Thank you Summer, for clarifying. I didn't see the linked article.

This is correct... and is one of the reasons studios are opting to produce shows under AFTRA contracts rather than SAG. AFTRA allows overscale payments to be credited towards residuals, whereas SAG does not.

It looks like most of the fault for the misinformation lies with the original article, which Danny basically paraphrased (The article itself says that test deals "must be signed before an actor auditions -- when he or she has little leverage to extract concessions.")

Reading the article in light of what DB and "me" have written, it appears that it's not saying that test deals themselves are new, but that there are certain clauses regarding residuals that are new.

Sorry but this isn't even remotely new. This is always and has always been the way it works.

You go to an audition for a pilot or show. They narrow it down to about 5 people they really like. Then your agent negotiates your deal. Then you go do a screen test with other talent that has already been cast.

Also, this isn't unfair to actors. It gives them a chance to use their previous work to leverage a deal before the producers even see how they are. It's also good for producers because they know what an actor is going to cost before they hire them.

You guys really need someone who understands this business on your staff. The misinformation you spread about unions, producers and the business in general is obnoxious.

Color me confused. This has been going on for years... decades even. The test deal is put in place NOT before an actor auditions, but before they "test" for the network... the final step of the pilot audition process. All this does is ensure that terms are established when the final choice is made, which alleviates a lengthy negotiation process.

This is only done for series regular roles on pilots...and the folks in play for these roles usually have quotes in the tens of thousands per episode, and could hardly be labeled "starving"