How to Join - The Unions.

[Hank]

In order to be cast in most of the bigger projects on the market, you need to be part of one of the performer's unions. Here's all the info you need on the three biggest performers unions in the country- the Screen Actors Guild, the Association of Film, TV and Radio, and Actors Equity Association.

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SAG

The Screen Actors Guild was founded in 1933 to protect
performers mainly concerned with wages and working
conditions.
SAG negotiates and enforces contracts for 120,000
professional performers working in film, television,
commercials.
There's a one time $1440 startup fee and dues are $50
twice per year in May and November

One becomes eligible for Screen Actors Guild
membership under two conditions: proof of SAG
employment or employment under an affiliated
performers' union.

1. Proof of Employment
A. Main Performer
Performer must be in a principal or speaking role in a
SAG film, television program or commercial. Proof of a
signed contract, or check stub, or on company
letterhead.
The document proving employment must have:
- applicant's name
- applicant's Social Security number
- name of the production or name of the commercial
(product name)
- the salary paid (in dollar amount)
- the specific date(s) worked.

B. Background Players
may join SAG upon proof of employment as a
SAG-covered back-ground player at full SAG rates and
conditions for a MINIMUM of three work days.
Employment must be by a company signed to a SAG
Background Players Agreement, and in a SAG film,
television program or commercial..

AFTRA

The American Federation of Television and Radio
Artists (AFTRA) is a national labor union representing
nearly 80,000 performers, journalists and other
artists working in the entertainment and news media.
-AFTRA's scope of representation covers news, sports,
weather, drama, comedy, soaps, radio, news, and
commercials.
- sound recordings such as CDs, singles, Broadway cast
albums and audio books

New members must complete an application and pay a
one-time initiation fee and dues for the current dues
period. The initiation fee is $1,300 dollars

After joining, a member's dues are based on his or her
earnings during the previous year.
Members who earned less than $2,000 annually pay only
the minimum amount of $63.90
Dues are paid twice a year on May 1st and November 1st

EQUITY

Actors' Equity Association is the labor union
representing over 45,000 American actors and stage
managers working in the professional theatre.
Equity is a branch of the Associated Actors and
Artistes of America
For 90 years, Equity has negotiated minimum wages,
working conditions, and administered contracts for
theatrical employers across the country.
The initiation fee is $1100 and basic dues are $118
per year, billed twice per year at $59.00 in May and November

[peanutty7]

I heard you can work on SAG union productions three times as an extra without having to join the union - is this true? What happens after th third job? Do you have to be sponsored or something like that? - Thx - P7