Inside Indies

A well-crafted union agreement can make or break your indie production, and no one knows that better than Jessica Johnson and Olga Rodriguez-Aguirre of SAG-AFTRA. 

John Cooke
sits down with Jessica and Olga to demystify the SAG-AFTRA contracts that apply to independent films with budgets of $2 million and up. From common pitfalls to budgeting for residuals, they share the advice every indie creator needs before hiring union talent. 

Key insights from this episode: 
  • When and how to engage with SAG-AFTRA (and why earlier is better) 
  • Which contracts apply to films over $2 million 
  • Why transparency with the union can save your production 
Chapters: 
(00:00) Meet Olga Rodriguez-Aguirre and Jessica Johnson 
(00:37) Why hiring union talent gives films a competitive edge 
(01:27) Common missteps filmmakers make with SAG-AFTRA 
(03:48) Which contracts apply when your indie budget hits $2 million 
(05:04) What to do when your film’s distribution plans change 
(06:55) Updating contracts mid-production 
(08:27) What SAG-AFTRA looks for in a producer 
(13:52) How to find top-tier talent in smaller markets 

Read our blog about this topic at https://www.mediaservices.com/blog/sag-aftra-explained-budgeting-for-union-talent/
 
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What is Inside Indies?

A look at what it takes to make an indie film. Each episode shares advice on things like funding, planning, and getting a project across the finish line, without a studio-sized budget.