Forum/Pay Talk
Pay Talk·Would You Take This?·@quietsetlife·10d ago

$1,500/day commercial but perpetual worldwide digital rights

Just got offered a non-union national commercial. Here's the deal: - $1,500/day (1 day shoot) - Usage: perpetual, worldwide, all digital media - No residuals - Buyout is the $1,500 — that's it forever The brand is a mid-size tech company. Not embarrassing, not prestigious. The spot will run on YouTube, social, and connected TV. My concern: "perpetual worldwide digital" means this ad could run for 10 years. They could use my face in AI-generated variations. They could put it on billboards in countries I'll never visit. For union scale with residuals, this kind of usage would pay $15K-$30K over its lifetime. They're offering me 1/10th of that. But $1,500 for one day of work is still $1,500. And if I say no, 50 other non-union actors will say yes. What's the play here?

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@nycgrind2479d ago

I was in almost this exact situation last year (see my gig log). $1,100/day, 2-year national buyout. It still bothers me seeing my face on transit ads knowing I can't negotiate more. At LEAST try to limit it to 1-2 years. Perpetual is forever.

@contractexplainer8d ago

The AI/likeness angle is the one people miss. 'All digital media' in 2026 includes generative AI. They could technically create new ads with your face without bringing you back to set. Make sure the contract has an AI exclusion or at minimum defines what 'digital media' means specifically.

@bookedorbroke7d ago

$1,500 is real money. But perpetual worldwide is also real scope. I'd counter at $2,500 or ask to cap it at 3 years. They'll probably come back at $1,800 or 2 years. Meet in the middle.