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At Wrapbook, we pride ourselves on providing outstanding free resources to producers and their crews, but this post is for informational purposes only as of the date above. The content on our website is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for legal, accounting, or tax advice. You should consult with your own legal, accounting, or tax advisors to determine how this general information may apply to your specific circumstances.
Navigating the world of production involves a delicate balance of creative vision and practical logistics, especially when your cast includes SAG union members.
While working with union talent brings a wealth of professionalism and artistry, it also comes with a set of specific guidelines and potential costs to consider. However, strategic location choices can significantly impact the bottom line. One key to potential budget efficiencies lies in understanding and utilizing SAG Studio Zones.
In this article, we'll demystify SAG Studio Zones, explaining precisely what they are—and crucially—where you can find them. Understanding SAG Studio Zones isn't just about saving money; it's about ensuring compliance and making informed decisions that streamline your production process.
SAG Studio Zones are geographically defined areas around major production centers, established by the union to determine when performers are entitled to additional travel compensation.
Within these zones, the onus is on the performer to get themselves to set, and typically, productions are not obligated to pay for mileage or travel time.
The key factor in determining travel expense obligations is the relationship between the production's filming location and the performer's point of hire, which is often their place of residence or where they are based for the production.
If both the production's location and the performer's point of hire fall within the same designated SAG Studio Zone, then the performer is generally responsible for their own transportation to and from the set. This can lead to significant cost savings for productions, as they avoid paying mileage reimbursements or travel allowances.
It's important to note that the studio itself doesn't necessarily have to be a traditional studio lot. The “studio” in this context refers to the specific location where principal photography is taking place on any given day.
Therefore, even if you're shooting on location within a Studio Zone, the same rules regarding travel expenses can apply if the performers' point of hire is also within that zone.
Consider the following scenario: You're filming a television episode in Los Angeles. If your filming location is within the Los Angeles Studio Zone, and your SAG actors are hired locally within the Los Angeles area (and thus their point of hire is also considered within the zone), you generally won't be responsible for their daily travel expenses to the set.
However, if you hire an actor who resides outside the Los Angeles Studio Zone, even if the shoot is within the zone, you would likely be responsible for their travel to Los Angeles.
Navigating these nuances of union rules can be complex, but Wrapbook offers robust union payroll support to help ensure compliance with SAG-AFTRA regulations. Our platform is designed to handle these intricacies, assisting you in accurate payroll and adherence to union guidelines.
The core principle of SAG Studio Zone rules revolves around when a performer's work time officially begins, which significantly impacts payroll and potential overtime.
Within a SAG Studio Zone, the general rule is that a performer's workday commences upon their arrival at the designated call time, typically when they report for hair, makeup, or wardrobe. This means their travel time to a set within the zone is generally on their own time.
However, the rules shift when a production ventures outside of a designated SAG Studio Zone. In such instances, the performer's work clock often starts the moment they leave their residence.
This “portal-to-portal” compensation, as it's sometimes called, means that travel time becomes paid time, which is meticulously documented on the performer's Exhibit G form.
Further, if a production location is deemed to be beyond a “reasonable driving distance” from the performer's home, additional considerations come into play. This typically triggers the requirement for a paid travel day, which can include covering the costs of airfare, hotel accommodations, and per diems for meals.
Determining what constitutes a reasonable driving distance can depend on the specific location and union agreements.
Accurately tracking these distinctions is vital for both budgeting and compliance. Wrapbook's platform is equipped to handle these varying start-time rules based on location, ensuring accurate payroll calculations whether you're filming within or outside a SAG Studio Zone.
Our system acts as a force multiplier, helping manage Exhibit G forms and tracking travel-related expenses seamlessly. This reduces the risk of costly errors and keeps your production in good standing with union regulations.
Currently, the landscape of SAG Studio Zones in the United States includes two primary hubs: Los Angeles and New York City. This concentration isn't arbitrary; it directly reflects the historical and ongoing dominance of these two centers in the American film, television, and commercial production industries.
The sheer density of talent and production activity in these areas makes these designated zones a practical framework for managing travel and related logistics.
The Los Angeles SAG Studio Zone is defined as a 30-mile radius, with its central point located at the intersection of La Cienega and Beverly Boulevard.
This geographical demarcation has deep roots in Hollywood history. Even before the formal establishment of the Screen Actors Guild, a similar 30-mile radius was informally recognized by the burgeoning film industry.
Interestingly, this historical 30-mile radius was often abbreviated within the industry as TMZ, which stands for “Thirty Mile Zone”—a name later adopted by the well-known celebrity news outlet.
When SAG officially established its Los Angeles Studio Zone, it naturally aligned with this long-standing TMZ boundary.
It's crucial for producers and production managers to understand that while the 30-mile radius centered at La Cienega and Beverly might be a familiar landmark, especially as it's shared by several other entertainment industry unions like the Directors Guild of America (DGA), nuances exist across different union agreements.
For instance, unlike SAG-AFTRA's fixed zones, some unions might allow for the expansion of their studio zones under specific permit conditions. Furthermore, it's important to remember that studio zones aren't exclusive to Los Angeles and New York.
Other production hubs, such as San Francisco, may have their own distinct union studio zones. Therefore, when budgeting and planning, always verify the specific studio zone regulations for each union involved in your production to avoid potential complications and ensure compliance.
The SAG Studio Zone in New York City operates on a different scale than its Los Angeles counterpart, covering an eight-mile radius from Columbus Circle. This smaller radius reflects the denser geography of Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs.
Interestingly, the eight-mile SAG Studio Zone stands somewhat apart from other unions in New York, many of which adhere to the more common 30-mile radius seen in Los Angeles.
This difference underscores the importance of verifying the specific studio zone regulations for each union involved in your New York-based production.
While SAG-AFTRA utilizes the eight-mile radius from Columbus Circle, be aware that other unions you might work with in the city likely follow a 30-mile radius.
Understanding SAG Studio Zones is more than just a technicality—it's a strategic advantage for producers aiming to optimize their budgets and streamline logistics. Therefore, as you cast your upcoming projects, gathering and securely managing your talent's addresses is a crucial pre-production step.
To further empower your production finance and accounting teams, Wrapbook offers a next-generation platform that simplifies payroll and accounting, including seamless handling of union rules and regulations.
With Wrapbook, you can gain real-time insights into your budget and focus on bringing your creative vision to life, knowing that your payroll and labor obligations are expertly handled. Book a demo today to learn how we can be a force multiplier for your next project.
