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Producer Resource Center

Doing the producer hustle is hard. I hope this helps you in your adventures...

Essential Tools & Estimators

SAG-AFTRA Rates & Deposit Estimator

Unofficial eBass Ent Google Sheet for estimating performer rates, pension & health, and deposit requirements.

Open Estimator Sheet →

Festival Circuit Recommendations

Micro-Short "Best Bang For Your Buck" festival strategy recommendations guide.

Open Festival Guide →

Producer's Checklist (PDF)

Quick-reference checklist for film project creation and producer workflows.

Download Checklist PDF →

Producer's Toolkit

* Template Usage Notes:
1. All contract templates are initially created via LLM and tweaked by eBass Ent. These are sample examples only. Always consult a legal professional before signing or executing contracts.
2. To use the Google Drive templates: Click the link, open the document, go to File → Make a Copy, and save it to your personal Google Drive.

Deep Dive Producer Guides

SAG-AFTRA Low-Budget Production Breakdown

Start at SAG-AFTRA’s Low-Budget Production Center. Most modern SAG agreements are "platform agnostic," meaning you register your project and retain distribution flexibility (festivals, web, or theatrical).

The Micro-Budget Agreement (MBA): A title registration-only agreement allowing you to register and immediately shoot. Requirements:

  • Budget strictly under $20,000 (or per episode for series).
  • No nudity or stunt work requiring a stunt coordinator.

Pre-Production Requirements

Submit a preliminary budget, preliminary cast list, and employer documentation (ID for individuals or Articles of Organization for LLCs). Tip: Send your standard top-sheet budget summary—the SAG default form is rarely practical for indie shoots.

Production Requirements

  • Exhibit G (Production Time Report): Signed daily by performers and submitted weekly. (Can be completed digitally via iPad/Apple Pencil exported as PDF).
  • Performer Employment Contract: Standard SAG contracts for short films permit deferred rates under specific festival tiers.

Note on Actor Pay: If your crew is being paid, respect your actors and pay them as well. Short project rates are generally on par with standard indie crew day rates.

Post-Production Requirements

  • Final Cast List: Submit on the last day of photography to streamline deposit returns.
  • Performer Compensation: Use a dedicated SAG payroll company (like Wrapbook) to handle tax withholdings, state entities, and P&H contributions.

New York City Film Permits & Subway Rules

Sidewalk & Handheld Exemptions

You do not need a permit in NYC if you are using handheld equipment/tripods, handheld props, not asserting exclusive use of city property, not using prop weapons/vehicles/stunts, and not requesting production vehicle parking. (Official Source)

Permit Process & Parks

Permits cost a one-time $500 fee covering 14 days of filming. Note that filming in or bordering NYC Parks requires a separate approval from the Parks Administration (Parks Request Form). Apply via the NYC Mayor's Office Portal.

Filming on the Subway

Under NYCRR regulations, handheld photography/videography without external lighting or tripods is completely permitted without a permit on NYC Transit property.

Crew Payroll & Subtitles

Paying Crew

Crew members are typically classified as W2 employees rather than 1099 independent contractors. Review this ABS Payroll Guide on Hiring Independent Contractors for legal nuance.

Subtitles & Accessibility

Modern NLEs like DaVinci Resolve include built-in AI auto-transcription and caption generator tools to export standard `.srt` subtitle files in seconds.