HOW MUCH DO NON-UNION ACTORS GET PAID FOR A COMMERCIAL?

IN MY OPINION:

WILLIAM REYNOLDS

HOW MUCH DO NON-UNION ACTORS GET PAID FOR A COMMERCIAL?

Many commercials are non-union. In this case, they are either paid a buy-out (which means a one time fee) or a buy-out for a limited time with options for extensions.
In other cases, they are paid in structures similar to SAG, but without the extra's that have to be paid to SAG or possibly at lower rates.
It's my experience that actors should be treated fairly. I generally believe they should receive residuals if the advertiser continues to use their image to sell their product - that's appropriate. At the same time, the payments have to be looked at to make sure they're good business - they have to be in line with the cost of the production, the size of the media spending, and the profit the advertiser stands to reap.

Most non-union actors for commercials have an agent that will negotiate the pay. Talent plus an agency fee. Some pay $500 and up, in fact we did one today that paid that. It depends on a lot of stuff.