Non-Union Actors

Post something here:

Posted by Maria Imbrogna on Monday

I highly recommend the classes being offered by the Actor's Workshop. Beatrice Brianne is wonderful! Beatrice has been in the business since she was 5 years old. Her approach is Meisner's. I studied the teachings of Uta Hagen and Stanislavsky in college. But this is a refreshing teaching -- more in line with my training in psychotherapy, helping people "act" in the here and now. Acting has to be done in the present or it is merely storytelling. Acting is "truth in the imaginary situation" is Beatrice's drumbeat. While I see room for growth in myself, it is assuring that "truth", honesty in performance is a highly valued art form. 

Posted by Jack Burk Goldman on Saturday

Thanks everybody for some lively discussion on my topic. I appreciate all of them, especially Matt for some solid advise. It's a conundrum but some one told me once that 80% of the film work here in New England is non-union and commercial. Mary I like your suggestion about watching the Back Stage blog pages. Have a great weekend everyone.

Posted by Mary Tennant on Saturday

Thanks Matt for your additional words. Any way I encourage everyone to watch Back Stage blog pages and read what's going on. There are all lot of good stuff. And I like to add don't always believe with all the coaches and teachers who say get UNION soon. Matt is right. You got one thing to help you. Common sense and let it wok. God Bless. 

Posted by Kati Salowsky on Saturday

Thanks for clarifying Matt!

Posted by Diana Maxfield on Saturday

Well-put, Matt.  That makes so much sense.

Posted by Matt Bouldry of C.P. Casting on Saturday

There is no reason to join any actors union until you're getting enough work to justify paying the fees and dues to that union.  You're going to pay thousands of dollars to get yourself grandfathered into SAG and then what?  Hope someone hires you for SAG work?  That's why people say don't join until you have to, you need to be getting a lot of SAG work.  It's just like any labor union.

Posted by Mary Tennant on Saturday

There are issues all ready I heard the law is against it. Some thing call anti-merge. And some people are having issues on paying their dues etc. I am glad I am not going to be a member during the merging. It seem to be bumpy. I wonder how this effects the agents who are with the union. Now they have to deal with some sort of ripple.

Posted by Michael J Klein on Saturday

According to the merger agreement:  ...without further payment or action, all SAG & AFTRA members...shall become members of SAG-AFTRA.

So that is not an issue.  I've had this confirmed by a Boston SAG Council member

Posted by Diana Maxfield on Saturday

One major con with joining AFTRA now is that there is probably going to be a stipulation in the merger that prohibits people from doing that and being grandfathered in at the lower AFTRA rate, so you'll either get dropped or have to at least pay the difference in the initiation fee once the merger is complete.

Posted by Jack Burk Goldman on February 15, 2012 at 8:40am

I have been an actor a relatively short time compared to most of you on this site.
I have heard so many SAG and  Equity people say to me "stay out of the union as long as possible" but after reading posts in this section, I am beginning to feel otherwise. I am now thinking that I should take atvantage of the small window bring offered by the coming merger of AFTRA into SAG and join AFTRA. Would love to hear your opinion on doing this, what are the pros' and cons?

 

 

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