Assitant Director - Union Rules

Union Rules AD needs to know

Unions for all 13~ departments, with specific rules and regulations for crew and actors.

Crew Overtime Pay

If crew members work overtime, they are paid 1.5 times their normal pay, and 2 times for even longer days, which result in costly, non-existent shoot days.

Benefits of Union Membership

Unions provide members with professional training, competitive compensation, retirement funds, health and disability insurance, plus help with tracking residual payments

Right to Work States

In certain states, such as South Carolina and Tennessee, workers cannot be denied employment for not being union members, possibly resulting in lower costs.

Lunch Break Regulations

Lunch breaks must account for walking and waiting time; penalties apply if lunch periods exceed the allowed times, even by a minute.

What is a lunch penalty?

If the crew does not take their lunch break on time, the production must pay penalties. So, make sure to check if that shot is possible after lunch or not; if it’s worth paying the penalty

Actors' Required Grace Period

Actors are entitled to a 12-hour grace period from the time they check into their hotel until they are expected on set; improper scheduling incurs extra costs.

AD Guidelines

At minimum, there need to be 2 Assistant Directors (ADs); one must serve as the Key 2nd AD for the entire production while others can assist only with extras.

Child Labor Regulations

Children on set must follow strict safety and labor laws, which limit their working hours according to age and ensure educational needs are met (like hiring a tutor).

Utilizing Twins for Child Roles

Employing twins is advantageous for adhering to labor laws, allowing one twin to work 'x' hours and the other 'y' hours.

Child Welfare Oversight

Required on set are child welfare workers and parents or welfare staff to ensure compliance with regulations on child labor.