2008 Basic Agreement Archival Copy
- 2008 Basic AgreementClick link to download a PDF of the DGA Basic Agreement as a single document
- Section 1-100 Recognition
p9 1-101 Recognition p9 1-102 Further Negotiations Section 1-200 Definitionsp11 1-201 Defintion of "Motion Picture" and "Motion Picture Industry" p11 1-202 Theatrical Motion Pictures and Free Television Motion Pictures p12 1-203 Basic Cable p12 1-204 p13 1-205 Definition of Network Section 1-300 Definitions of Employees Recognizedp13 1-301 Director p13 1-302 Unit Production Manager p15 1-303 First Assistant Director p17 1-304 Second Assistant Director p20 1-305 Associate Director p20 1-306 Work Reserved to Employees Section 1-400 Guild Shop Provisionsp20 1-401 Definition of Guild Shop p21 1-402 Future Employment Contracts p21 1-403 Notice of Failure to Pay Dues and Fees Section 1-500 Lists Exchanged: Maintenance of Guild Shopp22 1-501 Employer's Lists p23 1-502 Guild's Lists p23 1-503 Reliance on Lists p23 1-504 Guild Dues p24 1-505 Continuation of Employment p24 1-506 Interpretation p25 1-507 Definition of "Dues" p25 1-508 Right to Deduct Dues - Section 2-100 Matters Subject to Grievance and Arbitration
2-101 Arbitrability 2-102 Limitation on Arbitrator's Power 2-103 Defenses, Setoffs and Counterclaims Section 2-200 Grievance Procedure2-201 Time Limits 2-202 Grievance Notice 2-203 Grievance Meeting Section 2-300 Arbitration Procedure2-301 Parties 2-302 Demand for Arbitration 2-303 Respondent's Statement of Its Position 2-304 Selection of the Arbitrator 2-305 Situs of Arbitration 2-306 Notification to Arbitrator 2-307 Hearing 2-308 Exchange of Information 2-309 Award Section 2-400 Expedited Arbitration Procedure2-401 Section 2-500 Arbitral Remedies2-501 Authority of Arbitrator 2-502 Consideration for Determining Remedies 2-503 Compliance with Arbitrator's Award Section 2-600 Court Proceedings2-601 Arbitration Exclusive Remedy 2-602 Claims for Compensation 2-603 Petition to Confirm, Vacate or Modify Award Section 2-700 Withdrawal of Services2-701 - Section 3-100 Minimum Salaries
3-101 3-102 *Guaranteed Period of Employment 3-103 **Preparation Time 3-104 ***Cutting Allowance Time 3-105 ****Photography for Unknown Type of Theatrical Motion Picture 3-106 Interchange of Assignment - Theatrical - Television 38 3-107 The Daily Rate 3-108 Series Bonus 3-109 Sequel Payments - Section 4-101 Cost of Motion Picture As Basis of Salary
4-102 Second Unit Work on Weekly or Daily Basis and Applicable Preparation Time 4-103 Starting Date 4-104 Travel 4-105 Compensation on Recall for Particular Services 4-106 Compensation for Fractional Week (for Theatrical Motion Pictures) 4-107 Holidays, Sixth and Seventh Days Worked in the Director's Workweek 4-108 Deal Memorandum 4-109 Personal Services Agreement 4-110 Prohibition Against Credits and Offsets 4-111 Development Services - Section 5-101 Term Contract Defined
5-102 Application of Minimum Salary to Term Contracts 5-103 Layoff - Section 6-101 Suspension and Termination of Directors
6-102 6-103 6-104 Replacement of Director Who Furnishes Material 6-105 Payment To and Mitigation By Discharged Employees - Section 7-100 Preamble
p59 7-101 Section 7-200 Disclosure and Consultation with Respect to Commitmentsp59 7-201 Disclosure Before Assignment p61 7-202 Consultation After Assignment p61 7-203 Consultation Regarding UPM p61 7-204 Selection of First Assistant Director p62 7-205 Second Unit Director p62 7-206 Individual With Final Cutting Authority p63 7-207 Production Executives p63 7-208 One Director To A Film Section 7-300 Preparationp65 7-301 Literary Material p65 7-302 Delivery of Shooting Script p66 7-303 Stunts p67 7-304 Television Preparation Time p67 7-305 Inclusion of Director's Name on Episodic Television Scripts Section 7-400 Productionp67 7-401 Dailies p68 7-402 Distant Location Viewing Facilities p68 7-403 Private Office and Parking p69 7-404 Second Unit Photography p70 7-405 Special Photography and Processes p70 7-406 Use of Video Assist p71 7-407 Videotape of Performance p71 7-408 Audience Switchers Section 7-500 Editing and Post-Productionp71 7-501 Responsibility of Director p71 7-502 "Hotline" p72 7-503 Vesting of Post-Production Rights 72 7-504 No Interference with Director's Cut p73 7-505 Preparation of Director's Cut p78 7-506 Right to Be Present and to Consult p78 7-507 Delivery Date for Television Film p79 7-508 Right to Director's Cut p79 7-509 Editing Theatrical Motion Pictures p82 7-510 Editing of Motion Picture for Foreign Television Exhibition p83 7-511 Assumption of Obligations by Buyer or Assignee p83 7-512 Producer's Scheduling Authority p83 7-513 Right of Consultation p83 7-514 Screenings of Unfinished Television Films p84 7-515 Motion Picture Rating p84 7-516 Circulation of Film Materials p85 7-517 Editing Theatrical Motion Pictures for Foreign Exhibition p85 7-518 Release of "Director's Cut" p85 7-519 Notice of Director's Editing/Consultation Rights p86 7-520 Participation of Directors in Post-Production Process for One-Hour Series Television p86 7-521 DVD Release of Theatrical Motion Pictures or Long-Form Television Motion Pictures Section 7-600 Copy of Motion Picture7-601 7-602 7-603 Section 7-700 Previews7-701 7-702 7-703 7-704 7-705 Section 7-800 Compensation for Cutting Time7-801 Section 7-900 Compensation in Case of Lending (Theatrical Motion Pictures)7-901 Section 7-1000 Additional Scenes and/or Retakes7-1001 Section 7-1100 Looping and Narration7-1101 7-1102 7-1103 7-1104 Section 7-1200 The Dubbing of Sound and Music7-1201 Section 7-1300 Foreign Version7-1301 Section 7-1400 Replacement of Director7-1401 Section 7-1500 General Provisions7-1501 Employer's Decision Final 7-1502 Third Party Agreements 7-1503 No Retaliation 7-1504 Attendance at Casting Sessions 7-1505 Electronic Transmissions 7-1506 Creative Rights Standing Committee 7-1507 Post-Production/VFX Committee - Section 8-100 General Provisions
8-101 Guild to Determine Controversy Over Credits 8-102 Form of Director's Credit 8-103 Restriction on Use of Word "Director" 8-104 Better Conditions Section 8-200 Credit for Directors of Theatrical Motion Pictures8-201 Screen Credit 8-202 Visibility of Director's Name 8-203 Credits on Paid Advertising 8-204 Publicity 8-205 Publicity Tours 8-206 Phonograph Records, Books and Tapes 8-207 Theatrical and Souvenir Programs 8-208 Videodisc/Videocassette Containers 8-209 Distribution and Licensing Agreements 8-210 Submission of Press Books and Advertising to Guild 8-211 Pseudonym Section 8-300 Credit for Directors of Television Films8-301 Screen Credit 8-302 Commercial and Other Material Not to Interfere with Director's Screen Credit 8-303 Size of Director's Screen Credit 8-304 Visibility of Director's Screen Credit 8-305 Submission of Proposed Screen Credit Format to Guild 8-306 Advertising Credit 8-307 Assumption of Obligations 8-308 Publicity 8-309 Publicity Tours 8-310 Director's Credit for Television Film Released Theatrically 8-311 Pseudonym 8-312 Pilot Director Recognition - Section 9-100 General Provisions
9-101 Underwater Work Allowance 9-102 Aircraft Flight Allowance 9-103 Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance 9-104 Reporting of Hospitalization 9-105 Distant Location Notice 9-106 Wearing Apparel 9-107 Producing Directors (Television) - Section 10-101 Minimum Salaries
10-102 Compensation for Fractional Week 10-103 Pilot and Spinoff Films 10-104 Interchange of Assignment - Theatrical - Television 10-105 Other Provisions 10-106 Daily Employment 10-107 Adjustment of Term Directors 10-108 Preparation Allowance Time 10-109 Order of Shooting or Preparation of Consecutive Films a Employer's Discretion 10-110 Trailers and Promos 10-111 Options - Notice to Director 10-112 Multiple Picture Commitments 10-113 Director Rest Period 10-114 Subcommittee for Long-Form Television Motion Pictures 10-115 Director Residency - Section 11-100 Additional Compensation for Reruns and Foreign Telecasts
11-101 Additional Compensation for Reruns
11-102 Foreign Telecasting Payments
11-103 Method of Payment; Guild Access to Records
11-104 Reports for Foreign Telecasting
11-105 Television Motion Pictures and Contracts to Which Provisions Hereof Are Applicable
11-106 Employer's Acquisition of Title
11-107 [Deleted]
11-108 Basic Cable Exhibition
Section 11-200 Additional Compensation for Theatrical Exhibition11-202 Television Film Amplified or Combined
11-203 Television Films to Which Additional Compensation Applicable
11-204 Time of Payment for Theatrical Release
11-205 Method of Payment and Records of Theatrical Releases
11-206 [Deleted]
11-207 Excerpts From a Free Television Program
11-208 Films Exhibited Without Admission Charge
11-209 Compilation Television Programs
11-210 Lead-Ins
Section 11-300 General11-301 No Director May Waive Minimum Salaries or Minimum Additional Compensation
for Reruns or Theatrical Use of TV Films11-302 Payment for Combined or Extended Films
11-303 Excerpt From a Theatrical Motion Picture
11-304 Special Work for Theatrical Release or Reruns
11-305 Reruns and Payments for Theatrical Release of Television Films are Separate
Additions to Minimum Salaries - Section 12-100 General Provisions
12-101 Trust Agreements 12-102 Trustees 12-103 Delinquent Contributions 12-104 Arbitration 12-105 Loan-outs 12-106 Claim Periods Section 12-200 Pension Plan12-201 Employer Contributions 12-202 Definition of Salary 12-203 Employee Contributions 12-204 Loan-outs 12-205 UPM/Producer Section 12-300 Health and Welfare Plan12-301 Employer Contributions 12-302 Loan-outs 12-303 Contributions Not Deemed Wages 12-304 [Deleted] 12-305 [Deleted] - Section 13-100 Minimum Salaries
13-101 Minimum Salary Schedules and Conditions for UPMs, Assistant Directors and Associate Director/Technical Coordinators 13-102 Completion of Assignment Pay for Term Contract Assistant Directors and UPMs 13-103 Completion of Assignment Pay for Freelance First Assistant Directors, Freelance UPMs and Freelance Associate Director/Technical Coordinators 13-104 Completion of Assignment Pay for Freelance Second Assistant Directors 13-105 Employment Contracts and Layoffs - UPMs and Assistant Directors 13-106 No Intent to Evade 13-107 Deal Memorandum - No Credit or Offset 13-108 Payroll Week 13-109 Time of Payment 13-110 Extended Workday 13-111 Call for Daily UPM, Assistant Director and Associate Director/Technical Coordinator 13-112 Workweek, Partial Workweek, Prorating of Fractional Payroll Weeks, Work on the Sixth and Seventh Days in the Employee's Workweek and Shifts in the Employee's Workweek 13-113 Holidays - Assistant Directors, UPMs and Associate Directors 13-114 Distant Location Days 13-115 Unworked Holidays - Assistant Directors, UPMs and Associate Director/Technical Coordinators 13-116 Rest Period 13-117 Work in the New York Metropolitan Area 13-118 Wrap Supervision Allowance Section 13-200 Working Conditions13-201 Weather Permitting Call 13-202 Employment Conditions 13-203 Reporting of Hospitalization 13-204 Employees in the Armed Services 13-205 Pay Adjustment for Work in Higher Classifications 13-206 Notice of Termination 13-207 Jurisdictional Disputes - Assistant Directors, UPMs and Technical Coordinators 13-208 Duties of Assistant Directors and UPMs 13-209 Screen Credit for Assistant Directors and UPMs 13-210 Aircraft Flight Allowance 13-211 Underwater Work Allowance 13-212 Overscale Pay and Allowances 13-213 Clothing for Hazardous Work 13-214 Travel to Distant Location and Insurance 13-215 Meal Period 13-216 Dinner Allowance 13-217 Casual Reassignment 13-218 Production Reports, Call Sheets, and One Line Schedules 13-219 Budget Disclosure 13-220 Offices Section 13-300 Preparation Time13-301 13-302 13-303 13-304 13-305 Rehearsal Days 13-306 Order of Assignment 13-307 Waivers (For Television Films) 13-308 Preparing the Script Section 13-400 Guaranteed WrapSection 13-500 Contract Employees13-401 13-501 Section 13-600 Vacations - Assistant Directors, Unit Production Managers and Associate Directors13-601 Section 13-700 Address Verification for Local Hires on Distant Location13-701 - Section 14-100 Trainee Program
14-101 Administration 14-103 14-104 14-105 14-106 14-107 14-108 14-109 14-110 14-111 14-112 14-113 Section 14-150 Interns14-151 14-152 Eligibility 14-156 Reporting Section 14-200 Qualification Lists14-201 14-202 14-203 14-204 14-205 14-206 Section 14-300 Southern California Qualification List14-301 Composition 14-302 Requirements for Placement 14-303 14-304 14-305 14-306 14-307 Section 14-400 New York Area Qualification List14-401 Initial Composition 14-402 Requirements for Placement 14-403 14-404 14-405 14-406 14-407 14-408 14-409 14-410 Section 14-500 Third Area Qualification Lists14-501 Initial Composition 14-502 Requirements for Placement 14-503 14-504 14-505 14-506 Section 14-600 Unit Production Manager Multi-Camera Qualification Lists14-506 Composition 14-602 Requirements for Placement 14-603 Preference of Employment Section 14-700 Interchange14-701 Commercial Qualification Lists 14-702 New York Area and Southern California Interchange 14-703 14-704 Interchange of Classifications Section 14-800 Conflict with Laws14-801 14-802 Section 14-900 Burden of Proof14-901 - Section 15-100 Policy
15-101 15-102 Section 15-200 Employment of Ethnic Minorities and Women15-201 Directors 15-202 UPMs, First Assistant Directors, Second Assistant Directors and Technical Coordinators Section 15-300 Reports15-301 15-302 Section 15-400 Representatives15-401 15-402 15-403 Section 15-500 Human Resources Coordinating Committee15-501 15-502 Section 15-600 Arbitration15-601 15-602 15-603 15-604 Section 15-700 Diversity Meetings - 16-100 Term16-200 Negotiations For A New Agreement
- Section 17-100 Cooperation Between Employer and Guild
17-101 No Strike, No Lockout Provisions 17-102 Waiver of Liability Re Strike 17-103 Suspension of Services During Strike 17-104 Employer's Options Re Strike 17-105 Exercise of Rights 17-106 Statute of Limitations 17-107 Right to Sue 17-108 Incorporated in Employment Contract 17-109 Guild's Obligation 17-110 Employer-Director Cooperative Committee 17-111 Guild By-Laws to Comply with this BA 17-112 Employer to Effectuate this BA 17-113 Members of Guild to Comply with this BA 17-114 Any Member of the Guild May Obtain Better Terms 17-115 No Waiver of Minimum Terms 17-116 Guild Will Issue Waivers and Act Promptly Thereon 17-117 Contracts to Comply with this BA - No Deferment of Minimums 17-118 Hold Harmless 17-119 Proof of Performance 17-120 UPMs' and Assistant Directors' Residuals 17-121 Delay in Payment or Default 17-122 Guild Access to Premises 17-123 Morals Clause 17-124 Delegation of Authority Section 17-200 Scope and Intent of this BA17-201 Geographical Application of this BA 17-202 BA to be Interpreted in Accordance with Law 17-203 BA Binding on Whom 17-204 Subcontracting 17-205 Change of Name by Employer 17-206 This BA Never to Be Interpreted as a "Closed Shop" Agreement 17-207 Intent to Prevent Breach of Individual Contracts 17-208 Working Conditions Used in Interpretation 17-209 Guild's Right to Discipline Members 17-210 Guild's Right to Accept Members Under Its By-Laws 17-211 Assumed Obligations 17-212 Exclusions 17-213 Notices, How Given 17-214 Application 17-215 Motion Picture and Television Relief Fund Section 17-300 Explanation of Terms Used17-301 All Terms are Used in the Ordinary Accepted Sense in the Industry 17-302 Significance of Titles and Sub-Titles 17-303 Terms Used Section 17-400 Residuals AuditsSection 17-500 SafetySection 17-600 ISAN Numbers - Section 18-101 Motion Pictures Covered
18-102 Definitions 18-103 Supplemental Market Distribution Other than by Cassettes 18-104 Supplemental Market Distribution on Cassettes 18-105 Participating Employees 18-106 Reports and Manner of Payment 18-107 Charge for Late Payment 18-108 18-109 18-110 Employer's Acquisition of Title 18-111 Production, Finance, Distribution Agreement 18-112 Employer Continuing Liability 18-113 Failure to Deliver Assumption Agreement 18-114 Employer's Dissolution 18-115 Networks and Television Stations 18-116 Trailers, Advertising, Stock Shots 18-117 Termination of BA - Section 19-101 Motion Pictures Covered
19-102 Percentage of Accountable Receipts Payable 19-103 Definition of "Employer's Gross" 19-104 Definition of "Accountable Receipts" 19-105 Accrual of Employer's Obligation; Charge for Late Payments 19-106 Allocation of License or Sales Fee 19-107 Participating Director 19-108 Reports and Manner of Payment 19-109 Crediting 19-110 Employer's Acquisition of Title 19-111 Mortgage, Pledge or Lien 19-112 Production, Finance, Distribution Agreement 19-113 Bona Fide Theatrical Release 19-114 Continuing Obligation Beyond Term of BA - Section 20-100 Applicability of this Article
20-101 Covered Motion Pictures 20-102 Videodisc/Videocassette 20-103 Pay Television 20-104 Service and Subscribers 20-105 Exhibition Year Section 20-200 Directors' Minimum Salaries20-201 Initial Minimum 20-202 Adjustments of Initial Minimum Section 20-300 Residual Compensation for Pay Television and Videodisc/Videocassette Exhibition20-301 Time of Payment Section 20-400 Residual Compensation for Pay Television Excluding (A) Pay-Per-View and (B) Sports and Non-Staged Event Programs20-401 Subscriber Residual 20-402 Percentage Residual Section 20-500 Residual Compensation for Pay Television Exhibition (Including Pay-Per-View) of Sports and Non-Staged Event ProgramsSection 20-600 Residual Compensation for Pay-Per-View Exhibition other than Sports and Non-Staged Event ProgramsSection 20-700 Residual Compensation for Videodiscs/VideocassettesSection 20-800 Residual Compensation for Exhibition of Covered Motion Pictures in Other Markets20-801 Free Television Exhibition of Covered Motion Pictures 20-802 Basic Cable Exhibition of Covered Motion Pictures 20-803 Theatrical Exhibition of Covered Motion Pictures 20-804 Supplemental Market Exhibition of Covered Motion Pictures 20-805 Other Exhibition of Covered Motion Pictures Section 20-900 Miscellaneous Provisions20-901 License Covering More than One Motion Picture 20-902 License Covering More than One Market 20-903 Reports 20-904 Availability of Records 20-905 Future Negotiations 20-906 Charge for Late Payment 20-907 Second Unit, Etc. 20-908 No Waiver of Minimum Terms 20-909 Excerpts From a Pay Television Program Section 20-1000 Employer's Acquisition of TitleSection 20-1100 Application of "Free Television" Provisions20-1101 20-1102 20-1103 20-1104 20-1105 20-1106 - Section 22-100 Employer's Responsibility and Distributor's Liability
22-101 Distributor's Assumption Agreement for Theatrical Motion Pictures - Television and Supplemental Markets 22-102 Financial Assurances 22-103 Qualified Distributors 22-104 Buyer's Assumption Agreement - Television and Supplemental Markets 22-105 Security Interests - Buyer's Rights 22-106 Qualified Buyer Section 20-900 Miscellaneous ProvisionsSection 22-200 Distributor's LiabilitySection 22-300 Responsibility for Payment of Residuals -Distributor's Liability and Employer's Liability22-301 Television Distributor's Assumption Agreement - Television Reruns, Basic Cable Exhibition, Foreign Television Exhibition, Theatrical Exhibition and Supplemental Markets Use 22-302 Financial Assurances 22-303 Qualified Residual Payor 22-304 Television Buyer's Assumption Agreement 22-305 Financial Security 22-306 Qualified Residual Payor Section 22-400 Employer's DissolutionSection 22-500 Assumption Agreement Not Required - Section 22-100 Employer's Responsibility and Distributor's LiabilitySection 23-100 Terms and Conditions for High Budget Dramatic Programs One-Half Hour or More in Length Made Primarily for the Basic Cable Market
23-101 High Budget Figures 23-102 Initial Compensation and Included Days – Directors 23-103 Initial Compensation – Other Employees 23-104 Residual Compensation Section 23-200 Terms and Conditions for Low Budget Dramatic Programs One (1) Hour or Longer Made Primarily for the Basic Cable MarketSection 23-300 Terms and Conditions for Other Entertainment Programs Made Primarily for the Basic Cable Market - Section 24-101 Programs CoveredSection 24-200 Terms and Conditions Applicable to Employees Employed on Covered ProgramsSection 24-300 Terms and Conditions Applicable to Directors Employed on Covered Programs
24-301 Base for Residual Payments for Reruns Other than in Network Prime Time Section 24-400 Terms and Conditions Applicable to Classifications Other than Directors (i.e., for "Below-The-Line" Employees) Employed on Covered Programs24-401 Staffing 24-402 Definitions/Duties 24-403 Salary Rates and Production Fees 24-404 Prep Time 24-405 Completion of Assignment Pay 24-406 Other Working Conditions 24-407 Preference of Employment and Eligibility for Placement on Multi-Camera Qualification ListsSection 24-500 Eligibility for Placement on Multi-Camera Qualification Lists24-501 Requirements for Placement 24-502 Eligibility Criteria for MCQL for Second Second Assistant Directors and Additional Second Assistant Directors 24-503 Eligibility Criteria for MCQL for Key Second Assistant Directors 24-504 Eligibility Criteria for MCQL for First Assistant Directors 24-505 Eligibility Criteria for MCQL for Unit Production Managers Section 24-600 Preference of Employment - Part A:
Subscriber Rates for Motion Pictures Made for Pay Television Services with Fewer than 6,000,000 Subscribers In The First Exhibition Year of the Motion Picture
Part B:Subscriber Rates for Motion Pictures Made for Pay Television Services with 6,000,000 or More Subscribers in the First Exhibition Year of the Motion Picture
- re Committee on Unprofessional Practices
- re Editing of Theatrical Motion Pictures by Local Television Stations
- re Definition of "New York Area"
- re Exercise of Peremptory Challenges to Arbitrators
- re Negotiations in Good Faith with Respect to Exhibit E-1(B)
- re Security of Employees
- re Residual Provisions for Pay Television Programs Made for Services with 6,000,000 or more Subscribers in the First Exhibition Year
- re Requirement for Placement on Qualifications List
- re New York Area Amendment
- re New Residual Formula for One-Hour Network Prime Time Dramatic Series
- re Distributor's/Buyer's Liability for Residuals; Notice and Opportunity to Cure Default
- re Experiment in Syndication of Half-Hour Series in Markets Representing 50% or Fewer of U.S. Television Households
- re Waivers for Distant Location Shooting on One-Hour Series
- re DGA, Inc.
- re Exhibition of Motion Pictures Transmitted via the Internet
- re Los Angeles Panel of Arbitrators for Major Studios and Networks
- re Arbitration of Disputes Concerning Tri-Guild Residual Audits
- re Continuation of Industry Residual Study
- re Conservation Collection Sideletter
- re Terms and Conditions for Non-Prime Time Multi-Camera Dramatic Programs
- re Special Conditions for Pilots and New One-Hour Series
- re Diversity
- re Changes in Health and Welfare Plan Benefits
- re Diversion of Pension Plan Contributions
- re Script Delivery in Television
- re "Supersized" Episodes
- re Possessive Credit
- re Meetings and Committees
- re Single Camera Assistant Director Cooperative Committee
- re Directors Guild of America-Producer Health Plan
- re Geographic Scope Committee
- re Episodic Television Committee
- re Third Area Meeting
- re Alternative Digital Broadcast and Cable Channel Committee
- re Programs Produced for New Media