Signatory Procedures:

A Producer intending to employ DGA members must contact the Guild no later than four (4) weeks before scheduled Principal Photography of the intended project.

Step 1.
Contact the Signatories Assistant to begin the signatory procedure.

• Direct Tel (310) 289-5362
• Department Fax (310) 289-5393

Step 2.
Provide initial information directly to the Signatories Assistant, or leave the information on the assistant's voice mail, or provide the information by fax ( see numbers above).

• Information requested:
  
  • Complete legal name of Producer Company
    
  • Owner of project copyright ( exception: commercial companies)
    
  • Name of Company's authorized representative
    
  • Project Title (exception: commercial companies)
    
  • Pre Production Start Date
    
  • Principal Photography Start Date
    
  • Director's name
    
  • UPM's name
    

Step 3.
Upon receiving the above information from the Producer's representative, the Assistant will fax or mail the Signatory Packet Request Form and the Company Information Form to the Producer's representative within one business day.

Step 4.
Once the Signatory Department has received the Signatory Packet Request Form and the Company Information Form completed as fully as possible with all information known to date and signed by the authorized representative of the Producer, the Guild will mail or have the prepared Signatory Packet available at the Guild' 6th Floor Reception Desk within one business day. (The completed Forms may be provided to the Guild either by fax or mail.)

Note: The Guild also will determine at the time it receives the Company Information Form if the Producer company presented is the appropriate signatory entity, based on the information provided.

The Signatory Packet documents , including financial assurances' documents , will be tailored to the specific type of project: filmed Theatrical, Television; or Live , or Tape Television; Commercial*; filming locations; distributors, financing. At this point, a Signatory Representative will be the direct contact for the Producer until the completion of the project.

Step 5.
The signatory and financial assurances' documents will be circulated to the appropriate parties, signed by the authorized representative of the signatory Producer, and delivered to the Guild prior to Principal Photography along with confirmation of the Producer owning the copyright to the project. Any exceptions must be provided for in advance.

Step 6.
Signatory status will be given to the Producer at the time the Guild is confident that the necessary signatory and financial assurances' documents have been provided.

Note: A payroll deposit is required if a Producer is not a Qualified Residual Payor ("QRP", or a Qualified Distributor/Buyer ("QD"), or if the Producer is not guaranteed by a QRP or QD Company. It is important to discuss the payroll deposit requirement with the Signatory Representative early in the signatory process.

__* Commercial Signatories- After requesting the Commercial Signatory Packet from the Signatories Assistant, you will be assisted on an individual basis until the National Commercial Agreement of 2005 is ready for mailing.

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