SAG-AFTRA has introduced a new Verticals Agreement, a contract designed for serialized micro-dramas made specifically for mobile devices. The agreement, which will be available later this month, is intended for productions with budgets under $300,000. It aims to address the fast pace and limited budgets of vertical storytelling while maintaining protections for union members.
The contract is meant to support content created for phones and social media feeds. According to SAG-AFTRA, it offers performers protections and gives creators and producers flexibility as the industry shifts toward new storytelling formats.
SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin said, “Our members are always on the lookout for good work opportunities. As technology develops and our industry looks for creative ways to engage audiences, new formats emerge. SAG-AFTRA perceives the advent of so-called ‘verticals’ as an exciting new space. This fast-evolving format is catching on and we are here to support our performers as they pursue their craft and engage this new business model. By offering a contract that is tailored to the unique needs of these projects, our union is meeting the moment. As the business of verticals experiences substantial growth, so too will our relationship with the producers.”
Chief Negotiator and National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland added, “We’re thrilled to introduce an agreement that reflects the way today’s audiences consume content while ensuring performers are protected and supported. This agreement works for the realities of these productions — their pace, their budgets, and their creative ambitions, while upholding the union’s core standards of actor protections. Verticals are more than just a new format, they open up more opportunities for new stories to be told, reaching new audiences every single day.”
