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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