Day or week: the break-even
The day out of days tells you how many days each actor works in each week, and that decides the contract type. Using the SAG-AFTRA rates effective July 1, 2026:
| Agreement | Day rate | 3 days | 4 days | Weekly rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic theatrical | $1,283 | $3,849 | $5,132 | $4,456 |
| Low Budget | $834 | $2,502 | $3,336 | $2,896 |
| Moderate Low Budget | $449 | $1,347 | $1,796 | $1,560 |
On all three, three days at the day rate is cheaper than a week, and four days is more expensive. An actor working Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday on the Low Budget agreement costs $3,336 by the day or $2,896 by the week, a $440 difference before pension and health.
The fine print on weeks
The SAG-AFTRA rate sheets state that weekly rates apply to a five-day studio week. On a six-day overnight location week, the performer automatically gets an additional four hours of overtime at straight time, and all overtime is computed on the five-day rate. Under the Moderate Low Budget agreement, weekly performers are employed in units of at least one full week, with extra days in a final partial week prorated at one-fifth of the weekly rate. So a weekly performer who works a week and two days on the MPA costs $1,560 + (2 x $1,560 / 5) = $1,560 + $624 = $2,184.
Crew weekly rates
Crew weekly deals should name the days and the guaranteed hours: "$2,400/week, 5 days x 10 hours." Divide the same way as a day rate to find the hourly base, and pay any sixth day and hours past the guarantee as extra. Budgets for department heads typically carry separate prep, shoot, and wrap weeks at the same weekly rate, and partial weeks at one-fifth per day.
Weekly contract traps
Booking a weekly performer when the schedule changes and they only work two days that week (you still owe the week), putting an actor on weekly and then dropping them for a gap long enough to trigger consecutive employment rules, and budgeting crew weekly rates without guaranteed hours. A DOOD generator helps spot the four-day weeks before contracts go out.