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What’s the fastest way to get into SAG-AFTRA?
Answer: Getting into the Screen Actor’s Guild used to involve working hard as an extra, and eventually acquiring 3 vouchers from stingy ADs. Now, getting into SAG-AFTRA is as simple as … (continued in David’s answer below)
You deserve a medal of honor, friend. Even when people tried to argue your validity you remained pleasant. Great job, hope I get to work with you one day, or at least people like you!! -SM New York
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LikeDislikeHello David, thanks so much for the info!
Just clarifying as things can change as time passes…
I am looking to TH myself and several other non-union actors via a short film (that will hopefully also be used as a teaser for an upcoming project). Is it possible to set it up as ‘no budget’ or am I looking at $100/person/day +travel, per diem, etc fees? Also, does it make a difference if it is a short film, web series, teaser, etc? Cheers!
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LikeDislikeIt has to be made for the Internet under the New Media contract, and you can defer all payments to actors. I’m pretty sure they frown on zero budget, since almost everyone has out of pocket and some rental or crew expenses.
Hope this helps.
David
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LikeDislikeI just had to say thank you for taking the time to create this and keep up with it! I have thought alot about doing this and am now going to take action! My husband came home from some “acting school” in Burbank where he is going to pay $250 a month for classes and in two months they are going to put him in a TV Show pilot (probably a Webseries) so he can be SAG-E. He has no experience, credits anything! I toyed with the idea of joining this school but after reading this I just thought, I will do this myself!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
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LikeDislikeIt makes me angry to hear about this. Please contact me offline (or here) – I want to know the name of the “school” in Burbank. Glad this helped.
David
Hey David!
So I already got approved for my New Media Project. About to film and turn in all the performance contracts and TH forms. If we don’t have to pay our SAG actor, what is the standard requirement or recommendation for Deferred payment and what triggers it? Right now my contracts say they are getting paid $0 because everyone is doing it for free. But I am afriad of that not being acceptable as a SAG production. Just want to file my paperwork correctly without any set backs. Thanks!
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LikeDislikeHello David, thank you for all the great information. My question is somewhat straight forward:
I was a lead actor and editor of a pilot web series called The Horizon, while living abroad in Australia in 2009. This has received over 5 million hits on YouTube and is now in its third season – even premiering at a film festival in Los Angeles this year. My involvement ended after the pilot, however I wonder if there is a possibility of acquiring a SAG recognition at this point in time. I live in NYC and am still actively working in post so if all else fails I suppose I could create my own webisode. I am wondering if this project even qualifies as it was produced overseas?
Thank you,
Sammy Rodriguez
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LikeDislikeI’d have to say it’s not really likely. It was already produced, not under a SAG AFTRA contract, and it used non-SAG AFTRA actors – the union doesn’t really do retroactive contracting. Start with the next one!
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LikeDislikeHi David,
First off, thank you so much for all the invaluable information on here. I read your article and all of the comments, and I think I already have the answer to my question. But since things change and our situation is somewhat unique, I still want to make sure.
I’m co-producing and starring in a short film that is currently under pre-production. The film has already been accepted into a major film festival and we’re planning on shooting the feature within a year (just like we did with our previous film, which was picked up by a major Hollywood producer). As of right now, this is a non-union student film, but I would like to apply to make this into a ULB SAG production for a couple of reasons:
1. We want to hire a well-established SAG actor as the male lead. As far as I understand we could hire this actor without him running into problems with SAG since student films are waived, correct? But either way, I would like this to be a SAG production and pay the lead his SAG wages. I want it to be legit.
2. I want to TH myself and possibly another cast member. But from what I’ve read here, this might not be possible with this being an ULB student film, correct? My question is, is there any way to get around this and TH non-union actors, considering that this is not just any student film?
Many thanks!
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LikeDislikeWhether it’s a student film or not, you should consider using the SAG-AFTRA New Media Contract – you can produce under that contract, which contemplates success and the eventual use in other venues, like festivals, and so on, by upgrading the production later with SAG-AFTRA. You can pay your lead (there’s no rule against that) and you can TH yourself as well as anyone else who wants it.
Hope this helps!
David
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LikeDislikeI am looking at the same method for myself. But I’m looking to direct my short film. Do I have to act in it as well to TH myself?
Hi David,
So, if I cerated a ULB webseries under SAG new media contract, Can I TH myself and join? or can I create a 1 person series, and TH myself and join?
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LikeDislikeBryan – I rewrote the end of the article just for you. :-) No, you can’t.
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LikeDislikeDavid, your site here is phenomenal. I’ve actually booked marked it, but here are my questions.
I have been told that once you are SAGe you can only work on 3 SAG projects before you have to join the union. Is this true?
Also, we are moving forward with our TH Web Short and one of the actors is already SAGe. Would working on our project cause them to have to join SAG? We would love their help, but wouldn’t want them to have to join when they aren’t in a position to do so.
Thank You!
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LikeDislikeThis is a question for your SAG-AFTRA local to answer – I’m pretty sure that no, you aren’t made to join if you’re working on a New Media project, and that you have to actually have a SAG-AFTRA member in the cast for the project to be approved, but check with the SAG-AFTRA folks to be sure.
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LikeDislikeIf we have a union actor do we have to use them as a reoccuring character throughout the series or can we feature them in one episode but still make the series SAG?
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LikeDislikeHi David, first of all thanks for your time.
I am producing a tv cooking show under the New Media contract and my actor is SAGe and not SAG just yet.
Do you think that could be “enough” for me to get THd?
Laura
Hey David, I’m trying to decide what is the best contract option for me. My wife and I wrote a short film which we want to submit into festivals. It is extremely low budget. We are probably looking at around 3500, and that’s just for food and travel. The actors are all friends of mine but they are all SAG except for my wife. She is non-union. Everyone just wants to do the project and not get paid, which is great but we don’t really have the money for that. My question is this. Should we do New Media or Short Film contracts. Can you submit films shot under New Media to Film festivals. Also I would need to taft hartley my wife. And the last question, Are we allowed to shoot on weekends under either of these contracts, we all have regular jobs and that would be the only time we would have to shoot?
Thanks
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LikeDislikeHi,
I’m extremely confused. I’m nonunion and worked on a SAG new media project recently as background. They said they would submit a Taft-Hartley. I asked the production representative in advance if this this would make me eligible for SAG; she said yes. She reiterated this to me and several other background folks before and during the shoot.
I emailed SAG the next day and asked about this. I never got a response.
We then called SAG yesterday. (The SAG site isn’t real good about using clear language and explaining the differences between Taft-Hartley forms and union background vouchers, and the significance and uses of both.) SAG said that background vouchers are no longer used — well then, why is the language on the site? — and that that a background Taft-Hartley on a new media project only counts as the equivalent of one old union voucher. And thus, we would still need two more days of Taft-Hartley extra work to qualify.
Other folks I’ve spoken with also thought that a Taft-Hartley form on a new media project — whether for principal work or for background — made one SAG-Eligible.
Any thoughts on this? We’re all very upset by this.
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LikeDislikeHello David,
My son’s first acting job is that of a principal performer in a SAG movie filming now. The IMDB page for the movie lists all of the cast except for him and another local newcomer who also has a substantial role, which makes me think you have to be a SAG member to be credited in the film… am I right?
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LikeDislikeAs someone who has been in SAG for over 21 years, and as a producer/writer/director as well, I caution anyone who wants a career as a well paid (union) actor to find the fastest way into the union, even if this way is now possible. Why? Because you’d be competing with 160,000 others, at least 120,000 of whom have had years to hone their craft. If you just want that SAG-AFTRA card to hang on the wall and want to part with $3k + to join, go for it. But I’d only do so if I weren’t a union member if I had significant credits, or significant training, a good reel and the intention to make this a way of life. Best of luck to everyone going for this. But keep this in mind: If you do it for the money (joining SAG/AFTRA) you might be in for a big shock. Only about 1/10th of 1% make a really good living. Most of the membership is lucky if they even make $10k a year. Sure you can luck out and book a “National” Commercial on your first try, but it might be a ‘one-off’. Or you might be the new girl/guy in a popular show. It CAN happen, but the numbers are not in your favor. If after reading this, you still think is for you, by all means go for it if you’re doing it for the ‘craft’, and to get paid under a union contract and wages and working conditions when you book (always a good thing). But don’t do it, just to join.
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