SAG-AFTRA escrows

Overview

A SAG-AFTRA escrow is a contract that specifies an amount of money to be paid to a SAG-AFTRA affiliated worker before any work or travel takes place. These escrows are typically negotiated by the performer's agent or business manager as a condition of employment⁠.

The escrow agreement generally includes guaranteed days or weeks of employment, the production company's obligations for handling the payment, and any additional compensation requirements.

When a SAG escrow is created:

• Escrow payments are made outside of Wrapbook, but time worked and paid are documented through the platform for payroll purposes⁠

• SAG will review escrows to ensure compliance with SAG minimums, overage rates, and payment schedules⁠

This help article provides information about how to manage SAG-AFTRA escrows in Wrapbook. To see official requirements, visit the SAG-AFTRA website’s Contracts & Industry Resources.

Supported Escrows

Wrapbook supports the following SAG-AFTRA escrows:

SAG-AFTRA Schedule F escrows

• Are used for project-rate performers; typically lead or supporting actors who are needed for the entire run of a project

• Allow workers to be paid a flat amount for a project in wages⁠

• Enables $0 timecards in Wrapbook, with supplemental payables to document weekly payments

• Workers on Schedule F are not paid for overtime, rehearsals, travel and many other overages and penalties

Other Schedule SAG-AFTRA escrows

For SAG workers with other Schedule SAG Escrows, Wrapbook calculates their pay normally, but instead of Wrapbook sending the payment, the worker is paid directly from their escrow amount.

Add a SAG-AFTRA escrow to a worker’s invitation

If you have a production worker who’ll be paid from a SAG-AFTRA escrow account, you’ll need to add the escrow when you invite the worker to join the project.

To add the escrow:

1. In the left-side navigation, click the dropdown menu, and select the name of the project that you’re inviting the worker to

2. In the left-side navigation Payroll menu, click People

3. At the top of the People page, click the Invite worker button, and begin entering the worker details

4. Under Guild, click the dropdown menu and select SAG-AFTRA

5. Under Job title, click the dropdown menu and select the applicable Schedule, and then enter their Start and End dates

6. In the following section, the information that you’re required to enter is based on the Schedule selected:

   • When Schedule F is selected:

     • Under Payment method, select Escrow (paid outside of Wrapbook)

     • Under Amount, enter the total dollar amount of the escrow, or click Apply to use the scale rate listed

     • Optionally, enter Cost codes and Shoot codes

   • When any other Schedule is selected:

     • The Name, Guild, and Job title fields will be automatically entered

     • Under Amount, enter the total dollar amount of the escrow, or click the checkbox to use the scale rate listed

     • In the SAG Escrow section, click the check box to enable This worker will receive payments up to this amount, paid outside of Wrapbook payroll to reveal additional fields that you’re required to complete

     • Under Guaranteed SAG escrow amount, enter the total escrow amount

     • Under Upload file(s), click the button to select the  file saved to your computer documenting the SAG escrow, such as the signed SAG agreement

     • Click the check box to confirm that payment to this worker for the guaranteed amount will be made outside of Wrapbook

7. Continue entering information for the worker, being sure to click the Submit button at the bottom of the page when you’re finished

Enter Start and End dates, Rate, and amount. Under SAG Escrow, click the checkbox to attest This worker will receive SAG Escrow payments up to this amount, paid outside of Wrapbook payroll. Then, continue completing the invitation.

Add a SAG-AFTRA escrow to an existing project worker’s profile

If a worker requiring a SAG-AFTRA escrow has already joined the project, you can add their escrow by doing the following:

1. In the left-side navigation, click the dropdown menu, and select the name of the project that the worker has been added to

2. In the left-side navigation, click People

3. On the project People dashboard, click the View button next to the worker that you want to update

4. Next to Job & pay, click Edit

5. Under Guild, confirm that SAG-AFTRA is selected

6. In the Job dates & pay section, click the Add Another Rate button

7. Enter a Name for the second rate

8. Under Job title, click the dropdown menu to select the Schedule, then continue entering the rate information

9. Scroll down to the SAG Escrow section, and then click the check box to confirm This worker will receive SAG Escrow payments up to this amount, paid outside of Wrapbook payroll.

10. Under Guaranteed SAG escrow amount, enter the dollar amount

11. Under Upload file(s), click the button to select a file saved to your computer documenting the SAG escrow

12. Click the check box to confirm that payment to this worker for the guaranteed amount will be made outside of Wrapbook

13. Click the Save button at the bottom of the page to save your changes to the worker’s profile

Using the SAG (Escrow) payment tracker

When a worker’s Payment method is Escrow (paid outside of Wrapbook) you’ll be able to see their escrow details on their Worker profile page in the SAG (Escrow) payment tracker section.

The tracker will show three key amounts:

• Paid – Escrow payments that have already been recorded

• Authorized for funding – Payments recorded but not yet verified

• Owed – Remaining balance based on the guaranteed escrow amount

The tracker is automatically updated as you:

• Enter timecards for the worker, and/or

• Log escrow payments made outside of the Wrapbook system, ensuring the escrow Owed amount reflects what's already been fulfilled externally

To view a worker’s escrow tracker:

1. Go to the project dashboard

2. Open the worker’s profile

3. Scroll down the page until you see the SAG (Escrow) payment tracker section

How to record SAG-AFTRA escrow payments in Wrapbook

In Wrapbook, SAG escrow payments are recorded when you run payroll.

Here’s how:

1. Go the project’s payroll dashboard

2. Click Run payroll

3. Under Select payroll type, choose SAG Escrow Workers and then click the Continue button

4. Under Authorized for funding, review the payables to be recorded for SAG-AFTRA escrow worker(s)

5. Click the Go to Review button

6. On the Review payroll page, look for the Summary section. There, you’ll see:

   1. A breakdown of the invoice totals

   2. The escrow payment which will be identified by a line item labeled  Deposit Made Outside of Wrapbook

   3. Remember: The escrow amount shown in the invoice Summary is for tracking purposes only. It represents funds already paid outside of Wrapbook and will not be charged through the Wrapbook system.

7. At the bottom of the Review Payroll page, click the checkbox to confirm payroll locations

8. Click the Continue to Fund Payroll button

Once the payroll invoice is funded, Wrapbook will:

• Automatically update the SAG escrow tracker(s) on the worker profile(s)

• Move the recorded amount from Pending to Paid status

• Update the Owed value to reflect the remaining balance