SAG-AFTRA says Film Artists Associates surrendered its union franchise in the Los Angeles Local on October 6, 2026. The union's member notice says SAG-AFTRA performers may no longer engage, use, or deal through the agency.
The notice is operational guidance for current and former clients. It does not announce findings about why the franchise was surrendered, and performers should not infer facts beyond the union's published notice.
Why it matters
An agency-franchise change can affect representation contracts, commission payments, and where residual checks are sent. Members who have worked through Film Artists Associates should review the union notice and their payment records now instead of assuming every authorization ends in the same way.
What SAG-AFTRA says changes
- Members may not enter new agency contracts with Film Artists Associates or continue dealing through it as a franchised agency.
- The union says existing SAG-AFTRA agency contracts are terminated, while the agency may retain and collect commissions earned before the franchise surrender.
- According to the notice, members are not obligated to pay commissions on money earned after the agency contracts ended, including money dated after the surrender took effect.
- TV and theatrical residual-check authorizations on file with SAG-AFTRA are automatically terminated.
- Commercial residual authorizations are different: performers who want to end those authorizations must contact the employer or paymaster directly because those payments are processed outside SAG-AFTRA.
What affected performers can do now
- Read the full union notice and keep a copy with your representation records.
- Check recent TV, theatrical, and commercial residual statements to see where payments are directed.
- For commercial residuals, contact the relevant employer or paymaster if an authorization needs to be changed.
- Keep documentation of contract dates, commission statements, and work booked before and after October 6.
- Contact SAG-AFTRA's Professional Representatives Department for questions about an individual situation.
This story summarizes a union member alert and is not legal advice. Individual contract and commission questions can depend on dates and facts that a general article cannot determine.
Read SAG-AFTRA's official surrender notice →
Primary source
Update note
Published October 15, 2026, from SAG-AFTRA's October 6 member notice. This story will be updated if the union publishes additional operational guidance.