First-Ever Mini Series & Telemovie Agreement

22 February, 2010

The AWG Mini Series & Telemovie Committee has finalised our first-ever Mini Series & Telemovie Agreement with SPAA!

For decades, the only agreement covering writing for TV was the Series and Serial Agreement. We are not only adding Mini-series and Telemovies, but for the first time mini-series and telemovie writer’s fees will be based on a percentage of the Production Budget – recognising the writer’s fundamental role in high-end Television Drama.

Thank you and congratulations to the AWG Committee who worked tirelessly to negotiate this agreement on behalf of Australian writers.

Members on the committee are John Doyle (Chair), Mac Gudgeon, Tim Pye, Keith Thompson and Katherine Thomson.

The new terms can been seen below.


FEES

The Producer will pay the writer a minimum of:

• $30,942 per commercial hour or 3% of the production budget, whichever is higher, for Telemovies and Miniseries.

• Effective January 1, 2010 through 31 December 2010 only - Mini Series of 7-13 episodes with a production budget of less that $900,000 per hour, the terms of the Series and Serials Agreement between the parties shall apply.

• Effective 1 January 2011 - For all Mini Series that received funding as mini series, the fee will be the greater of $30,942 per commercial hour or 3% of the production budget.

• The Writer’s fee covers payment for a Treatment, 3 drafts and 1 polish.

- 10% of the writer’s fee per additional draft
- 5% of the writer’s fee per additional polish

• Minimum fees will increase by the CPI on January 1 each year.

ROYALTIES

• Effective January 1, 2010, the Writer of a Mini-Series of 7–13 episodes with budgets over $900,000 will be entitled to a royalty of 3% of GROSS FOREIGN & DOMESTIC RELICENSING RECEIPTS in addition to her/his Fee.

• Effective January 1, 2011, The Writer of a Mini-Series of 7-13 episodes will receive a royalty of 3% of GROSS FOREIGN & DOMESTIC RELICENSING RECEIPTS in addition to her/his Fee, regardless of the budget.

Please contact our Industrial Team if you have any questions or need a copy of the agreement industrial@awg.com.au


MINIMUM RATE SHEETS UPDATED FOR 2010 AND AVAILABLE FROM THE AWG

• SASA
• Mini Series & Telemovies
• Feature Films
• Documentary
• Corporate Videos
• Script Editing