How to find out if an actor is Fi-Core?

[Andrew McCarrick]

What would be the best way for me to find out if an actor is Fi-Core? Or if they're willing to work on a non-union film? Should we just come right out and ask their agents?

[Nathyn]

Nope. Never. They're actors. They come to you when the money is there. You go to LACasting.com (http://www.lacasting.com/) join (last time I checked it was free if you're making films) and do a listing. STATE:

"For this role I will only accept Fi-Core actors with a fan base."

You'll get a bunch of actors who will totally ignore most of this sentence, then you'll find about three that fit. You can also do this on Craigslist. Generally they will contact you personally or only list themselves until you make contact. They will NOT put their Fi-Core status out there for the world to see, it's not done unless you just got it like that. To get the bigger names, you have to have bigger bucks

Now, if you have some dough and you can find a casting director that's not hung up on the union I bet they know someone (probably a few) who are SAG Core. Most Scream Queens are FiCore (the ones who work all the time) and again the biggest names are Jon Voight and Wilford Brimley who are openly Fi-Core. SAG despises Voight for being so in your face about it. LOL. If you have the cash you can get him. (After he's done with National Treasure 3 of course).

In fact President Bush signed an executive order that unions are obligated to tell members about their “financial core rights" before they join the union.

Hey George Clooney is Fi-Core...

...from the WGA! LOL! Gotcha! But yea, he's a Fi-Core writer and Lucas, Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez are all DGA Fi-Core. Then again, they're rich. As for SAG, Fi-Core members aren't supposed to put SAG on resume, but most do anyway, considering they still pay into SAG so some of those "SAG" actors may be FiCore.

But either way, these are the guys that may be able to help, FiCore.com (http://www.ficore.com/). They're putting together a database of Fi-Core talent and list a few actors rumored to be Fi-Core.

-Nate

[Andrew McCarrick]

Nope. Never. They're actors. They come to you when the money is there. You go to LACasting.com (http://www.lacasting.com/) join (last time I checked it was free if you're making films) and do a listing.

Well I already have specific actors in mind.

[Nathyn]

Then you have no choice but to ask their agent or manager. The problem is I had talks with an actress on time to convince her to go Fi-Core and she doesn't even talk to me anymore. Fi-Core in LA is about as controversial as abortion. You can loose friend or professional contacts over the mention or notion of it.

Acting is not like many other jobs, actors have to kind of get in where they can fit in and union work isn't plentiful. Think about the amount of union shows and movies and think about the amount of union actors, the fact of the matter is (as always) there's more workers than jobs. Those workers still need to eat and SAG doesn't really care about them, plus they pay into SAG anywhere so why does SAG need to care.

SAG makes Fi-Core the same as being a scab, which it is not. A scab doesn't pay into the union nor get union benefits. A Fi-Core member pays less, but pays and still gets healthcare. Scabs take the jobs of union paying workers when they aren't working (striking), but Fi-Core members do nothing of the sort, they take jobs SAG actors aren't eligible for and since they are paying members they can also do SAG work. Fi-Core members are indeed SAG actors. SAG tries to double talk, but fact non-SAG actors can't do SAG films, Fi-Core actors can, THEY ARE SAG! Think about it. To not be in SAG and do SAG work you have to get specific paperwork that Fi-Core actors don't have to have. Very name "SAG Fi-Core" means it's "SAG". There's no such thing as a fee paying "non-member". Why would you pay someone to act if you got nothing out of it? Is SAG a charity? No.

But if you ask, you may be opening the door to alienation. Do you have an idea these actors are Fi-Core. If so I would try to ask the manager before asking the agent. But if all else fails there is a money factor. Agents make money off of actors. If the agent is big, they're probably hooked into the system and are probably pro-SAG, but if not you may have some leeway, but you really have no choice but to ask.

-Nate

[Michele Seidman]

I don't think you can ask if they are Fi-core or not. I could be wrong. Are you shooting in a Union state? If you are, you can use SAG actors Fi-core or not IF...and that is a BIG if, they are willing to pay a fee to the union for allowing them to do the project. The union does have a few exceptions for union talent who are not Fi-core to be involved with indie's that are not union but check the specifics with SAG on that.

If they are Fi-core they won't need to get permission to do a non-union project no matter the states status on union affiliations.

If you are in a Right to Work state, it is up to the talent no matter their status. Some SAG talent will do it and use a fake name, others won't do it at all...and some will pay what ever fee is needed if they like the project enough.

And Nathyn makes several good points. One...not good to bring it up because many look down on Fi-core even though they pay dues to help keep the union going. So, talk to agents or managers as he mentioned.

General note, not to anyone specific: The notion that a Fi-core is a non-member is a contradiction to the Federal Law that says EVERY Union in the U.S.A. must allow fi-core memberships.

So, if one more person says a Fi-core is NOT a union member, I will simply remind them that is NOT what Federal Law says! I will also remind them Fi-core DOES pay to keep their Union going as mentioned above!

Funny part...I hear the most flack about Fi-core from SAG actors I know IN person who have used fake names to do indie projects so that SAG would not find out!

Alan Smithee indeed....(lol i know that was first used for other reasons ya'll...but it worked)

[Andrew McCarrick]

but check the specifics with SAG on that.


I would but, I've been trying to get an answer to simple question for the past 5 weeks and still don't have an answer. Basically my whole issue is that, SAG requires a Union Bug at the end of a films credits, for films produced under their Indie Contracts... the problem is my film has no end credits. All I asked is if there was a way around that. And I still have no answer 5 weeks later.

This is really the whole issue I want to use Fi-Core actors.

[lambert]

"Basically my whole issue is that, SAG requires a Union Bug at the end of a films credits, for films produced under their Indie Contracts... the problem is my film has no end credits. All I asked is if there was a way around that." If this is the reason you are hesitant to use sag actors, you might be out of luck, but a phone call to sag will give you the answer. They might have a solution. Good luck.

[Nathyn]

So, if one more person says a Fi-core is NOT a union member, I will simply remind them that is NOT what Federal Law says! I will also remind them Fi-core DOES pay to keep their Union going as mentioned above!

Indeed, which is why SAG can't enforce the rule that Fi-Core actors can't use "SAG" on their resumes, because they indeed are SAG, legally. Thank you Michelle for breaking it down.

-Nate

[lambert]

The use of sag by ficore members (nonmembers whatever) was in the courts for a while, not sure if its resolved or not. I don't think every project has to be sag but its always good to at least consider the possibility.

[Nathyn]

Honestly I have no problem with SAG if you have the money, just at the level many of us are, we're overthinking. I mean so many celebs out there aren't SAG including many reality TV stars, some pro wrestlers, I find if you tell the agent you're doing a low budget film, it's not SAG and you have X amount to spend on talent they'll send you leads. If you have talent already in mind that becomes problematic unless you already know their status. One question to ask is whose ALWAYS working. Like whose making films on a consistent basis big and small. Whose on TV and not working because it's summer (reruns). Some of those people are Fi-Core. Also the big agencies may not want to deal with you so you will have to find small agencies that have celebrity talent. Also what about people who are just famous and people just watch them for the hell of it. I'm sure you can get Ex-IL. Gov. Rod Blagojevich to do anything if you have some cash and a video camera.

-Nate

[Sad Max]

Interesting. I wonder if anything similar exists for IATSE members.

Probably not. Anyone suggesting such a thing would likely end up under home plate at Wrigley Field...

[Nathyn]

Yes, there is IATSE Fi-Core. It's a law.

-Nate

[Michele Seidman]

ditto what Nathyn said...EVERY Union MUST....by law...offer Fi-core memberships. That is Federal law...as for being put under home plate...I would worry more about that if I was a long shoreman...lol....ok I kid but you get the point.

[Nathyn]

Unions were meant to protect the workers and make sure they earned a living wage and were not treated as chattel. If more than 85% of union members can't afford to eat....who exactly is that union protecting? The talent...or the bottom line?

Math...so fundamental and yet many don't bother adding up the numbers.

I'm not even good in math and figured this one out. LOL.

-Nathyn

[Barry_Green]

Andrew: back to the original question. How to tell if an actor is fi-core? You don't. Nor do you care. You tell the actor you're doing a non-union production, and ask them if they'd like to work on it. If they're fi-core, they'll do it. If they're non-SAG, they'll do it. And if they're SAG and decide to do it anyway, that's THEIR issue, not yours. You are absolutely entitled to hire any union member on any non-union production, as long as you plan to do the work in a right-to-work state.