#Residual pay free

#Residual pay free

Not sure what to do with a smaller residual check? Residuals Tavern in Studio City “will give any actor a free drink in exchange for a residual check, as long as that check is $1 or less,” Cohen advises. Film royalties percentages range, but generally fall between 1% and 20%. For projects put up on new media, or streaming services, the 13th “rerun” is counted as the 13th year of streaming.įor film, performers receive residuals for anything that goes beyond the original intention for the production, such as videos/DVDs, downloads, and screenings on streaming services that fall outside of the original distribution avenue.

By the 13th rerun, the royalty amount is reduced to 5% of the actor’s original payment, and goes on in perpetuity, never dipping below that amount. Residual payments experience diminishing returns until the 13th rerun. For example, Reece Thompson earns a few hundred dollars per year for his residuals from a small role in “Titanic,” and 50 Cent receives just over $16 annually for reruns of his cameo appearance on “The Simpsons.”įor television, SAG-AFTRA pays residuals to principal performers for episode reruns starting with the program’s second broadcast or transition to new media service. Of course, most performers find that they can’t make a living simply off cashing in their residual check. “Everybody Loves Raymond”: $18 million per year.“Seinfeld”: $400 million per syndication cycle.Here’s what the stars of some of the top shows earn in residuals : “Residuals are based on formulas that take into account such things as the contract in place during the production, the time spent on the production, the production type, and the market where the product appears, whether it be television, video or DVD, pay television, or basic cable.” “Calculation of residuals is remarkably complex,” explains entertainment lawyer and former child actor Jeff Cohen (“The Goonies”). Payment amount depends on several factors including: From there, you can check your status and request a review.Īctor royalty payments can range from nothing (like with the stars of “The Brady Bunch”) to millions (like with the stars of “Friends”) from show reruns. If you feel you are missing a residuals payment, log into your SAG-AFTRA account and enter the residuals portal. It usually takes between 30 and 60 days to process a residual payment. Free TV, non-network: four months after initial broadcast, then quarterly when the producer receives revenue.Network primetime: 30 days after initial broadcast, then quarterly when the producer receives revenue.Supplemental markets: four months after initial exhibition, then quarterly when the producer receives revenue.Basic cable: quarterly when the producer receives revenue.Foreign free TV: no later than 30 days after producer obtains knowledge of the first foreign telecast and never later than six months after that first telecast.Syndication: four months after air date.Non-primetime network: 30 days after air date.Network primetime: 30 days after air date.Residuals are due according to the following schedule posted by SAG-AFTRA :