SAG-AFTRA Releases Details Of Video Game Agreement For Indie Developers
As SAG-AFTRA continues its negotiations with the video game industry, they move forward with a new proposal for independent game developers.
The so-called Tiered-Budget Independent Interactive Media Agreement (Tiered-Budget I-IMA) is specifically designed for projects with a budget between $ 250.000 of $ 15 Mio. and shall replace the previous Low-Budget Agreement.
It is intended to help independent developers hire union performers but cannot use the traditional IMA due to budget restrictions.
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The key parameters for the new agreement are as follows:
Tier 1 ($250,000 to < $1 Million):
Minimum Session Fees: 33% of full scale
Number of voice prints: unlimited
Secondary Compensation: 100% of full scale
Secondary Compensation if prepaid: 75% of scale
Tier 2 ($1 Million to < $5 Million):
Minimum Session Fees: 50% of full scale
Number of voice prints: 12
Secondary Compensation: 75% of full scale
Secondary Compensation if prepaid: 56.25% of scale
Tier 3 ($5 Million to < $15 Million):
Minimum Session Fees: 66% of full scale
Number of voice prints: 3
Secondary Compensation: 50% of full scale
Secondary Compensation if prepaid: 37% of scale
Projects with a budget below $250k may apply tier 1 but can also negotiate their own terms. When a project exceeds budget, it will be reassessed according to its new tier.
Additionally, vocally stressful sessions are capped at two hours, rather than the usual four- or six-hour session length. Physically stressful sessions do not have a reduced cap on the number of work hours (eight-hour day), but they are paid at the full IMA scale rate.
Additional terms include
A simplified and streamlined base language of the full Interactive Media Agreement.
Capturing runaway project success with secondary payments, which can be prepaid at a reduced rate.
Requirement of informed consent and compensation for using digital replicas of a performer.
“Independent studios and small-to-mid-sized projects are a driving force propelling innovation and creativity in the video game industry. This new contract provides them an opportunity to work with some of the world’s top performers,” said SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland about the new agreement.
In addition to this new Tiered-Budget I-IMA, SAG-AFTRA continues its negotiations with big video game companies for projects above $15m.
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Source: SAG-AFTRA