SAG-AFTRA is rolling out a new contract built for the swipe-and-scroll era. Later this month, the union will introduce its Verticals Agreement, a newly promulgated media deal tailored to serialized micro-dramas made for mobile viewing—think short, stacked episodes designed for phone screens and social feeds.
Aimed at productions with budgets under $300,000, the agreement balances the speed and lean economics of vertical storytelling with core union safeguards. It’s meant to give creators and producers flexibility to move fast. At the same time, ensuring performers are covered on wages, working conditions, safety, and usage—key protections that often get squeezed in emerging formats.
“Our members are always looking for good work opportunities, and as technology evolves, new formats follow,” said SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin. “Verticals are an exciting space, and we’re meeting the moment with a contract built for how these projects get made and monetized.”
National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland framed the pact as both practical and forward-looking. “This agreement reflects how audiences actually watch today while keeping performers protected,” he said. “Verticals aren’t just a format; they’re a growing pipeline for new stories and new audiences.”
By codifying standards for vertical-first, serialized projects, SAG-AFTRA is effectively formalizing a corner of creator economy production that’s been booming across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube Shorts, and mobile platforms.
For producers, the Verticals Agreement offers a clear pathway to hire union talent without blowing up small budgets; for actors, it opens more legitimate, protected work in a medium that’s increasingly shaping viewing habits and careers.
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