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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)
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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 creating your own web series and using the Taft-Hartley Act to get you (and your SAG-AFTRA-interested non-union castmates) into the union. Here’s how to do it.
It’s super official legal name is The Labor–Management Relations Act, 80 Pub.L. 101; 61 Stat. 136, but most people are familiar with it’s commonly used shorter label, the Taft-Hartley Act. It was created by Senator Robert Taft and Representative Fred A. Hartley, Jr. and although President Harry S. Truman vetoed the legislation, that veto was overridden. It’s actually been around since it was finally passed on June 23, 1947.
The Taft-Hartley Act applies to all unions, not just SAG-AFTRA. The way it affects other unions and the companies their members work for varies, but the most common way it affects us as potential SAG-AFTRA members is that Taft-Hartley prevented the practice of what are called closed shops – situations where employers were forced to hire only union members.
You can see the never ending cycle that would develop: how do you get in the union, if the only way to get into the union was to get cast in a union show, only to discover that that show could only hire union workers. The Taft-Hartley Act breaks this cycle, requiring unions to allow workers to join the union to be able to work union jobs, at the pleasure of the company hiring the workers. The union has the right to require certain standards to join the union – one of which has been working a number of productions as an extra with the potential to be upgraded to featured performer and acquiring a voucher. 3 vouchers, and you’re in.
The voucher program has been used effectively by some of the biggest stars in our industry to advance to union status: Brad Pitt and Bruce Willis are two well-known examples. Pick up a copy of the fantastic legal thriller The Verdict, starring Paul Newman, and see if you’re not taken aback by some of the court scenes when you notice Willis sitting in the gallery.
But the voucher program is difficult to navigate, it’s at the whim of the production company as to who gets the vouchers, if any, and in many cases, the life of an extra can be debilitating. Other ways of getting into the union are simply via a casting and production office using Taft-Hartley to tell SAG-AFTRA that they’re hiring you by sending a letter explaining why. It used to be that Taft-Hartley was only possible if the casting person exhausted their search of available union talent before requesting permission from SAG to document the use of non-union talent on a union shoot. That non-union talent was then placed on “must join” status. It was a big deal for that to be granted, and for casting directors who abused the practice, there was the potential for a fine levied against the production company.
Those days are long gone, and a new path has emerged.
Without a doubt, using a web series you’ve written for yourself, and produce as a SAG-AFTRA New Media project, is the most direct path. While you’re at it, you can write in parts for your union-hungry fellow actors, and Taft-Hartley them in as well.
Why?
Because of one simple thing: money. Follow this carefully: over the last couple of years of SAG and AFTRA’s separate existence, prior to the merger that created SAG-AFTRA, as the former leadership of SAG insisted on an ill-advised refusal to bargain on the TV Theatrical contract, mostly over new media issues (irony, anyone?), a frustrated AFTRA broke away from the Phase 1 talks, bargained separately, came to an agreement almost immediately and took the lion’s share of 2009-11’s pilots that went to network air. Oddly enough, the same thing happened this year, despite a SAG contract being in place. Sadly, it was clear that the producers would rather play with AFTRA than SAG.
The unintended side consequence to this dramatic shift in contract concentration meant a huge shortfall in dues and producer contributions to SAG, while AFTRA was enjoying an enrichment they’d never seen. That shortfall at SAG caused them to relax certain rules, and Taft-Hartley restrictions are amongst those relaxations.
So – if you want to get into SAG-AFTRA real bad, do this:
That’s it. And, there’s no charge. Enjoy.
What’s your answer to this acting question? Let me know in the comments below.
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LikeDislikeDoes it have to be a web series? Can it be an independent film distributed on the web?
Or, as a loophole to this, would it count if I released my film in episodic format?
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LikeDislikeI went to my first background work in a web series. A famous actor was in it. They passed Taft Hartley forms to sign. One of the extras said it was my lucky day because what I signed counted as three to get into Sag within three months. Will I get something in the mail. I received nothing right then. I only filled out two forms. Why does this count as three and what should I do next? Please someone
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LikeDislikeyou can type your name at sag website or call them to see if your eligible, and it counts has 3 if you worked more then 3 days on the project. So ya you lucked out.
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LikeDislikeSame question here. Have you received a notice?
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LikeDislikeHi, I have guest starred on a few big network Talk shows. I was wondering if theres any way to get sag papers from this. For instance yesterday I guest starred on this new CBS show where I had improvised lines and conversed back and forth with the “celebrity talent”. After the shoot I asked the director and PA if it was possible to get a sag waiver/papers. They kind of didnt know what to do, they both tried to send me to someone else until no one was able to answer my question. I heard that if you are in a legitimate show/film and speak that you should become sag eligible. Am I wrong? Is there anything I can do about this?
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LikeDislikeThis is great info. Thanks so much David!
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LikeDislikeI’ve read about this “loophole” once or twice before, but wrote it off as “too good to be true.”
However, I am starting to realize the actual opportunity here. Especially being a college theatre major! I have tons of incredibly talented friends who, like myself, need to get eligible for SAG to stop running into the bevy of brick walls non-union talent faces in this town.
I think I may give some serious consideration into doing this soon!
Thanks David!
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LikeDislikeHi David,
This is an interesting approach to get SAGe. Some of my own friends wanted to try it but were hesitant after they read “XFASTLANE’s” forum post on the matter: http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9131061/m/716102482
What do you think about his post?
Thanks,
Andy
So many things about xfastlatex’s post don’t ring true and are second hand – having watched the crew of Leaving Bliss do exactly this, and helping several other actors do the same thing, and knowing what a horrid state of affairs SAG’s finances are in, I don’t believe he got the facts right. There is no requirement whatsoever to produce paystubs or documentation of any kind for Taft-Hartley – and there’s no document to fill out that requires any sort of network sign off. I’m sorry that that post has given you pause. It shouldn’t.
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LikeDislikeI think getting your SAG card is one of the most common mistakes new rookie actors worry about. What is the rush? If I was just starting out as an actor in 2010, I would be more concerned out booking work, building my reel, honing my skills, and then finally getting my SAG card, not the other way around.
Doing a half-assed web production just so you can scam your way into the guild doesn’t do your career, the web video community, or the union a service.
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LikeDislikeWell for one, I’m not a “new rookie actor”. However, I have been cheated enough times by the powers that be on big productions to not have my status yet. Somehow living in a Right to Work state somehow allows loopholes or cracks in the system to screw actors local to the production and believe me, productions look for anyway they can to save a buck on their end. Finally, your assumption regarding a web production as “Half-assed” tells me that you have forgotten your humble beginnings. Young filmmakers are at their core passionate about our craft and “scam” is not a factor. Your arrogance tells me if anything here is a “ass” it is you!
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LikeDislikeYou can book all the work you want. Are you getting paid properly for it should be a concern. Your straw-man about it being a half-assed production doesn’t truly do the producing community justice either.
Things are being shot everyday by professionals, simply because they like to work and eat. Your job as an actor is to nail the audition. Part of the excellent answer that you were given was that there has to be at least one SAG-AFTRA actor already in the production. Why not BE THAT ONE GUY?
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LikeDislikeCouldn’t agree more! I couldn’t care less about getting my “card”; I want to get to the point where a casting director comes to me and asks, “Where have you been?” like they did with Mark Ruffalo after 300 auditions! His answer: “Right here under your nose!”! The journey for me, is exciting! The card will be an added bonus!
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LikeDislikeDavid – you said “And, there’s no charge”. For clarity do you mean there’s no charge for that process, filling in and submitting the form? Isn’t there still a couple thousand dollars fee to join SAG?
There are plenty of talented folks out there wanting to produce quality projects. I think this would be great for people with that mindset. Trying to get SAG waivers seems to be like a popularity contest or who are the beautiful people.
Thanks – Kevin F.
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LikeDislikeThat fee, your initiation, is due no matter how you get in with vouchers, working a SAG project, sidegrading from AFTRA, or via Taft-Hartley. What I meant is that there is no fee to Taft-Hartley an actor.
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LikeDislikeDavid – Thank you for the great information. I just discovered your site and I think it is Fantastic!
Thanks again,
Kevin
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LikeDislikeThank you for the informative information!
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LikeDislikeThank you for this article.
I recently gained my SAG eligibility through the New Media contract, and in my opinion, it was well worth the work and time. Some say that it’s too good to be true, but it really is. Many actors have to suffer through the crap shoot of gaining 3 vouchers doing extra work, but with the New Media contract, if you are producing your own work, you are gaining the knowledge that SAG wants you to have. As an extra, there is only so much you can learn about a union set – if you are involved in the production side of your webisode, you learn what it means to operate under union standards – a far better advantage. I was involved in every step of the process, giving me a better appreciation for what was developing – not just lucking out with a voucher because I was in the right place, at the right time.
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LikeDislikeHey David, great site!
Quick question for you regarding this topic:
Once your web series has become SAG signatory and you have filed the documents required to Taft-Hartley yourself, does that technically make you SAG-E? I guess what I’m asking is do you need to immediately pay your initiation fee to become full-fledged SAG, or can you hold off on writing that check, and just float along enjoying the benefits of SAG-E status until you book your next SAG job, at which point you must pay initiation? Thanks for any clarification you can give!
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LikeDislikeYes, you are SAG-E, just as you would be when you qualify for Guild membership any other way. You can join whenever you want to, or have to, should you get another SAG job.
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LikeDislikeThe only thing that I have ever read on the subject was that post on the backstage.com message board.
I was recently approched by a producer whom I have never worked with. He is producing a no-budget webisode pilot under a SAG contract and offered me the Taft-Hartley paperwork. I am worried that this will “Red Flag” me and prevent me from being able to join the union in the future.
From what your post here says, this is legit. He seriously has NO budget, he’s paying me $40 for one days work, but he has all of the SAG signatory paperwork done. There are no SAG actors on this project, just me and one other guy who is not union and, from what I understand, the other actor is not being Taft-Hartleyed…
Do you feel that my fears and concerns are valid, or do you think that the Taft-Hartley paperwork will go through without an issue?
Thanks so much for your thoughts!
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LikeDislikeIf your paperwork, and his paperwork, are both filled out correctly, then you should be just fine. There’s no red-flagging of anyone who joins the Guild this way. And he’s paying you to work in a webisode? Not deferred? That’s more than I made, or any other cast member made, in most of the webseries I’ve been in. Congrats!
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LikeDislikeDavid, i agree with everything, but I know of some people who haven’t been able to do this. That they’d be fined for hiring non union actors. Please explain?
Jr.
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LikeDislikeFined by whom? Not SAG. The New Media contract doesn’t require that all cast be union. Those people WERE able to do it, they just didn’t do it because they assumed something that wasn’t true.
Well guys, we’ve all had a lot of questions (Thanks David!), what do you say we do something about it? I’m a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts with credits in film, theatre and commercials (all legit and sadly non-union). I’d love to go ahead and develop a webisode and have already contacted some fellow actors.If you’re a writer/actor/producer and have the slightest interest in becoming a part of the project, you can contact me at mattgot@yahoo.com.
P.S- nothing has been set yet. we won’t be able to shoot tomorrow or even next week. But we are very dedicated and motivated to make it work.
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LikeDislikeGood luck, Matt! Break a leg!
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LikeDislikeHey Matt, read your post above. I am an actor. I have been doing background work; few with speaking roles on TV shows and movies portraying NYPD or Detective….seem to have that look they say. Would like the opportunity to audition for your web series. I’ll email you as well.
Vincent A.Valerio
Vinrock2016@gmail.com
http://www.castingnetworks.com/vinrock2016
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LikeDislikeFantastic blog post! I will be directing actors to this post in the future when I get asked this question.
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LikeDislikeThank you for this helpful site! I have heard there is a limit to how many people you can Taft-Hartley in for your project. Someone told me you can only do 1 or 2 a day. We have a cast of three so far. Do you know if we can Taft-Hartley everyone? Do we have to hire some SAG people too? Thanks again for all the info!!
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LikeDislikeI am not aware of any daily limit – that sounds incorrect. And no, you don’t have to hire SAG actors as a requirement to T-H the rest of your cast, but you’re welcome to do so.
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LikeDislikeThanks for all the great info! Here’s a post I did on how to go about filling out the New Media forms, etc.: http://playbillsvspayingbills.com/2010/03/01/sag-whats-the-deal-and-how-to-actually-join-no-really/
And I really hope people stop calling this a “loophole.” You are producing legitimate content through SAG. How is that a loophole?
Thanks again for all the great info!!!
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LikeDislikeAnd here is the scene from: The Verdict, starring Paul Newman
“..and see if you’re not taken aback by some of the court scenes when you notice Bruce Willis sitting in the gallery.”
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LikeDislikeHey David. I am already in the Union and have many Union friends to call on to work for free if I produce my own series. I have one friend who is NON-UNION and would be the principal peformer in the project. Honestly my goal is to help the non-union friend gain membership eligability. Can I just do one 15 minute video and post it somwhere and qualify? It wouldnt be crap, it would be good footage…..and any recommendtaions of where I could post it for legitimacy? Sorry uneducated about this. Just a dumb actor trying to help a friend. :)
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LikeDislikeYour script will be vetted by SAG before papers are issued, and anything of obvious non- or low-quality will be tagged as such. But a sincere effort is exactly what this is all about. And you don’t have to surround your lead with union talent, if there are others you want to Taft Hartley.
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LikeDislikePost Script…. I would surround the principal with only Union talent.
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LikeDislikeIf a non-union actor was contracted for a speaking role in a SAG New Media Project (that was a paid role and was a Short Film which used SAG member actors as well as other non-union actors), can the non-union actor get SAG eligibility under Taft-Hartley OR does it only apply for web series and not short films? And, if the non-union actor can get SAG eligiblity from this short, how does he go about making that happen?)
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LikeDislikeYour project was produced under EITHER the New Media contract or the Short Film contract. The fact that it’s a short film is fine. You can be Taft Hartley’d under either contract, and that is up to the producer to do for you. Talk with them and they can file the paperwork with SAG.
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LikeDislikeHello David,
First I would like to say THANK YOU for the info you have posted on your website. My sister who is interested in producing wants to do a webisode and hire both SAG and non-union actors. I woould be directing the espsoides, but I was wondering:
1. Does production have to pay the union dues of the people they TH?
2. Don’t you have to join SAG immediately after being TH? Like in 30 days? Or can you just be SAG-E and join whenever you have the money and still do union jobs that pay more?
Thanks again!
T
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LikeDislikeNo, the actors pay their own initiation and dues – it costs producers nothing to TH. And no, the actor doesn’t have to join immediately – they have to join if they are cast in another SAG production. They are SAG-E in the meantime. Hope that helps.
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LikeDislikeHey David, actually you cannot Taft-Hartley anyone under the Short Film Contract. Neither can you Taft-Hartley anyone under the SAG Ultra-Low Budget Contract. Those contracts DO allow for the hiring of SAG and non-union talent, but just DO NOT allow for Taft-Hartley’ing the non-union talent. The only “low budget” type contract that SAG has that allows for Taft-Hartley’ing non-union talent is the SAG New Media contract.
Just wanted to clear that up in case someone was reading the post above and decided to produce a short film in order to Taft-Hartley themselves or someone else.
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LikeDislikeJust called and talk to the Contracts department to confirm that you actually can TH under both the Short Film and ULB contracts. This has been in effect for, oh, about as long as AFTRA has had the preponderance of prime-time TV shows, and I TH’d an actor when I shot my short film under the Short contract. This may change in the future (as might the New Media option), but for now, that’s the case.
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LikeDislikeI’ve been working on finding all the definitive answers to these questions for the past few months. It’s no wonder there’s so much confusion. Sometimes the same question asked by calling different departments (or even different people in the same department) will get you different answers. I’m trying to find what’s written in stone (or at least in contract) whenever possible.
A case in point: Here’s a quote from the Ultra Low budget agreement. Section 5. Performers Covered:
“nor shall the Union Security provision of the Basic Agreement be applicable to the employment of non-professionals or qualify a non-professional for membership in the Guild.”
The New Media Agreement is the ONLY contract that SPECIFICALLY includes the Basic Agreement’s Section 2 (“Union Security,” the bit that says SAG must allow you into the union if you’ve been hired by a Signatory producer) and EXCLUDES Section 14 (Preference Of Employment, the bit that says producers must give preference to hiring professional actors or be fined).
Might it work with the other contracts? Maybe? Probably?
In the New Media Agreement it’s there in black and white.
So in that respect I have to agree with Ben. It’s not a Loophole.
I prefer to call it a:
“Super Secret Black-Ops Ninja Get Your SAG Card Now New Media Window Of Opportunityâ„¢”
Dave
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LikeDislikeHi,
I’m going to be producing a web series. Some of my actors are union and a lot are non-union. We want to Taft-Hartley the non-union actors. A filmmaker I know told me that the window of opportunity to do this with the new media contract is ending soon, probably in May. After that, you won’t be able to TH anyone through the new media contract unless SAG extends it. Has anyone else heard anything about this?
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LikeDislikeAs the national committee chairman of SAG’s New Tech Committee, I’d love it if filmmakers like your friend would check his facts before making statements like that. There are no plans to change this policy. The policy is a casual one, not something that has a sunset clause or is “extendable.” It simply reflects the current state of affairs. There’s no deadline. Ask your filmmaker friend to get in touch with me if he has any questions. I’d like to set him straight to this misinformation is nipped in the bud. I hope this is clear.
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LikeDislikeIf you are a must-join, can you still work on SAG New Media projects and or ULB projects without having to join the union?
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LikeDislikeHi David,
I am so confused! I thought in order to qualify to join SAG, all you had to do was have a principal role in a SAG project. I did a SAG short film, and then I did a SAG student film recently. And I’m still not qualified to join. Please help!
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LikeDislikeThere are certain contracts that do not currently allow the producer to Taft Hartley you – and student films are actually covered under a waiver, not a contract. You don’t sign any paperwork for a student film (unless they happen to be doing it under a short or internet contract), because usually, film schools have been granted waivers, not signatory status. Hope that makes sense.
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LikeDislikeThanks, David. One more question. I’m in no rush to join SAG because honestly I don’t have enough credits yet…but the short film that I did, it was also SAG and I had to fill out my address and social and such. I’d never had to do that before. does that mean it was under a contract?
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LikeDislikeYou did say it was SAG, so that leads me to think that it was under a contract. Did you sign in and out each day? If so, then yes. It might have been under a waiver, but that’s rare for a short film, unless a film school production (they are, technically, short films).
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LikeDislikeIf you work a SAG new media contract and the producer submits the info. If you still havent heard about being officially Eligible, how does the actor go about making that happen quickly? Because when you work a paid gig, you get a stub eventually that you can take to them. In this sag new media project, there was no pay.
Advice?
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LikeDislikeHi David
I’ve been having trouble getting a straight answer on this, do you have to have at least one SAG actor in your New Media Project for non union actors to recive Taft Hartley?
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LikeDislikeNo, you don’t. You have to be a producer with a SAG contract. No union actor requirements.
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LikeDislikeDo you have to have a Sag actor attached to the project to get a signatory and/or sag contract?
Several other blogs state you need one Sag actor when submitting for your signatory contract and for non union to recieve TH.
1. http://www.toactors.com/welcometola/2010/11/19/the-loop-hole/
“While the production does not need a “covered performer,†it does need at least ONE SAG MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING. Basically, you need someone who is paid up and hasn’t gotten in trouble for doing non-union work, etc.”
2. http://blogs.essence.com/im_an_actor_they_dont_get_it/2010/09/the-truth-behind-sags-new-media-contract.php
“There is no minimum amount of money that needs to be spent on the production or paying the actors. The only requirement is the involvement of 1 SAG actor. SAG actors are a dime a dozen in LA!”
3. (comments) http://blog.christacannon.com/index.php/2010/05/sag-new-media-the-new-but-not-necessarily-final-frontier/
To become SAG signatory, you DO have to have at least one SAG actor attached to the project–the T-H forms have nothing to do with this part.
Are these incorrect?
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LikeDislikeYou do have to Station 12 any SAG actors you DO have in the cast, but there is nothing in the paperwork that asks you to identify any that you MUST have. Certainly as a policy, SAG would love for you to use as many SAG actors as you can, but although I’ve heard and seen a million sites and actors repeat that same “requirement”, I’ve not seen that as a signatory rule.
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LikeDislikeI am more confused than ever! I called SAG reps a month ago and was told that I had to have at least one SAG actor that is paid $100 per day for my SAG Media project AND that all non-union actors in the project MUST get their SAG card within 30 days!
So for FINAL clarification (I hope) do you:
a) have to have a SAG actor and b) MUST you get the SAG card in 30 days, or c) you become SAGe and can wait until the next SAG project?
Thanks!
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LikeDislikeThis is a moving target, and I have new information. The requirement to have at least one SAG actor is not a written policy, but is a “strong suggestion” according to my staff liaison at SAG – so there is no hard and fast rule (prima facie evidence is all of the web series that began with no SAG actors and ended with the entire cast being Taft Hartley’d. It’s happened, so it can happen), but SAG is now requesting that there be at least one SAG actor in your project. There is absolutely no requirement that you actually pay anyone immediately, so that phrasing of “…that is paid $100 per day…” should actually include the words “(can be deferred)” in the sentence. And no, there is no demand that you get the SAG card within 30 days, as you would not have control over what your actors do. They certainly can join within 30 days, or remain must-join.
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LikeDislikeHi David,
First off thanks for the info – I also enjoyed your appearance on Albert and Trevor’s “Inside Acting”
So I had a small part in a friend’s webseries, the producer sent out the taft-hartleys – I called the SAG office and they said it takes about 2 months to process. When will I know that I am SAGe? I would like to do an aggressive agent-hunt the second I know, since most agencies I’ve seen will not represent non-union.
Thanks,
Matt Harbert
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LikeDislikeI’d start my search now, and tell your prospective representatives exactly what you told me here. If they’re interested, they’ll take that into consideration.
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LikeDislikeHi David, I have submitted my application to SAG New Media and am waiting for the business rep to call me. At first, they returned my application because they said I needed a SAG member to be in the project. So, I added to the scene and am using a SAG member in the webisode. I re-submitted and just realized that I said that I wouldn’t be doing more than one episode. Will this be an issue when I apply for the two actors (one being myself) to be Taft-Hartleyed?
Gil
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LikeDislikeAS long as that’s the truth, I wouldn’t think that would be a problem.
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LikeDislikeI guess what I was getting at is I only planned on doing one episode. Do I need to do multiple episodes to qualify?
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LikeDislikeThere is no requirement to do multiple episodes that I’m aware of.
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LikeDislikeThanks, David!
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LikeDislikeDavid, I want to thank you for all of your help. My project just got approved for a SAG New Media Contract. I asked about getting myself and another cast member Taft-Hartleyed and they said they would send the paperwork out to me. I had to email a couple of items, but I did everything else on the online site (https://osa.sag.org/). This is truly a great opportunity for actors wanting to become SAG-E. My other non-union actor is ecstatic. Thanks again!
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LikeDislikeYou’re welcome!
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LikeDislikeI have to say, when I first heard this I didn’t believe it. But in 2010 I did exactly this. Not for myself, but for my cast. I “Taft-Hartleyed” 4 people which consisted of my ex girlfriend and a few of my friends. The web series turned into something huge. And the rest they say, is history. But anyway, I don’t see it existing for much longer.
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LikeDislikeIt can also work for something as simple as shooting scenes for your reel. I called SAG, they wanted me to file a New Media agreement and although Taft-Hartley isn’t required it is optional for non-union members :)
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LikeDislikeWas your paperwork filed before or after the merger? Just wondering.
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LikeDislikehey dave,
I’m currently going through the process of filling out all the paperwork. The friend I’m producing this with has access to about 65k worth of gear we can use without any cost to us. Should this number be reflected in the budget breakdown or would it be better to not mention something we aren’t paying for?
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LikeDislikeIt’s David, thanks! :-)
And the value of the equipment doesn’t matter and shouldn’t be in your budget. You don’t have to put anything down for that if you’re getting it for free.
Have fun!
David
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LikeDislikeThanks, David. Apologies for that.
Your info has been very helpful. Thank you once again for having taken the time to respond to me.
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LikeDislikeWhen filling out the Taft-Hartly form for someone who wants to join SAG, what is best to put for “reason for hire?” Is there anything you could put check that the union would reject? Call me paranoid but ” First employment of a person who has training/experience as a professional performer and intends to pursue a career as a motion picture performers” feels like a trap…
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LikeDislikeIs this how you go through life? I’m not sure why you think the union is out to trap you, but you might consider relaxing a bit. What would be the possible outcome of some sort of “trap”? SAG-AFTRA wants as many people covered as possible, so that the conversation with producers is union vs. non-union. I think you should just make sure you’re filling the form out truthfully, and not overthink it. That’s just me.
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LikeDislikeHi David,
Thanks for all this info. I am currently in pre-production on my webseries, and want to hire a mix of SAG and non-union actors. I was wondering, will all the non-union actors be REQUIRED to be Taft-Hartley’d? Or do they have the option. I know some non-union actors aren’t ready to join yet, so I didn’t want them to feel pressured if they do indeed have the option.
Thanks!
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LikeDislikeNo, no one is required to join the union, nor to be Taft-Hartleyed. It is their option.
David
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LikeDislikeHow long after getting taft-hartly’d does it take for you to become eligible for sag? I was cast in a new media project that filmed on 11/20 and the director said he submitted my taft-hartly shortly after, yet I am still “not eligible” on the sag website. Does it usually take more than a month? or do you think the director screwed up my form?
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LikeDislikeI wouldn’t simply check the SAG-AFTRA website for information like that. I’d call the office and ask about your status.
David
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LikeDislikeHey, David, thanks so much for the information and for consistently following up on other folks enquiries on this post. (I also enjoyed your various vocal posts on Bonnie Gillespie’s old Yahoo! group)
I am in the process of writing and planning a budget for a webseries that I anticipate will utilize both Union and non-Union performers and I fully intend to file the SAG-AFTRA New Media Agreement. I know at least a couple of my actors would like to be Taft Hartley’d, and I would love to help them out, but I have also been told by a producer of some works in the past that there were (at the time he did his series) fines to the production company for the Taft Hartley-ing. It seems from what you have written here that that is not currently the case, but since it has been some months since your initial response, I just wanted to make sure that there are still no fines. Or, if there are, how much are they, as I will make sure I budget in some additional monies.
Thanks so much for your help and knowledge!
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LikeDislikeI can’t conceive of them fining a web series – fines were the old way of reminding the networks not to abuse the system. But in the case of web series, SAG-AFTRA even asks you if you have anyone you’d like to T-H. I wouldn’t worry.
David
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LikeDislikeThere are some production companies that say they will do everything for you. But it will cost about 1200 bucks for them to do it for you instead of you doing it on your own. They say it does take a couple of months to become eligible (which seems right) But what are your thoughts on this? This seems to be the norm among production companies and i have been referred by agencies to do this as well. Is this something legit? Cause i know there are hungry wolves out there.
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LikeDislikeHi David! Been reading all your info for over an hour. I am signed on with a few lines on a SAG new media. My question is one of the scenes I am having a conversation with the lead character on a video call and the other I am on the phone with her, while I’m on the phone with her I am not seen on film just my voice on the phone saying my line. Could one of those scenes or both get me tagged? The Director said yes but others have said no way.
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LikeDislikeWhether you appear on screen or are voice talent shouldn’t matter – what matters is if you’re credited as an actor in the film. People are Taft-Hartley’d via ADR work all the time – so go for it!
David
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LikeDislikeHi – And thanks for all the info (and for the Rehearsal app – it’s the best!)
I am non-union and recently got cast as in a ULB film as a lead and I’m not sure if it allows me to join. The ULB agreement I read states: “nor shall the Union Security provision of the Basic Agreement be applicable to the employment of non-professionals or qualify a non-professional for membership in SAG-AFTRA.”
I noticed above in this thread (from what appears to be a couple of years ago) you said ULB does allow TH, but that it might change. Has it?
Thanks!
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LikeDislikeThis is one of those times when, since it is a moving target, I would recommend calling SAG-AFTRA to ask.
David
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LikeDislikeI was just in a sag ultra low budget contract film. Can I Taft Hartley in thank you
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LikeDislikeOnly producers can draft and submit a Taft-Hartley letter, and not on all contracts. Actors can’t Taft-Hartley themselves, unless they are also the producer of the project. And usually, ULB projects are unable to provide that kind of entry to the union.
Hope this helps.
David
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LikeDislikeHello. I want to first thank you so much for the information. I am a SAG-AFTRA member in good standing & will produce a webseries starting out with 5 episodes. I just needed to verify a few things if you don’t mind :)
1. Just want to make sure my non-union actors are not REQUIRED to be TH’d
2. If an actor does decide they want to be TH’d, would they have to join the union & pay their fees in full before shooting the next episode of the webseries?
Thank you again.
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LikeDislikeNo, as of this writing (and you should check with SAG-AFTRA as you fill out your paperwork) they are not required to be Taft Hartley’d, and no, they don’t have to join right away – even after your series is over, they don’t have to join. They DO have to join before their NEXT project. Hope this helps.
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LikeDislikeHello David,
First off thank you so much for this information, it’s very helpful. I have a couple questions:
This question is addressed earlier in the forum but a lot of time has elapsed since then. I’m making a very low budget 10 minute pilot of a mini series I created with fellow film classmates (non are sag affiliated). Can I submit this for eligibility? What are the chances of it being approved?
My ultimate goal is to get my SAG card out of this, do I hurt my chances if 3 or 4 other actors in the film want to be Th’d in as well?
Thank you,
Michael
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LikeDislikeYes, you can submit that if it’s meant for exhibition on the Internet. Chances of being approved are 100% if you follow all of their rules.
And it doesn’t hurt your chances at all to have multiple actors Taft-Hartley’d.
Break a leg!
David
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LikeDislikeHi David – I have a comedy short I want to produce for You Tube. Your article and thread of comments have been helpful in clarifying the maze of regulations about New Media contracts and Taft-Hartley. I just thought I’d confirm that, as a non-SAG producer, I can apply for the New Media contract and employe non-SAG actors who would then be eligible for Taft-Hartley eligibility if they were interested in that?
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LikeDislikeBe clear about what you’re doing, no producer is a SAG producer. SAG-AFTRA organizes talent, and contracts with producers to employ their talent. You sign a contract with SAG-AFTRA, but they don’t represent you. But yes, you and any other talent that act in your production can be Taft-Hartley’d, if they and you want to. The New Media people will explain everything to you when you finalize your paperwork.
Hope this helps.
David
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