options for independent filmmakers. I appreciate the reminder that as a producer I have the freedom to make my own hiring decisions within the legal requirements.
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