Frequently Asked Questions

Media Services phone and virtual assistance is available:

Mon – Fri, 8:30am – 6pm

Los Angeles
Monday – Friday from 8:30am – 5pm PT
Earliest payroll dropoff/pickup is 8:30am PT

New York
Office Temporarily Closed

For security purposes, we require all payroll to be handed directly to a Media Services representative if delivering in person. This means any in-person deliveries must be done within the time frame of our dropoff and pickup times; there is no unattended drop box.

Los Angeles, New York and Louisiana.

See contact page for more information.

You can email to: [email protected].

First, you will need speak with one of our sales representatives. They will assist you in getting started by discussing rates, providing detailed instructions on our on-boarding requirements, and directing you to the online intake form found in our secure client portal. If you do not have a salesperson, just call 310 471 9369 or email [email protected].

Once you’ve received start forms after ordering through our client supplies page found in the client portal, be sure to fill them out accurately to avoid delays. This includes a complete start form with position and rate as well as the completed federal forms, W-4 and I-9. Once you have complete start forms for your crew, they should also complete timecards, which the accountant on the production will break out and send to their Media Services payroll coordinator via our online portal. Once uploaded to the Media Services Client Portal, your payroll and starts will be processed and you should receive an edit from the coordinator within one business day. You will then have an opportunity ask questions, make changes, and finally, approve the edit. At this point, the payroll will be finalized.

To make a change to your edit, contact your payroll coordinator by email and give them the details of the adjustment that needs to be made.

The current Federal Start paperwork is the I-9 and W-4. Both forms are available for download below.

W-4 form download Click Here

I-9 form download Click Here

For Corps and LLCs a W-9 is required, to download Click Here

You can find all other client supplies here.

We accept electronic copies of documents, as the government considers these valid for purposes of record keeping. Having originals on file is always preferable in case of an audit, but electronic copies will suffice.

To set up a new show, please first contact our Client Services Department. You may email the Client Services Department at [email protected] or call 310 471 9369. Once you’ve submitted your new project through the client portal, you can then contact your existing coordinator with information related to your new set up.

Job classification, work states, work dates and wage rates are all things that must appear on all time cards. These all fall under the Fair Labor Standards Act. As Employer-of-Record, we are required to keep accurate and detailed documents on file for all employees for whom we process payroll. Download Fact Sheet 21: Record keeping requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act Click Here.

Yes. Contact your payroll coordinator to make a request for a special report.

As soon as you find out your crew will be traveling out of the country and/or engaging in special activities, contact Risk Management Department at 310 440 9653 and let them know which region you will be shooting in, with the exact location. Please let us know as soon as you can, since there are some special circumstances in different countries.

Lunch or meal breaks should always be indicated on timecards, as certain states have labor laws regarding meal breaks. For state by state information please Click Here.

It is the payroll company that issued the payroll check. The name of the payroll company will be located in the upper left corner of the paycheck received, next to “Media Services” (ex. Forward Processing CA, Inc., Main Processing, Inc.). For questions about unemployment, please call 310-471-9373.

To process payroll for a SAG-AFTRA performer we need: Union Start/Close form, W-4 form, I-9 form, copy of SAG-AFTRA performer contract, and W-9 form. We need articles for corporations; agent check authorization form and actors weekly time report. We do not require Exhibit G’s.

For repeat clients we require only the first page of the start/close form for employees who are moving from project to project. This form is project specific, not production company specific.

If you make escrow or salary advance payments to your employees, please consult with your coordinator first regarding any deductions that need to be made from gross pay. Certain tax withholdings are required for individuals and even loan outs in some cases; to avoid overpaying an escrow or advance, be sure to run it by us first. We will require proof of payment when you submit payroll along with the Escrow/Salary Advance Deduction.

We do not pay independent contractors. We only pay employees. If there are people you feel are appropriate to pay as independent contractors, you would logically pay them from your Accounts Payable and issue them 1099 forms at the end of the year. Many people confuse freelancers with independent contractors. They are not the same. An independent contractor is an unincorporated business, which has a risk of loss. Please consult a qualified CPA or tax attorney for guidance on what qualifies as an independent contractor vs an employee.

We do not pay flat guarantees to non-exempt employees (also known as Belo contracts), but we will pay hourly guarantees provided the production establishes a regular hourly rate and pays applicable overtime according to wage and hour law.

Yes. Before we can issue payments to any employee who wishes to be paid under a Limited Liability Company, we first require a W-9 form, Articles of Organization, a signed LLC Indemnification letter, and copies of tax forms 8832 or 1120. See the IRS page on Limited Liability Companies for more information about what it means to organize as an LLC.

1. Corporations, which applies to both C corporations and S corporations. The loan-out must provide a W-9 and copy of Articles of Incorporation.
2. General Partnership applies to general partnerships with 2 or more partners. (By definition, there is no such thing as a partnership with 1 partner.) The loan-out must provide a W-9 and copy of Statement of Partnership Authority.
3. Limited Partnership applies to limited partnerships that are formally organized. The loan-out must provide a W-9 and copy of Certificate of Limited Partnership.
4. Multi-Member Limited Liability Company applies to limited liability companies that have 2 or more members. The loan-out must provide a W-9 and copy of Articles of Organization.
5. Single-Member Limited Liability Company applies to limited liability companies that have only 1 member, but have elected to be taxed as a corporation. The loan-out must provide a W-9, copy of Articles of Organization, and a copy of their IRS Form 8832, which is the election form, or Form 1120, which is the corporate tax return.

To order timecards for pickup or delivery, please visit our client supplies page. All documents are also available for download.

Employees are taxed based on work state (if the state in which they work has a reciprocity agreement with their resident state, they will be taxed on resident state only).

We partner with amazing third-party health insurance providers to bring your crew members great benefits, with ACA compliance and tracking if needed. Contact your sales representative for more information.

A meal penalty is assessed on production when you miss a scheduled meal start time, mandated either by state law or collectively bargained union agreement with your crew or cast members. Meal penalties can add up the longer you go without breaking for the meal on set, often with subsequent penalties being more costly than the initial one. The penalties are dollar amounts paid to your crew and cast members as part of their paycheck for the week – if you incur penalties but don’t indicate it on timecards, your payroll expert will flag it for you so you can be in compliance with your union agreement or state law. For more information on meal penalties, read our in-depth guide.

Production companies must receive written approval from union representatives, before our Business Affairs and Accounts Receivable Departments can release any portion or the entirety of their union deposits. This is not a quick process. The union will not give approval until all Pension, Health and Welfare contributions have been remitted and all wages have been paid to date.

You can find the deductible mileage rate at the IRS website at irs.gov/Tax-Professionals/Standard-Mileage-Rates. If it exceeds that amount it would be Taxable Mileage. The amount differs if your project is union or non-union. Some union agreements call for mileage to be paid at this rate, others at $0.30 per mile. Non-union goes by what the production has agreed to pay.

The current federal and state minimum wages can always be found Here. Remember that if a state’s minimum wage is higher than the federal, the state wage prevails.

Please view the table of child entertainment provisions as outlined by the Department of Labor. See table of child entertainment provisions Here.

Covered employees who work overtime must be paid at a rate that is one and one-half times their regular, “straight-time” hourly rate of pay. This overtime rate applies to all time over 40 hours in a payroll week.

The overtime requirement is based on hours worked in a given payroll week. Thus, time and one-half, double-time or any amount higher than the agreed rate is not required simply because the work is performed after eight hours per day or on Saturday or Sunday.

Employees covered by a State Minimum Wage Order must be paid for the overtime hours at one and one-half times the basic minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.

Overtime is due after 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week unless an alternative work week of no more than 4 days of 10 hours was established prior to 7/1/99. Premium day on 7th day is not required for an employee whose total weekly work hours do not exceed 30 and whose total hours in any one work day thereof do not exceed 6, in specific wage and hour orders.

Visit the US General Services Administration website Here.

Yes, it is an optional service that can be elected by the production. Direct deposit requires a 48-hour window before it can be effective. For information on setting up direct deposit for your show, contact your payroll coordinator, or call Client Services at 866 429 9316.

A separate service agreement is needed in order to have residuals processed through Media Services, whether the production did its initial payroll through Media Services or not. For further questions regarding client setup please contact the Residuals Department at 310 440 9677.

The PSA is the formal agreement between the client and payroll company setting forth the business relationship and the obligations of each party. It is signed one time, prior to the start of the business relationship. A separate agreement must be executed for each payroll company.

A Late Payroll Letter indemnifies Media Services from any penalties associated with failing to pay an employee within the allowed time frame (whether per labor law or union rule). Such a letter will be issued for any case in which a timecard is received too late for us to generate a paycheck for the employee on time. In such cases, we will also ask the production accountant or producer the reason the timecard was sent in late, and note this for our records.

Check with Client Services about completing all necessary agreements and addendums. Once set up for these plans, your employees must complete an Employee Deduction Form, indicating the correct amounts to be deducted and submit the form with their payroll. We will deduct the indicated amount from the employee’s check and credit back to the production company, and then you are responsible for depositing the monies withheld from employees into the appropriate employee accounts. Media Services does not sponsor or administer these types of plans; we only make the deductions. It is the production company’s responsibility to sponsor and administer the specific plan for your employees.

When the employee wants to be paid through their loan-out or corp., and the payroll company is not to withhold taxes, the payroll company must be indemnified for any tax related matters that may arise between the IRS and the employee’s loan-out or corp. Along with the signed Indemnification Agreement, employee must submit the proper backup documents relating to their corp.

The New York State Wage Theft Prevention Act (WTPA) went into effect April 9, 2011. It requires individual notices to be provided to each employee regarding regular pay and overtime pay rates. Fines are steep for noncompliance.

Similar legislation, the California Wage Theft Prevention Act (WTPA) went into effect January 1, 2012. It requires individual notices to be provided to each non-exempt employee regarding regular pay and overtime pay rates. Exceptions for California are non-exempt employees working under a collective bargaining agreement AND being paid at least 30% more than the state minimum wage per hour.

Media Services provides its clients preprinted form notices to issue to new hires and existing employees in both California and New York. In New York, new notices must be issued annually to existing employees before February 1 of each year. In California, they must be issued only to new hires.

An updated list of FAQ’s from New York State’s Department of Labor can be found here: www.labor.state.ny.us

You can download a sample CA WTPA Notice and NY WTPA Notice.

No. While there is no legal requirement that employees sign time cards or other documents for the purposes of getting paid for work performed, an employer can implement a policy requiring employees to sign time cards. Media Services’ payroll companies have such policies in place. Since we are the employer of record, we require signed time cards in order to verify that the employee agrees with the work hours being submitted by the production company. If you have any specific questions about this policy, please call our Business Affairs department at 310 440 9616.

FICA is 7.65% of Gross. FUI is 0.8% of Gross. SUI depends on the work state. Workers’ Comp depends on resident state. Handling Fee is negotiated between sales and production. Pension contributions depend on the local, union, or guild.

You can look up all the current state production incentives with our upcoming production incentives database. You can also consult our production incentives experts and find out how you can take advantage of incentives and save. Please send an email to [email protected]

We do not under any circumstance provide copies of our tax returns. We can, however, provide other reports that may assist, such as summary earnings reports, ad hoc reports and W-2 extracts.

OASDI stands for Old Age, Survivor and Disability Insurance, also known as Social Security.

Download Federal ID numbers. To download Click Here.

It depends on the type of employee (individual, corporation, etc). The link to the IRS Website for Non-Resident Alien Forms is Here. The paperwork should be filled out on a case-by-case basis depending of the status of the employee.

We do not issue W-2 Forms for Corporations or Limited Liability Company’s. Tax Reporting for Corporations and Limited Liability Company’s are their own responsibility. We can provide them with a Detailed Payroll Journal or Summary Earnings Report upon request.

Please call the Pensions Department at 310 440 9671 regarding contributions to Union Locals and Guilds.

You may call the Accounts Receivable department at 310 440 9679 or send an email to [email protected] or you may view the wire instructions sheets.

Please check with your bank, as every bank has a different cut-off time. Some cut-off times are as early as 12pm.

Call the Accounts Receivable department at 310 440 9679 or send an email to [email protected].

You may call the Accounts Receivable department at 310 471 9335 or 310 440 9679.

Call or email your payroll coordinator, which will be listed on the bottom of the invoice and in your client portal under the show status tab.

Standard methods of payment are cashier’s check or wire. Other payment methods are available and contingent upon management approval and credit background check. Call the Accounts Receivable department at 310 440 9679 or send an email to [email protected] to find out more.

All direct deposit payrolls must be funded forty-eight hours in advance of the actual direct deposit.

Please fax all credit inquiries to 310 254 9519.

The MediaWeb® Software Support number is 310 440 9669.

Weekdays from 9am to 7pm PT

For after-hours and weekend support, please call 310 913 0014.
International callers please call 310 471 9317.

Yes, you can email [email protected] with any questions you have.

Workers’ Compensation is insurance coverage for injuries or illnesses arising out of and occurring in the course of employment.

If an employee sustained an injury in the course and scope of employment, he/she must report the injury to a supervisor at the production company immediately. The production company should notify the Workers’ Compensation Department at Media Services immediately, by calling 310 440 9675 and/or filling out an Accident Report Form.

A representative from the department will follow up with you as soon as possible. Refer the injured worker to a medical facility when necessary.

Upon receipt and review of the information, Media Services will file a claim with our claims administrator for further handling. The Workers’ Comp adjuster will review and investigate the claim and perform a fact-based analysis to determine whether the injury is covered by Workers’ Compensation. The adjuster may contact the production office for additional information. If the employee requires a referral to a specialist after the initial diagnosis, authorization must be obtained from the adjuster.

Yes. We keep a record of all work accidents.

We would like the Accident Report form to be accompanied by a Refusal of Medical Care form. Signing a refusal does not prohibit the employee from seeking medical care later. However, should the employee decide to seek medical treatment, please find a medical facility within the approved MPN network. In the event that you are unable to locate a convenient facility, please contact the Workers’ Compensation Department at 310 471 9388 for assistance during standard business hours; otherwise, treatment may be obtained at the nearest medical facility.

For a serious or life-threatening injury or illness please call 911 and direct the employee to the nearest emergency center or hospital. The top priority in any serious injury is arranging medical treatment for the injured worker.

For non-emergency Workers’ Compensation claims, you may select a medical provider from the listing provided to you at the start of production. For further guidance, the Media Services Workers’ Compensation Department can be reached at 310 440 9675, Monday through Friday from 9am to 6pm Pacific.

For non-emergency Workers’ Compensation injuries within California jurisdiction, all treatments must be administered within the insurance company’s Medical Provider Network (MPN), unless the employee has pre-designated their personal physician prior to the injury.

The adjuster will review the medical billing and determine if the invoice can be paid. Media Services can assist by providing the adjuster with contact information and the Workers’ Compensation claim number. Please forward all bills the employee and/or production receives to the attention of the Media Services Workers’ Compensation Department.

The production company should not pay for the medical treatment an injured worker receives for a valid workers’ compensation injury. Occasionally, an exception will need to be made, but these are rare.

No. Although if treatment is with a non-network doctor, not authorized, for illness or injury not occurring in the course and scope of employment, or treatment is provided prior to filing a workers’ compensation claim, the employee may be responsible for the cost of the medical care.

You can fill out an accident report form here 24/7.

The benefit amounts are statutory, which means they are determined by state law. Because each state’s law is different, benefits vary by state. The adjuster will assist with any benefit-related questions your employee may have. Media Services can provide the claim number and the adjuster’s contact information.

A certificate evidencing workers’ compensation and employer liability coverage is provided to each of our clients. To request additional copies please call 310 471 9347.

Yes, you must disclose all special activities involving non domestic animals, watercraft, aircraft, stunts, pyrotechnics (explosions), foreign locations or other hazardous activities.

Media Services covers U.S. hires working anywhere and foreign hires who are working in the United States and being paid by Media Services. Usually anyone being paid by Media Services is covered by Media Services (with some exceptions). Certain activities, including use of wild animals, watercraft, aircraft, stunts, pyrotechnics, foreign locations, or other hazardous activities, may require prior approval by Media Services. Please contact Risk Management at 818 738 9351 for more information.

Media Services does not process payroll for nor provide Workers’ Compensation for foreign hires working overseas, contestants, volunteers, interns, people who are auditioning, people paid directly by the production, casting company or any vendor working with the production, people involved in hazardous activities that have not been disclosed to Media Services prior to the activity occurring.

Please contact Risk Management at 310 440 9653 for additional information. It is highly recommended Clients maintain their own “if needed” Workers’ Compensation insurance to cover employees, interns and volunteers that are not paid by Media Services or covered by Media Services workers’ compensation insurance coverage.

Injury to the employee must arise out of and in the course of employment. When employees are on distant location, Workers’ Compensation also applies to injuries that are incidental to employment, such as traveling or obtaining food and lodging. However, purely personal undertakings, such as visiting a museum during off-time, would not be considered incidental to employment. The Workers’ Compensation Claim Adjuster will perform a fact-based analysis to determine whether an injury is covered by Workers’ Compensation.

Coverage does not apply to injuries arising from intoxication by alcohol or a controlled substance, a self-inflicted injury; an altercation in which the injured worker is the initial physical aggressor, the commission of a felony (for which the injured worker is convicted); voluntary participation in an off-duty recreational, social or athletic activity that is not part of the employee’s work-related duties, and injuries that occur while an employee is involved in purely personal undertakings, such as visiting a museum during off-time. Injuries that are reported subsequent to termination or layoff are not covered.

Workers’ compensation is not a substitute for health insurance. All claims submitted are thoroughly investigated by the claims administrator and meet a burden of proof.

State laws determine the benefits offered. After a claim is filed, the adjuster will contact the injured worker to determine the benefit jurisdiction. Please contact Risk Management at 310 440 9675 for additional information.

Yes, Media Services provides foreign coverage. Please call 310 440 9653 with at least 10 days’ prior notice of employees traveling outside of the United States.

Generally speaking, we provide Workers’ Compensation coverage for anyone we process payroll for, except foreign hires working in foreign countries.

The production company is responsible for compliance with OSHA regulations and providing a safe work environment for the employees to work.

The production company is responsible for keeping and maintaining the OSHA log. Please contact 310 440 9653 for guidance.

In the event of an accidental death, this insurance will pay benefits in addition to any life insurance but only up to a set amount total regardless of any other insurance held by same insurer, held by the client. This is called double indemnity coverage and is often available even when accidental death insurance is merely an add-on to a regular life insurance plan. Some of the covered accidents include traffic accidents, exposure, homicide, falls, heavy equipment accidents and drowning

Fractional amounts of the policy will be paid out if the covered employee loses a bodily appendage or sight because of an accident. Additionally, AD&D generally pays benefits for the loss of limbs, fingers, toes, sight and permanent paralysis. The types of injuries covered and the amount paid vary by insurer and package, and are explicitly enumerated in the insurance policy.

An additional entity covered by insurance that is carried by the Named Insured. Additional Insured coverage applies only to claims that are caused by the Named Insured. No coverage applies to claims caused by the Additional Insured; they need their own insurance. Usually, the production company is the Named Insured; its subsidiaries are Additional Named Insured; and all the locations, vendors, and other service suppliers, such as Media Services, are Additional Insured. Most productions buy insurance that includes an unlimited number of Additional Insured because every location and vendor needs insurance. Clients must furnish a Certificate of Insurance that names Media Services as an Additional Insured in case Media Services is sued for claims caused by the production. Download Sample Certificate of Liability Insurance form here.

An Additional Named Insured has the same coverage as the Named Insured. This is different from an Additional Insured. The Additional Insured has coverage only for claims caused by the Named Insured (or Additional Named Insured). No coverage applies if the claim is caused by the Additional Insured. Usually the production company is the Named Insured; its subsidiaries are Additional Named Insured; and all the locations, vendors, and other suppliers, such as Media Services, are Additional Insured.

Pays for injuries and property damage to third parties caused by the use of aircraft. For example, if a helicopter crashes into a hospital, Aircraft Liability insurance covers injuries to the people inside, as well as damage to the hospital building and its contents. Aircraft Hull Insurance covers damage to the helicopter itself. Workers’ Compensation covers injuries to production worker employees.

Special Note: Media Services cannot pay aircraft pilots but may be considered upon receipt of acceptable aircraft certificates are approved by Media Services Risk Management prior to the flight activities.

Productions must name Media Services as an Additional Insured on their Non-Owned Aircraft Liability insurance using the language noted above in Additional Insured. We also require a Certificate of Insurance naming Media Services as an Additional Insured on the Aircraft Owner or Supplier’s Liability and Hull coverage with a Waiver of Subrogation on the Hull. Aircraft activities are considered hazardous and Risk Management approval is required prior to processing payroll for the pilot.

Productions need this insurance to obtain film permits and to pay claims caused by their use of automobiles. For example, if a production vehicle causes a collision with a car on the freeway, Auto Liability insurance covers the damage to the other person’s car and the injuries to the other driver. Workers’ Compensation covers injuries to the production worker employee.

Productions are required to provide a Certificate of Insurance naming Media Services as an Additional Insured on their Hired Auto and Non-Owned Auto Liability coverage (Owned Auto coverage is also needed if the production owns vehicles). Please refer to Additional Insured above for the wording to be used.

This is necessary in case Media Services is sued for claims caused by the production’s use of vehicles. “Hired Auto” means private passenger cars, trucks, motor homes, and other hired, loaned or donated vehicles used in production. An example of a Non-Owned Auto would be a vehicle owned by an employee (not owned by the production company) used during production.

This is the name and address of the entity or person requesting the Certificate of Insurance. The Certificate Holder language for Media Services is:

Media Services D.B.A. (payroll company name), its parent, subsidiaries, related and affiliated companies, its officers, directors, agents, and employees
500 S. Sepulveda Blvd., 4th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90049

This document, issued by an insurance broker, provides evidence that a policy is in force for a specific Named Insured. The entity requesting the Certificate is called the Certificate Holder. Liability Certificates often add the Certificate Holder as an Additional Insured. Productions must furnish Media Services with a Certificate of Insurance; including Media Services as an Additional Insured on their Liability policies (refer to Additional Insured for the exact wording needed). Sometimes productions need a Workers’ Compensation Certificate issued by Media Services. Please contact Risk Management at 310 471 9347 to request a Workers’ Compensation certificate.

These words appear on Certificates of Liability Insurance. It means that the policy will pay up to the Combined Single Limit (usually $1,000,000) for any combination of bodily injury claims and property damage claims. For example, it might pay $20,000 in property damage and $980,000 in bodily injury. Or, it might pay five bodily injury claims at $200,000 each. Limits include defense costs and indemnity payments. Insurance companies never pay more than the policy limit. Sometimes judges and juries award damages that far exceed the limits on the policies. If the limits are exhausted, or if there is no insurance, or if a claim is denied because of exclusions in the policy, then the insured pays “out of pocket” for attorney fees, as well as the court-awarded damages.

This is the amount the insured must pay before the insurance company pays. “Retention” is another word for “deductible.”

This legislation provides special federal benefits to employees working under U.S. Government contracts. Please advise Risk Management 310 440 9675, if your project is being done under a government contract.

Liability Insurance policies usually pay for defense and indemnity. “Defense” means the insurance company pays attorney fees to defend the insured, even if the claim is totally without merit. “Indemnity” refers to the amount paid for court-awarded judgments for claims caused by the insured.

A weekly benefit paid to a worker during a period of time the worker is unable to work due to non work related injury or illness.

This is a State required Workers’ Compensation claim form that Media Services generates using information that the production company provides on the Media Services Accident Report Form.

This is a Media Services policy that provides higher limits on top of the underlying policy. For example, a General Liability policy has a limit of $1,000,000 and an Excess Policy has a limit of $4,000,000. The total limits available would be $5,000,000. Sometimes, Excess coverage is called an “Umbrella” policy. Contrary to popular opinion, Umbrella policies do not “cover everything” – they provide higher limits over an existing underlying or primary policy.

Something in an insurance policy that is not covered. General Liability policies typically exclude coverage for claims involving aircraft, autos, foreign locations, war, nuclear accidents, intentional acts, fraud, asbestos, illegal acts, and mold (to name only a few). Workers’ Compensation coverage excludes claims arising out of intoxication by either alcohol or a controlled substance, self-inflicted injuries, felonious acts, off-duty recreational activity (such as voluntary participation in a company picnic baseball game), and claims reported subsequent to termination or layoff among other things.

These are considered hazardous activities. Please contact Risk Management at 310 440 9653.

Pays for claims occurring in locations outside the Unites States, its possessions, and Canada. Productions filming in foreign locations are required to provide Media Services with a Certificate of Insurance that names Media Services as an Additional Insured on their Foreign Liability coverage (please refer to Additional Insured above for the exact language we need). Also, productions planning to film in SANCTIONED COUNTRIES, must submit proof to Media Services of permission from the U.S. Department of the Treasury before Workers’ Compensation coverage can be confirmed. Media Services Employees are normally covered for Workers’ Compensation in foreign locations. Media Services usually provides Workers’ Compensation for its employees wherever they are working. Media Services does not provide Workers’ Compensation for foreign hires working overseas. Productions should insure foreign hires and foreign activities by purchasing a Foreign Package Policy from their brokers. Contact Risk Management at 310 440 9653 for assistance.

Productions need General Liability insurance to obtain film permits and to cover injuries and property damage to members of the public that are caused by the production’s activities. For example, the production stages an explosion that causes the windows of a nearby house to blow out and causes injury to the homeowner. General Liability covers the damage to the house and the injuries to the homeowner. General Liability policies exclude claims involving autos, aircraft, and watercraft (separate policies are available). Media Services must be an Additional Insured on the production’s liability policies for claims caused by the production. Media Service’s Affinity Production Insurance Program with partner EPIC Insurance can help – learn more about the program here.

This coverage provides benefits to union members working on union shows, as required by the various collective bargaining agreements. Benefit amounts are determined by the various industry guilds and unions, such as AFM, AFTRA, DGA, IATSE, SAG, WGA, Teamsters, etc. A union show means the production company is signatory to one or more of these collective bargaining agreements. Productions should maintain their own Guild Travel coverage.

These include use of wild animals, watercraft, aircraft, stunts, pyrotechnics, and foreign locations. Please contact Risk Management at 310 440 9653.

Hired Auto means private passenger cars, trucks, and other hired, loaned, or donated vehicles used by the production. Productions need this coverage to obtain film permits and to pay claims involving their use of autos (see Auto Liability above). Media Services must be an Additional Insured on the production’s Auto Liability insurance.

This insurance pays for damage to the hull (body) of an aircraft or watercraft. For example, if a helicopter crashes into a hospital, Aircraft Hull insurance covers the damage to the helicopter itself. Media Services requires that aircraft owners/suppliers name Media Services as an Additional Insured on their coverage and include a “Waiver of Subrogation with Respect to Hull.” This means that if the hull is damaged, and the owner/supplier’s insurance company pays for it, then insurers cannot seek reimbursement from Media Services.

Injury and Illness Prevention Program. All employers are required to have an Injury and Illness Prevention Program. Production is responsible for the day to day activities of the production and therefore responsible for accident prevention by providing a safe work environment for all workers. Your IIPP and safety guidelines as required by the various guilds and unions. Serious citations can result for failure to comply with State and/or Federal OSHA requirements. Media Services offers tools to assist clients. Contact Risk Management 310 440 9675.

Media Services requires clients to maintain production insurance and name Media Services as Additional Insured (refer to Additional Insured above) in accordance with the Personnel Services Agreement. Media Services must be an Additional Insured on the production’s General Liability and Auto Liability coverage. For filming activities outside the United States or Canada, the production must have Foreign Liability coverage and name Media Services as an Additional Insured. If the production uses aircraft or watercraft, Media Services must be an Additional Insured on those policies as well. Media Services requires that productions maintain their own Workers’ Compensation coverage to cover people who are injured while auditioning or rehearsing (prior to employment through Media Services), interns, volunteers, foreign hires working overseas, and others who are not covered by Media Services’ program. Productions should also maintain their own Guild Travel coverage for situations where the production company is the signatory.

Your Media Services workers’ comp representative can discuss insurance requirements with you further when setting up a show for payroll.

Interns are usually students or recent graduates who work on productions without getting paid in order to gain valuable on-the-job production experience. Because interns are not paid by Media Services they are not covered by its policy. Contact your broker to inquire about adding an “if needed” workers’ compensation policy to your production package to cover anyone not covered by Media Services policy (i.e. interns, people auditioning, volunteers, foreigners working overseas, etc.)

This legislation provides federal benefits that broaden Employer’s Liability Coverage for Masters and crew members of a vessel. This coverage can also be provided by boat owners under a Protection & Indemnity (P&I) policy.

Productions need this coverage to obtain film permits and to pay for injuries and property damage to members of the public that are caused by the production company’s activities. There are various kinds of liability coverage, including General, Auto, Foreign, Aircraft, Watercraft, etc.

Media Services must be named as an Additional Insured on our clients’ liability policies in case we are sued for claims they cause.
(see Additional Insured.)

The total amount of insurance the policy provides. Insurance companies never pay more than the policy limit. Sometimes judges and juries award damages that far exceed the insurance limits. If the limits are exhausted, if there is no insurance, or if a claim is denied because of an exclusion in the policy, then the insured pays “out of pocket” for attorney fees and court-awarded damages.

An entity used by an actor, director, producer, writer, or crew member to contract their services to a TV, motion picture, or commercial production company. The contract specifies the services to be provided by the individual “loaned out” by the entity. Media Services can pay a loan-out company and provide Workers’ Compensation for the individual loaned out, provided the loan-out has a U.S. Tax Identification number. Loan-outs are NOT eligible for disability coverage. Some loan-outs may employ other staff besides the individual artist, so the loan-out should maintain its own Workers’ Compensation coverage also.

This form is used to report work-related injuries. Click here for the form.

States only allow workers’ compensation coverage purchased directly from a state plan. No private insurance is permitted. These states are North Dakota, Ohio, Washington, and Wyoming. Media Services maintains coverage in each of these states.

The entity that purchased the policy and is insured by it. Usually, the production company is the Named Insured. An Additional Named Insured has the same coverage as the Named Insured. However, an Additional Insured has coverage only for claims that are caused by the Named Insured (no coverage applies if the claim is caused by the Additional Insured). The locations, vendors, and other suppliers (such as Media Services) are named or included as Additional Insured to protect them for claims caused by the production (the Named Insured).

Pays for injuries and property damage to third parties caused by the use of aircraft. For example, if a helicopter crashes into a hospital, Aircraft Liability insurance covers injuries to the people inside, as well as damage to the hospital building and its contents. Aircraft Hull Insurance covers damage to the helicopter itself. Workers’ Compensation covers injuries to production worker employees.

Special Note: Media Services cannot pay aircraft pilots unless acceptable aircraft certificates are approved by Media Services Risk Management prior to the flight activities.

Productions must name Media Services as an Additional Insured on their Non-Owned Aircraft Liability insurance (see Additional Insured). We also require a Certificate of Insurance naming Media Services as an Additional Insured on the aircraft owner or supplier’s Liability and Hull coverage, with a Waiver of Subrogation on the Hull.

An example of a non-owned auto would be a vehicle owned by an employee (it is “non-owned” from the production’s point of view) that is being used during production. Productions need Non-Owned Auto Liability insurance to get film permits and to pay claims caused by their employees’ use of automobiles. For example, an employee driving his or her own auto causes a collision while running an errand for the production (to pick up lunch or deliver a script, for example). The other party sues the employee and both co-employers (Media Services and the production). If a court finds the production company was negligent, Non-Owned Auto coverage pays for damage to the other party’s car and injuries to the other driver. Injury to the employee should be covered by Workers’ Compensation. Damage to the employee’s vehicle should be covered by his or her personal auto insurance. Productions are required to provide Media Services with a Certificate of Insurance that names Media Services as an Additional Insured on their Non-Owned Auto Liability coverage in case Media Services is sued for auto claims caused by the production worker employee (see Additional Insured).

Productions need this coverage when they charter boats because most boat owner’s policies exclude commercial activities, such as filming. Non-Owned Watercraft Liability insurance pays for damage and injury caused by the production arising out of its use of watercraft. Media Services must be named as an Additional Insured on the production’s Non-Owned Watercraft Liability and Hull Insurance in case we are sued for claims caused by the production (please refer to Additional Insured above). Because watercraft activities are considered hazardous, please contact Risk Management at 310 440 9653 for more information.

Certificates of Insurance usually include “30 Days Notice of Cancellation.” meaning that the insurance company must notify the Certificate Holder at least 30 days prior to canceling coverage. The most common reason insurance companies cancel policies is nonpayment of premium. Many insurers give 10 days notice of cancellation for non-payment of premium.

This acronym stands for Occupational Safety & Health Administration. This is a governmental agency that sets standards for safety in the workplace. It requires employers to report injuries and keep logs of certain types of work-related injuries. OSHA fines employers that do not comply. Because Media Services does not have a presence on the set, nor do we control the safety of the workplace or the activities of the employees, our Personnel Services Agreement states that the production shall be responsible for compliance with OSHA requirements. These include timely reporting of serious injuries to OSHA, maintaining an Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP), providing workplace health and safety training, supplying protective equipment and clothing, providing workplace harassment training, and maintaining documentation of all of the above.

This is a form of watercraft insurance, usually carried by owners of vessels. Sometimes productions purchase this coverage when they use a “bare boat charter” (only the boat is supplied – no crew or insurance). In these situations, Media Services must be named as an Additional Insured on the production’s P&I policy in case Media Services is sued for claims caused by the production’s use of watercraft. Often the owner’s coverage is only for pleasure use; it does not cover filming activities. This is why the production should purchase its own coverage. Watercraft activities are considered hazardous. Please contact Risk Management at 310 440 9653 for more information.

Productions must carry insurance as outlined in the Personnel Services Agreement. Media Services must be an Additional Insured (please refer to Additional Insured above) on the production’s General Liability and Auto Liability coverage. For filming activities outside the Unites States or Canada, the production must have Foreign Liability insurance and name Media Services as an Additional Insured. If the production uses aircraft or watercraft, Media Services must be named on those policies as well. Media Services highly recommends production include an “if needed” workers’ compensation policy in their production insurance package to cover people who may be injured while auditioning or rehearsing (prior to employment through Media Services), interns, volunteers, foreign hires working overseas, and others who are not covered by Media Services’ Workers’ Compensation. Productions should maintain their own guild coverage for situations where the production is the signatory and Media Services is processing payroll.

Because the use of pyrotechnics and explosives is considered a hazardous activity, please contact Risk Management at 310 440 9675 for more information.

For hazardous activities, productions should send a completed Special Handling Questionnaire to advise Risk Management of activities involving wild animals, watercraft, aircraft, stunts, pyrotechnics (explosions), foreign locations, or other hazardous activities. Contact Risk Management at 310 440 9653.

This part of a Workers’ Compensation policy reimburses the employer for necessary costs (subject to certain limits) incurred while transporting injured U.S. employees from a foreign country back to the Unites States.

“Retention” is another word for “deductible.” This is the amount the insured must pay before the insurance company pays.

Means a state or federal law.

Action sequences that involve possible injury to performers or others on the set or stage. Please advise Risk Management at 310 440 9653 for more information.

After an insurance company has paid a claim, it can then seek reimbursement from the entity that was responsible for the loss. This is known as subrogation. In most cases, the subrogated claim is fought between two insurance companies disputing who was ultimately responsible for the loss (it does not usually involve the insured parties). A Waiver of Subrogation prevents the insurer from seeking reimbursement from the responsible party. An example of subrogation would be when an employee is injured in a vehicular accident on the freeway. The Workers’ Compensation carrier pays for the employee’s injuries, and then subrogates against (seeks reimbursement from) the owner of the vehicle who caused the accident. For aircraft insurance, Media Services requires a Waiver of Subrogation with respect to hull coverage. This means that if the hull is damaged and the owner’s insurer pays for the damage, then it cannot seek reimbursement from Media Services (because the damage was not caused by us).

This is a separate policy that provides higher limits on top of the underlying policy. For example, an underlying General Liability policy has a limit of $1,000,000. The Umbrella policy provides for a higher limit when necessary. Contrary to popular opinion, umbrella policies do not “cover everything.” Umbrellas only provide higher limits on top of an existing underlying or primary policy.

This term relates to people who reside in and are hired in the Unites States who usually have acceptable “right to work” I-9 documentation. Media Services provides payroll and Workers’ Compensation for U.S. hires. Media Services does not provide payroll or Workers’ Compensation for foreign hires who work overseas. Direct inquires to Risk Management 310 440 9653.

United States Longshoremen & Harbor workers Act. This legislation provides broader Workers’ Compensation benefits for the Masters and members of the crew of a vessel. This coverage can be provided by boat owners under a Protection & Indemnity (P&I) policy. Media Services’ Workers’ Compensation includes USL&H insurance for those who qualify for it. These benefits are costly, and watercraft activities are considered hazardous. Contact our Risk Management at 310 440 9675 for more information.

Voluntary Plan Disability Insurance. Media Services offers California residents an alternative to State Disability Insurance (SDI) called VPDI. The benefits under VPDI are better than the SDI benefits.

This means an insurer that has paid a claim is prevented from subrogating against (seeking reimbursement from) the entity that was responsible for the loss. For aircraft activities, Media Services requires a Waiver of Subrogation with respect to hull coverage. This means that if the hull is damaged and the insurer pays for the damage, then it cannot seek reimbursement from Media Services (because the damage was not caused by us). Some locations require a Waiver of Subrogation on the Workers’ Compensation Certificate. This means our Workers’ Compensation carrier cannot seek reimbursement even if the employee’s injury was caused by the owner of the premises.

Productions need Non-Owned Watercraft coverage when they use boats. This insurance pays for damage and injury to third parties caused by the production’s use of watercraft. Media Services must be named as an Additional Insured on the production’s Non-Owned Watercraft Liability and Hull Insurance (see Additional Insured). Watercraft activities are considered hazardous. Contact Risk Management at 310 440 9653 for more information.

Covers injury or illness arising out of and occurring in the course of employment. State laws require that all employers provide Workers’ Compensation benefits to their employees who are involved in work-related injuries. There are five types of Workers’ Compensation benefits: medical care, temporary disability benefits, permanent disability benefits, vocational rehabilitation services (some exceptions apply), and death benefits. The benefit amounts are statutory, which means they are determined by state laws, and each state is different.

Fill out Contract Service Letter request from the login page of our Crew Portal. Your hours will be reported to Contract Services within 5-10 business days.

First, please make sure the production company that you worked with knows the check has been damaged, lost, or stolen.

• If the check/checks are damaged, send them back to Media Services immediately.
• If checks are damaged to the point that they cannot be sent back, please get in touch with Media Services as soon as possible.

For Features/TV, contact Features Administrative Support at 310 471 9352.
For the Commercial Payroll department, contact Payroll Clerical Support at 310 440 9660.
To speak to the person who processes the payroll, call Media Services’ main line: 310 440 9600.

The receptionist will need to know the production company you work for, and then you will be transferred to the appropriate payroll coordinator. The email address for information regarding lost, stolen, or uncashed checks is [email protected].

First, make sure you have all your pay stubs organized and your timecard copy to compare. You should contact the production company first to go through the payments and if there is an adjustment, your accountant on the production end will need to get in touch with Media Services.

For Features/TV: Call the Media Services front desk at 310 440 9600 and the receptionist will transfer you to the appropriate coordinator. If the coordinator is unavailable, you can ask to speak to Features Administrative Support or call 310 471 9352.
For Commercial paychecks: Call Payroll Clerical Support at 310 440 9660.

You can fill out the start form with your new address. You can use the union or non-union start form, but just fill out the top sheet, the one the production and employees fill out. You can then email the start form to the production and your payroll coordinator or you can get in touch with them directly. Download Union/ Non-Union start form here.

Crew members can sign up for Freelancer ACH Direct Pay anytime. This option follows you from production to production. The more traditional Direct Deposit must be offered via the production company and is less common. Forms for both types can be found here.

If the check is not in your possession (lost, stolen or never received), we will send you a re-issuance form where you can update your address if necessary and sign. Once it is signed and returned to Media Services it will take 24 hours time from the submission of the request.

If you have the check in your possession, whether stale dated or processed incorrectly, you will need to send us the original check. Once the original check is received, we can submit the request and reissue the check within 24 hours.

NOTE: In either scenario, production should be made aware since they will be receiving the invoice. We recommend that you contact the production company and have them submit the request. This way we have it in writing and they are aware. Special circumstances would include if a production is finished and/or the check is stale dated. In this case the situation can be resolved with the employee directly, but we need the request in writing.

You can find the payroll company name and Employer Identification Number on your paystub. Be sure to refer to your most recent paystub, as you may not always be paid by the same payroll company, even within the Media Services umbrella. If you have an active claim and need to speak to someone, call our garnishments and unemployment division at 310 471 9364.

The production company name is located in the middle white area, under the hours worked.

Contact the Garnishments department at 310 471 9373.

You can go fill out a change of address form Here.

The other option is to call the Media Services front desk at 310 440 9600 and ask to be transferred to the Residuals Department. We will ask you to fax the old address, the new address, the last four digits of the social security number, and a signature. Once you have faxed this information you will also need to send an email with the same information that was included in the fax.

You need to contact the guild about this matter. All original (1st issue) residual payments are sent to their applicable guild for processing before a residual recipient receives their payment. The guild, after completing their processing procedure, will forward the residual payment to their member using the address information they have on file. The guilds distribute the checks individually. Addresses on file with Media Services in regards to residuals payments are only used to send out W-2’s, payments that have been adjusted, or any written correspondence.

You can take care of it here. You can also call the W-2 hotline at 310 471 9386.

You should contact the estate department at the guild you are looking for.

The check will say “residual payment” under earnings type, and the show name listed may be one that is no longer in production.

You can call the Media Services front desk at 310 440 9600 and ask for the Residuals Department. We will ask you for the first name, last name, and social security number. We will then let you know when the check was processed, when it was sent to SAG, and if it has been cleared.

If you have already updated your address with the guild, it does not mean that you are updated in our system. The two systems are not linked up together. When you update your address with the guild make sure you do the same with your payroll company.

Contact the guild and see if they have your checks. Sometimes when the guild does not have an update address on file, they will deposit it into a trust account.

If you have the live checks, send them in to Media Services and we can reissue them for you. If you don’t have the checks, we will send you a form to fill out and return back to Media Services. Once we get the form back, we will forward it to place a stop payment on the check. Then we can reissue and send the checks to you.

W-2s and 1099s are mailed by January 31.  Additionally, W-2s are available for download through our Crew Portal crewportal.mediaservices.com by January 31. Any 1099s are currently only available via mail.

Register for our Crew Portal to download your W-2 or fill out our request form mediaservices.com/w2

We can send you a W-4 ourselves; however, we strongly recommend that you request it from your production to avoid any check processing mishaps. Our clients review the withholdings for the employees. If they are not made aware of changes, they may return a check to be voided by mistake. Download W-4 Here

Employee’s earnings are subject to withholding in both the resident state as well as work state. If this happens, the employee will be paying the higher of the two states. For example, if an employee lives in California, but works in North Carolina and California tax is higher than the North Carolina tax, North Carolina taxes will be withheld in full and California taxes are withheld for the difference.

You can contact the Garnishments Department at 310 471 9373.

W-2s are mailed to the residence address on file and address change requests cover all payroll company entities under Media Services. If you submit an address change prior to January 1, you are assured to receive your W-2 at your new address. If you submit an address change after January 1, please have a USPS mail forwarding request in place to ensure you receive your W-2. W-2s begin printing in early January, so we cannot ensure your W-2 will be addressed to your new address if submitting a request after January 1.

The state wage amounts shown on your W-2 are the wages taxable to the respective state. This is not necessarily the amount you earned within the state. Common confusion arises from employees working outside of their resident state. Wages earned outside of one’s resident state is taxable in both, the resident and nonresident state. For example, a California resident works in North Carolina and earns $50,000. The W-2 will show $50,000 in wages for both, California and North Carolina.

Attention New York nonresidents, New York requires your full wages to be shown in their box of the W-2.  To properly report your New York taxable wages, you must complete Form IT-203-B (nonresident income allocation worksheet) to compute your New York taxable wages. Please visit New York’s website for information at tax.ny.gov/pit/file/non_partyear.htm

Visit the Crew Portal at crewportal.mediaservices.com to view your work history.

You can email your question to [email protected] or call our W-2 department at 310 471 9386.

Disability insurance provides partial wage replacement to eligible employees who are unable to work due to injury, illness or pregnancy. Disability insurance also includes Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits. All Media Services employees who are California residents can participate in California’s State Disability Insurance (SDI).

Claims can be filed on the websites SDI website, for claims please Click Here. For more information, feel free to contact us.

For NY PFL claims and NY Disability, please contact Ori Maouda 818 738 9351 (8am – 5pm PT) or [email protected].

For CA PFL claims and CA Disability please contact Laura Edwards 310 440 9675 (8am – 5pm PT) or [email protected].

The SDI weekly benefit amounts cover a range depending on various factors.

Benefit calculation is complex, so we recommend contacting SDI for this information.

SDI has a 7 day waiting period. Benefits are paid from the 8th day forward.

There are five states that provide state disability programs: California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Contact Media Services at 818 738 9351 for assistance with filing claims in these states.

The Paid Family Leave program was established for workers who suffer a loss of wage when they need to take time off from work to bond with a minor child within one year of the birth, or to place the child with foster care or adoption. It also applies to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent or registered domestic partner.

A “serious health condition” is an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition of a patient that involves inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential medical care facility. This includes any period of incapacity (e.g., inability to work, attend school, or perform other regular daily activities), any subsequent treatment in connection with such inpatient care, or continuing treatment by a physician or practitioner. Unless complications arise, cosmetic treatments, the common cold, influenza, earaches, upset stomach, minor ulcers, and headaches other than migraines are all examples of conditions that do not meet the definition of a “serious health condition” for purposes of Paid Family Leave insurance benefits.

Benefits are calculated in the same way as they are for disability insurance.

For NY PFL claims please contact Ori Maouda 818 738 9351 (8am – 5pm PT) or [email protected].

For CA PFL claims please contact Laura Edwards 310 440 9675 (8am – 5pm PT) or [email protected].

Your benefits will be provided by SDI. You will need to submit a W-4 form and a PFL Claim Form or file your claim online.

Under SDI, the maximum benefit is six weeks with a one week unpaid waiting period.

The weeks need not be consecutive.

When you unlock your software, you’ll be registered. While we check our unlock request submissions frequently throughout each day, it may take a bit longer on weekends and holidays.

Yes. Just download the Free Trial from the right-hand sidebar of the product page. Showbiz trial products are fully functional. When the trial period is over, you can purchase anytime and retain your data.

No. Provided you have already downloaded the trial version, that’s the only file you will need. Once you purchase, simply follow the instructions in your email receipt to activate your license(s).

Yes, and after your purchase as well. We are happy to answer your questions by phone or email to ensure that you can purchase our products with confidence.

Contact Support
From 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (PT) you can call 703 350 8620
From 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. you may call 310 440 9669
For after-hours and weekend support, please call 310 913 0014

You can also email Showbiz Software Support at [email protected].

From 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (PT) you can call 703 350 8620
From 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. you may call 310 440 9669
For after-hours and weekend support, please call 310 913 0014

You can also email Showbiz Software Support at [email protected].

2300 Empire Avenue
Burbank, CA 91504
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Go to our Upcoming Events page to find a complete listing of all upcoming film payroll and Showbiz Software webinars and events. We also have a collection of previously recorded webinars there.

We offer one-on-one, you-set-the-pace training on some of our software for $50/hr and private group sessions for as little as $25 per additional person.
To book a session in Los Angeles call 310 440 9669 and to book a session in New York call 917 305 8309.

You can also check our upcoming seminars and webinars on our Upcoming Events page.

A session fee for commercial talent is the initial payment to the talent for the work performed for a specific purpose and period of time. It is paid by the day or by the hour, depending on the contract.

A signatory is any entity that employs union talent and has signed union letters of agreement to abide by regulations stipulated in specific union contracts for commercials, music videos, industrials, etc. If your commercial company is not signatory to SAG-AFTRA or AFM, you may need to engage the services of a company that is signatory. When you do commercial talent payroll with Media Services, we can help you “borrow” signatory status.

This depends on the contract and classification. We have a Commercial Guide which lists session fee rates for commercials and music videos. Please call Steve Bizenov at 646 829 0702 for a free PDF copy of the Commercial Guide.

A holding fee for commercial talent is a payment based on session dates and made every consecutive 13-week cycle, ensuring that performers can’t take a job for a conflicting product. You don’t want the actor in your Mercedes commercial pitching BMW in another spot running at the same time.

A cycle for commercial talent runs 21 months.

When you employ union talent for commercials, you must abide by union rules, pay and guidelines. With non-union commercial talent, you have no contract or contractual based fees; everything is negotiated.

Yes. Being signatory to SAG-AFTRA commercial agreements means that you are legally bound to employ guild performers as stipulated in the agreements.

When you shoot outside of SAG-AFTRA jurisdiction, it is not necessary to use a signatory. Consult your commercial payroll company if you are unsure about SAG-AFTRA jurisdiction.

A day is 8 hours for on-camera commercial talent; 2 hours for voiceover artists.