I tried to look for acting jobs and agencies but they all ask me for my union. Whats a union?
2007-04-12 09:49:51 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Theater & Acting
They ask if you are in the unions, because if they are a legitimate talent agent, they cannot represent actors that are non-union. They will lose their Talent Agency if they represent non-union actors.
Talent Agents are signatories of SAG/AFTRA and Equity unions and agree to ONLY represent UNION performers.
It costs a lot of money to open a talent agency and they can't risk working with non-union actors, which would cause them to lose their agency.
2007-04-12 10:57:12 · answer #1 · answered by newyorkgal71 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
AFTRA: The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) is a national labor union representing over 70,000 performers, journalists and other artists working in the entertainment and news media.
Equity: Actors' Equity Association ("AEA" or "Equity"), founded in 1913, is the labor union that represents more than 45,000 Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions and provides a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans, for its members. Actors' Equity is a member of the AFL-CIO, and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions.
2007-04-12 10:44:34 · answer #2 · answered by shea864 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Aftra...do you mean 'ACTRA' which is the Canadian version of SAG. If so, they require a minimum number of speaking parts as an extra before you can join (even if it gets cut). Without that membership card, you'll get only extra parts at set rates etc. If you want a career...ya gotta join the union.
2007-04-12 10:21:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
SAG is the screen actors guild. it is like any other union where people collectivly bargain for fair wages and benefits and working conditions with employers. a union protects you in the event you are treated unfairly. you pay membership and dues to belong but if you are fired wrongly or somehow treated wrongly the union will back you up and help to resolve the situation for you.
2007-04-12 09:58:47 · answer #4 · answered by Pazzionflower 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Screen Actors Guild is for Screen actors...TV, film, voice overs. Equity is for stage actors. I've never heard of Aftra.
2007-04-12 10:11:49 · answer #5 · answered by musicaangelica 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋