Help!!!Please?

Question

Hi I got a question whats that stuff about the unions.I dont understand that because I have read that there is the union,non-union,sag or something like that.

Answer 1

Screen Actors Guild is the nation's largest labor union representing working actors. Established in 1933, SAG has a rich history in the American labor movement, from standing up to studios to break long-term engagement contracts in the 1940s to fighting for artists' rights amid the digital revolution sweeping the entertainment industry in the 21st century. With 20 branches nationwide, SAG represents nearly 120,000 working actors in film, television, industrials, commercials, video games, music videos and other new media. The Guild exists to enhance actors' working conditions, compensation and benefits and to be a powerful, unified voice on behalf of artists' rights. Headquartered in Los Angeles, SAG is a proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO.


You must be in SAG to work on films, television, and commercials. Once in SAG , you cannot work on non-union productions. But non-union productions are low-budget films and shows that you don't even make it to theaters or on network tv. Usually cheap infomercials and local small-market commercials, and there is little or no pay and no-residuals (paments for re-runs)

AFTRA is the union that has jurisdiction on soaps and many sitcoms as well as some commercials. You must be a member of AFTRA to work on these shows. Anyone can walk in and join AFTRA ( for $1,300), but SAG has strict requirements + $2,335 to join.

The exception is that you actually can work on a SAG or AFTRA production, but you become a "must join" 30 days from when you first work on a union production.

Here is the requirements to join SAG:

1. Proof of Employment

a. Principal Performer Employment Performers may join SAG upon proof of employment. Employment must be in a principal or speaking role in a SAG film, videotape, television program or commercial. Proof of such employment may be in the form of a signed contract, or original pay stubs. The document proving employment must provide the following information:
— 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 Actors may join SAG upon proof of employment as a SAG–covered background player at full SAG rates and conditions for a MINIMUM of three work days subsequent to March 25, 1990. Employment must be by a company signed to a SAG Agreement under which the Producer is required to cover background actors. Proof of employment must be in the form of original paystubs or a payroll printout faxed from the payroll house. Such documents must provide the same information (name, Social Security number, etc.) as listed above.

2. Employment Under an Affiliated Performers' Union
Performers may join SAG if the applicant is a paid-up member of an affiliated performers' union (ACTRA, AEA, AFTRA, AGMA or AGVA) for a period of one year and has worked and been paid for at least once as a principal performer in that union’s jurisdiction.

Answer 2

All professional acting is done under the jurisdiction of unions: SAG covers things filmed, Equity covers live theatre, Aftra covers radio and tv that is taped like soaps. Once you have qualified for one, you can join the others by paying the initiation fee (quite high) and dues. Contact me for any other questions.

Answer 3

Need more information on this one.