FLTTA 2017

Freelance Live and Tape Television Agreement


The Freelance Live and Tape Television Agreement (FLTTA) covers live productions and projects shot on videotape made under an agreement with the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). This contract applies to Directors, Associate Directors and Stage Managers working in these areas.

  • 2017 Freelance Live and Tape Television Agreement
    click link to download PDF of the FLTTA as a single document
  • Table of Contents
  • List of Signatories
  • Article 1
               p7   A.   Defintion of Terms
      p10   B.   Scope
  • Article 2
               p14   A.   Directors
      p15   B.   Associate Directors
        p17   C.   Stage Managers
        p19   D.   Construction
  • Article 3 - Recognition
                p21    
  • Article 4 - Guild Security
                p22    
  • Article 5 - Reporting of Earnings
                p23    
  • Article 6 - Basic Minimun Compensation and Conditions for Directors
                p24   A.   Dramatic Programs
        p27   B.   Variety Programs
        p29   C.   Quiz and Game Programs
        p30   D.   Strip Programs  
        p32   E.   All Other Programs  
        p34   F.   Sports  
        p35   G.   News and Commentary Programs  
        p38   H.   Local Freelance Directors  
        p38   I.   Budget Table
        p39   J.   Segments
        p39   K.   Lead-Ins
        p40   L.   Talent Test
        p40   M.   Intended Broadcast Pattern and Adjustment of Director's Salary
        p42   N.   Pilots, Presentations and Workshops
        p46   O.   Additional Days
        p46   P.   Special Provisions Applicable to Serials
        p48   Q.   Compensation on Recall for Particular Services
        p49   R.   Double Length Episode
        p49   S.   Payment for Combined or Extended Programs
        p50   T.   One Director to a Prime Time Dramatic Program
        p51   U.   Literary Material
        p51   V.   Director Residency
  • Article 7 - Additional Compensation for Reruns, Segment Re-Use and Foreign Use Payments
                p52   A.   How Paid
        p53   B.   Additional Compensation for Reruns
        p58   C.   Rerun Payments
        p59   D.   Additional Compensation for Foreign Telecasts
        p66   E.   Basic Cable Exhibition
        p67   F.   Copyright Royalty Tribunal
        p67   G.   Residual Audits
  • Article 8 - Commercials and Promotional Announcements
                p69   A.   Commercials
        p69   B.   Promotional Announcements
  • Article 9 - General Conditions
                p70   A.    
        p78   B.    
        p91   C.   Safety
        p92   D.   ISAN Numbers
  • Article 10 - Basic Minimum Compensation and Conditions for Associate Directors and Stage Managers
    Part 1. Prime Time Dramatic Programs
                p93   A.   Minimum Salaries
        p96   B.   Other Working Conditions
        p110   C.   Duties
        p112   D.   Budget Disclosure
        p112   E.   Termination
        p113   F.   No Credit or Offset
    Part 2. Programs Other Than Prime Time Dramatic Programs
                p114   A.   Associate Directors
        p114   B.   Stage Managers
        p115   C.   Associate Director/Stage Manager Combination (where permitted)
        p115   D.   Hours of Work
    Part 3. Provisions Applicable to all Associate Directors and Stage Managers
                p121   A.   Employment Criteria for Associate Directors and
    Stage Managers
        p122   B.   Preparation Time
        p124   C.   Cancellation of Calls
        p124   D.   Vacations
        p124   E.   Meal Period
        p124   F.   Confirmation of Employment
        p125   G.   Production Reports
        p125   H.   Replacement
        p126   I.   Elimination of Duplicate Contributions for Associate Directors/
    Review of Associate Director Rest Periods
        p126   J.   Work in the New York Metropolitan Area
        p127   K.   Camera Placement for Awards Programs
  • Article 11 - Pension and Health and Welfare
               p128   A.   Pension
      p129   B.   Health
  • Article 12 - Pension, Health and Welfare - Trust Funds and Delinquencies
                p131   A.   Trust Agreements
        p131   B.   Trustees
        p131   C.   Delinquent Contributions
        p131   D.   Arbitration
        p132   E.   Loan-Outs
        p132   F.   Claims Period
  • Article 13 - Motion Picture and Television Fund
                p134    
  • Article 14 - Contracts of Employment
                p135   A.   Contracts
        p137   B.   Employment
        p138   C.   Individual Contracts
        p139   D.   On or About
  • Article 15 - Authority of Directors
                p140   A.    
        p140   B.    
        p140   C.    
        p140   D.    
        p141   E.    
  • Article 16 - Credits
                p142   A.   Television Credits
        p147   B.   Credits to Determine Controversy Over Credits
        p147   C.   Notice of Credits
  • Article 17 - Staging
                p148   A.  
        p148   B.  
        p148   C.  
  • Article 18 - Strikes - Unusual Duties
                p149    
  • Article 19 - Non-Discrimination
                p150   A.   Policy
        p150   B.   Reports
        p151   C.   Representatives
        p151   D.   Arbitration
        p152   E.   Diversity Meetings
  • Article 20 - Arbitration
                p153   A.   Matters Subject to Grievance and Arbitration
        p154   B.   Grievance Procedure
        p155   C.   Arbitration Procedure
        p160   D.   Expedited Arbitration Procedure
        p162   E.   Arbitral Remedies
        p163   F.   Court Proceedings
        p165   G.   Withdrawal of Services
  • Article 21 - Waivers
                p166    
  • Article 22 - Posting of Bond
                p167    
  • Article 23 - Other Uses of Television Programs
               p168   A.  
        p170   B.    
  • Article 24 - Supplemental Markets
                p183   A.   Programs Covered
        p183   B.   Definitions
        p185   C.   Supplemental Market Distribution other than by Cassettes
        p189   D.   Supplemental Market Distribution on Cassettes
        p193   E.   Participating Employees
        p194   F.   Reports and Manner of Payment
        p197   G.   Assumption of Obligations
        p199   H.    
        p199   I.    
  • Article 25 - Radio
                p200    
  • Article 26 - Notification - Use of Facilities
                p201    
  • Article 27 - Agreement to be Interpreted in Accordance with Law
                p202    
  • Article 28 - Effective Date and Term
               p203   A.  
        p203   B.  
        p203   C.    
  • Article 29 - Minimum Salaries and Residual Compensation for Directors of Programs Produced Mainly for the Pay Television and Videodisc/Videocassette Market
                p204   A.   Applicability of this Article
        p206   B.   Directors' Minimum Salaries
        p210   C.   Residual Compensation for Pay Television
    and Videodisc/Videocassette Exhibition
        p212   D.   Residual Compensation for Pay Television,
    Excluding (i) Pay-Per-View and (ii) Sports
    and Non-Staged Event Programs
        p225   E.   Residual Compensation for Pay Television Exhibition
    (Including Pay-Per-View) of Sports and
    Non-Staged Event Programs
        p227   F.   Residual Compensation for Pay-Per-View Exhibition
    Other Than Sports and Non-Staged Event Programs
        p227   G.   Residual Compensation for Videodiscs/Videocassettes
        p228   H.   Residual Compensation for Exhibition of
    Covered Programs in Other Markets
        p231   I.   Miscellaneous Provisions
        p237   J.   Application of Free Television Provisions
  • Article 30 - Responsibility for Residual Payments
                p238   A.   Distributor's Assumption Agreement -
    Television Reruns, Basic Cable Exhibition, Foreign
    Television Exhibition, Theatrical Exhibition and
    Supplemental Markets Use
        p246   B.   Financial Assurances
        p248   C.   Qualified Residual Payors
        p250   D.   Buyer's Assumption Agreement
        p259   E.   Security Interests – Effect on Buyer's Rights
        p260   F.   Qualified Buyer
  • Article 31 - Programs Made Primarily for the Basic Cable Market
                p262   A.   Terms and Conditions for High Budget Dramatic Programs
    One-Half Hour or More in Length Made Primarily for
    the Basic Cable Market
        p269   B.   Terms and Conditions for Low Budget Dramatic Programs
    One-Half Hour or Longer Made Primarily for the
    Basic Cable Market
        p269   C.   Terms and Conditions for High Budget Variety Programs
    Made Primarily for the Basic Cable Market
        p272   D.   Terms and Conditions for Other Entertainment Programs
    Made Primarily for the Basic Cable Market
  • Article 32 - Terms and Conditions for New Multi-Camera Prime Time Dramatic Pilots, Presentations and Series
                p273    
  • Exhibit 1
                p275       Qualified Residual Payor Letter of Agreement
  • Exhibit 2
                p279       Standard Letter of Guaranty
  • Exhibit "A"
                p282       Instructions; Employment Data Report
  • Exhibit "B" Part I
                p285       Subscriber Rates for Programs Made for Pay Television Services with Fewer
    than 6,000,000 Subscribers in the First Exhibition Year of the Program
  • Exhibit "B" Part II
                p292       Subscriber Rates for Programs Made for Pay Television Services with 6,000,000
    or More Subscribers in the First Exhibition Year of the Program
  • Exhibit "C"
        p299        Accountable Receipts Plateau 
                p299   A.   High Budget Programs
        p299   B.   Dramatic Programs
        p300   C.   Dramatic Programs
        p301   D.   Quiz and Game Programs
        p302   E.   Strip Programs
        p303   F.   All Other Programs (Including Segments of Reality-Type Programs)
        p304   G.   News and Commentary Programs
  • Exhibit "D"
                p305   Associate Director and Stage Manager Deal Memorandum 
  • Exhibit "E"
                p307   Director Deal Memorandum 
  • Sideletter 1
                p309    re “Included Days” 
  • Sideletter 2
                p310   Employment on Commercials
  • Sideletter 3
                p313   re Assignment of UPMs on Tape Programs 
  • Sideletter 4
                p314   Testing of Television Tape and Film Programs on CATV Systems
  • Sideletter 5
                p315   Network Prime Time Dramatic or Variety Summer Programs
  • Sideletter 6
                p316   Programs Produced Primarily for the Basic Cable Market
  • Sideletter 7
                p319   Peremptory Challenges to Arbitrators
  • Sideletter 8
                p320       re Director Employed on a Non-Dramatic Program Assigned to Direct Scenes
    for a Strip Quiz and Game or Strip Variety Program
  • Sideletter 9
                p321   re Security of Employees Working at Film Lots or Network Facilities in Los Angeles 
  • Sideletter 10
                p322       re Second or Subsequent License of High Budget Dramatic Programs
    Made for Basic Cable to the Same or a Different Basic Cable Service
  • Sideletter 11
                p324       re New Residual Formula for One-Hour Network  
    Prime Time Dramatic Series in Article 7.B.1.(c)(i)
  • Sideletter 12
                p328   re Distributor's/Buyer's Liability for Residuals; Notice and Opportunity to Cure Default  
  • Sideletter No. 13
                p329   re Employment Criteria for Associate Directors and Stage Managers  
  • Sideletter No. 14
                p330   re Exhibition of Programs Transmitted Via New Media 
  • Sideletter No. 15
                p343   re DGA, Inc. 
  • Sideletter No. 16
                p348   re Los Angeles Panel of Arbitrators for Major Studios and Networks 
  • Sideletter No. 17
                p350   re Arbitration of Disputes Concerning Tri-Guild Residuals Audits 
  • Sideletter No. 18
                p365       re License of Free Television, Basic Cable or Pay Television Motion Pictures
    or Motion Pictures Made for Home Video to Secondary Digital Channels
  • Sideletter No. 19
                p367       re Experiment in Syndication of Half-Hour Series in Markets
    Representing 50% or Fewer of U.S. Television Households
  • Sideletter No. 20
                p369   re Terms and Conditions for New Non-Prime Time Multi-Camera Dramatic Programs 
  • Sideletter No. 21
                p370   re Address Verification / Local Hires 
  • Sideletter No. 22
                p372   re Diversity  
  • Sideletter No. 23
                p373   re Virtual MVPD Services 
  • Sideletter No. 24
                p376   re Diversion of Pension Plan Contributions 
  • Sideletter No. 25
                p377   re "Supersized" Episodes 
  • Sideletter No. 26
                p388   re Over-the-Top Delivery of Pay Television Services 
  • Sideletter No. 27
                p389   [Deleted]  
  • Sideletter No. 28
                p390   re Programs Produced for New Media  
  • Sideletter No. 29
                p407   re Serious Misconduct 

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