Documentary Agreements

The Documentary Agreements cover a variety of projects made for theatrical, free television, pay television, cable television and video release. Please note that the following is a only a summary of DGA Documentary contract provisions. For more detailed information, please contact the DGA Contracts Department via the information listed in the right-hand sidebar; or contact the Signatories Department, to be sure you have the Documentary Agreement that fits your project.  

Documentaries Made for Theatrical Release

• Documentaries budgeted under $11 million must be made under the DGA Low Budget Theatrical Documentary Agreement which provides flexibility in staffing and salaries, while safeguarding members’ creative rights and residuals
• Documentaries budgeted over $11 million are subject to the documentary provisions of the DGA Basic Agreement
• waivers of mandatory staffing will be granted if the Director is able to perform all DGA-covered duties without assistance and if the project does not include re-enactments or re-creations
• waivers of mandatory staffing on projects that include re-enactments or re-creations will be considered in good faith
• there is no requirement for DGA members to work consecutive days
• credit must be accorded in the form of “Directed by”

Documentaries Made for Free Television

• Documentaries made for free television will be covered under the Freelance Live and Tape Television Agreement (“FLTTA”) and will utilize the program rates as outlined in the FLTTA for “all other programs,” either prime-time or non-prime-time and based on the length of the show
• consecutive work days are not required
• compensation will include post production work
• residuals as per the FLTTA
• waivers of mandatory staffing will be granted if the Director is able to perform all DGA-covered work without assistance and if the project does not include re-enactments or re-creations
• waivers of mandatory staffing on projects that include re-enactments or re-creations will be considered in good faith
• credit must be accorded in the form of “Directed by”

Documentaries Made for Pay Cable, Basic Cable and Direct to Video

"Arms Length" Employment
(signatory company employs director for hire, and the director is not a principal of the company)

• the Director’s salary is subject to negotiation between Employer and Director; there is no minimum salary
• Company will provide DGA with a deal memo indicating the agreed upon salary
• Director’s negotiated rate of compensation will be subject to Pension and Health contributions
• residuals are subject to negotiation between Employer and Director
• waivers for consecutive days of work will be freely granted
• waivers of mandatory staffing will be granted so long as the Director is able to perform all DGA-covered work without assistance and so long as the project does not include re-enactments or re-creations
• waivers of mandatory staffing on projects that include re-enactments or re-creations will be considered in good faith
• credit must be accorded in the form of “Directed by”

"Projects Made by Companies in which the Director is a Principal"
(signatory company is owned in part or in full by the director)

• the Principal/Director’s salary is subject to negotiation; there is no minimum salary
• Company will provide the DGA with a deal memo indicating the agreed-upon salary
• The Employer must make contributions based on a presumed salary of 10% of the production budget of the program
• residuals are negotiable
• waivers of mandatory staffing will be granted so long as the Director is able to perform all DGA-covered work without assistance and so long as the project does not include re-enactments or re-creations
• waivers of mandatory staffing on projects that include re-enactments or re-creations will be considered in good faith
• waivers of consecutive day requirements will be considered, provided the director fully concurs
• credit must be accorded in the form of “Directed by”

Documentaries Made for New Media

Documentaries made for New Media follow the same terms as listed above for Pay Cable, Basic Cable and Direct to Video, including "Arm's Length" Employment and Projects Made by Companies in which the Director is a Principal with the following exceptions:

• If the project is budgeted at $25,000 per minute or higher, there are residuals pursuant to Sideletter 28
• If the project is made for new media but is distributed on another platform first (e.g. theatrical) there are residuals.
• If anyone else on the project receives a credit, the director must receive a credit in the form of "Directed by."

Documentaries Made for PBS

• Documentaries made for PBS will be covered under the Freelance Live and Tape Television Agreement and will use the rates as outlined in the EBC Agreement:

• residuals are pursuant to the EBC Agreements
• waivers of consecutive day requirements will be considered, provided the director fully concurs
• waivers of mandatory staffing will be granted so long as the Director is able to perform all DGA-covered work without assistance and so long as the project does not include re-enactments or re-creations
• waivers of mandatory staffing on projects that include re-enactments or re-creations will be considered in good faith
• credit must be accorded in the form of “Directed by”