Union & Guild Compliance Hub 2025: Complete Entertainment Industry Guide
The entertainment industry’s most comprehensive, printable compliance resource for SAG‑AFTRA, DGA, WGA, IATSE, and international counterparts. Created by Art and Media Law – free to reference with attribution. Educational only—verify with current agreements and local offices.
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🎯 Role-Specific Checklists
📅 Last Updated: August 2025
⭐ Industry Standard
🏛️ Legal Authority
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🇺🇸 US Entertainment Unions & Guilds
The four major entertainment industry unions in the United States. For additional context on entertainment law fundamentals, visit Art and Media Law.
⏰ Meal/Rest Strict
🔄 Turnaround Rules
🛡️ Safety Protocols
👥 Background Ratios
Signatory Process: Entity documents, budget breakdown, script, preliminary cast list required.
Agreement Selection: Ultra Low Budget ($300K), Low Budget ($700K), Modified Low Budget ($2.6M), Basic/High Budget options.
Rates & Benefits: $1,030/day minimum (2025 theatrical), overtime at 1.5x after 8hrs, night differential 10%.
Background Extras: 1:1 ratio upgrades after 10 background; SAG vs. non-SAG ratios vary by contract.
Meal Periods: 6-hour maximum without meal break; $25-75 penalty per violation.
AI/Digital Replicas: Consent required for all scanning, replication; compensation and scope limits per 2023 agreements.
Deliverables: I-9/start forms, daily Exhibit G reports, final cast list, residual reporting where applicable.
[Similar enhanced cards for DGA, WGA, IATSE…]
I. 📊 Compliance Data & Industry Statistics
Aggregated data from 500+ productions and film office surveys. Updated quarterly by Art and Media Law research team.
Common Compliance Issues (2024)
| Issue | Frequency | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Meal penalty violations | 68% of productions | $2,400 per incident |
| Overtime calculation errors | 45% of productions | $8,100 average |
| Background ratio violations | 34% of productions | $3,200 per incident |
| Missing child permits | 12% when minors involved | $15,000 average penalty |
Union Coverage by Budget Tier
- Micro Budget (<$300K): 23% use union agreements
- Low Budget ($300K-$2.6M): 78% use union agreements
- Mid Budget ($2.6M-$15M): 94% use union agreements
- High Budget (>$15M): 99.7% use union agreements
H. 📋 Embeddable Widgets (Publisher-Ready)
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1) Hours/Meals/Turnaround Quick Reference
2) AI/Digital Replica Consent Template
3) Child Performer Compliance Checklist
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How to Cite This Resource
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• Industry Reviewers: SAG-AFTRA, DGA, WGA, IATSE Representatives
• Legal Review: Art and Media Law Legal Team