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We’ve put this glossary together to help you understand contract types on Spotlight.

If you need any assistance or have any questions please get in touch with our Professionals Team at casting@spotlight.com

Last updated July 2021

Equity Above Minimum

To illustrate high budget projects under Equity paid above minimum rates.

Equity/BBC

An agreement for BBC projects using the Equity/BBC Agreement.

Equity Fringe Agreement 

A theatre agreement which determines the minimum pay, terms and conditions for performers working for Fringe Theatres across the UK.

Equity/House Agreement 

An official agreement negotiated between Equity and independent theatres for their in-house theatre productions.

Equity/IPA Fees 

A contract for commercials between Equity and IPA.

Equity/ITC 

Independent Theatre Council is the management association for the UK’s independent theatre sector. ITC negotiates minimum rates of pay, on behalf of its members, with the appropriate unions for: administrative staff, choreographers, designers, directors, fight directors, performers, stage managers and writers.

Equity/ITV

An agreement for work relating to the Equity/ITV agreement.

Equity Minimum

When an Equity contract is issued and rates are paid at Equity minimums including holiday pay.

Equity/Netflix

An agreement for Netflix projects only.

Equity/PACT TV

Agreement between Equity and PACT for television projects.

Equity/PACT CFA

Cinema Film Agreement (CFA) between Equity and PACT. Covering budgets of £3 million and over.

Equity/PACT LBF

Low Budget Film Agreement (LBF) between Equity and PACT. Covering budgets over £1 million but under £3 million.

Equity/PACT VLBF

Very Low Budget Film Agreement (VLBF) between Equity and PACT. Covering budgets under £1 million.

Equity Shorts/Festival Only Films

An agreement drawn up by Equity and used by filmmakers who are entering their film to the film festival circuit e.g. Sundance, Cannes, BFI London, Foyle etc and not commercially i.e. not releasing into Cinemas. Daily rates for this agreement start at £147 minimum per day + holiday pay.

Equity/SOLT 

Society of London Theatre – an agreement which determines the minimum pay, terms and conditions that apply across West End Theatres for the engagement of performers, stage management, creatives, technicians and musicians.

Equity/SVOD

An agreement for other Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) only e.g. Hulu, Amazon

Equity Student Film

An agreement drawn up by Equity and used by film schools to ensure that performers are paid at least the minimum/living wage hourly rate + holiday pay on student films.

Equity/UK Theatre (Commercial) 

A theatre agreement which determines the minimum pay, terms and conditions for performers, understudies and stage managers across UK commercial theatres (outside the West End).

Equity/UK Theatre (Subsidised) 

A theatre agreement which determines the minimum pay, terms and conditions for performers, understudies and stage managers across UK subsidised theatres (outside the West End) who are in receipt of funding from Arts Council England, Arts Council of Wales, Creative Scotland or the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

ACTRA

An agreement for Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists.

Commercials

This can be used for commercials using an independent agreement.

Non-union/Commercially Financed 

This category can be used for in-house projects of production companies not using a union contract e.g. Independent films & TV, Pantomime

Overseas/France

For French productions only.

Overseas/Other

For productions outside of the UK only.

SAG/AFTRA

An agreement for American screen productions between labour unions – Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

Union Agreement/Country 

For Non-UK projects who are using a Union contract as per their own country. e.g. Irish Equity, Unión de Actores

Non-union/Low Pay

To be used by production companies paying below industry standard rates.

Profit-share

Independent agreements within a theatre company to cover profit share productions

Please note: ‘No pay’ work cannot be posted on Spotlight.