SAG actor wants to work on my non-union student project?

G

gsrindiejunkie

New member
My student film is schedule to shoot in a few weeks. I auditioned an actor who fits the role perfectly and I really liked him. He is willing to work for my non-paid non-union project and his schedule also seems flexible, so everything looks fine. However, when I decided to cast him, he told me that he is SAG-AFTRA, but he realizes that there could be a lot of paperwork if I want to go "official" with SAG. He suggested that we don't sign any SAG student film agreement with him and just go with the standard personal release. He is okay with that.

I'm stuck in this position because I don't have time to compile all the SAG forms and obviously can't wait the 6 week turnaround time to get the "go ahead" from SAG. And I did not have many alternative options for this role because I did not get many responses. I am not anticipating my project to get a lot of exposure because I'm essentially just making it for my grad film school application. However, I sense the risk here. I know actors could be expelled from the union if they do non-union work without notifying the union. But what I'm more concerned about is---will I, as the producer, get fined if later, by any chance, SAG finds out that I used a union actor without the paperwork?
 
Forget fines. Just do the work. Complete the signatory process and put your worries to rest. It's not that big a deal. You're mistaken about that turn around time. Do yourself a huge favor. Call SAG. They are hugely helpful. The signatory process is not as onerous as you might think. I've done it on a number of shorts. Here's the instructions for doing it for a student film. http://www.sagaftra.org/production-center/studentfilmsignatoryinstructions

Once you fill out the forms, they call you right away. If your stuck on time, tell them. Be up front. They need that post work especially. Our producer did one this week and got a call that day. They help you get clearance and help you figure out the paperwork. They want you to be successful and they want your actor to work on your film, his or her ambivalence about their responsibilities notwithstanding

What if you want to put this into a festival and get an IMDB credit? Why not?
 
gsrindiejunkie said:
My student film is schedule to shoot in a few weeks. I auditioned an actor who fits the role perfectly and I really liked him. He is willing to work for my non-paid non-union project and his schedule also seems flexible, so everything looks fine. However, when I decided to cast him, he told me that he is SAG-AFTRA, but he realizes that there could be a lot of paperwork if I want to go "official" with SAG. He suggested that we don't sign any SAG student film agreement with him and just go with the standard personal release. He is okay with that.

I'm stuck in this position because I don't have time to compile all the SAG forms and obviously can't wait the 6 week turnaround time to get the "go ahead" from SAG. And I did not have many alternative options for this role because I did not get many responses. I am not anticipating my project to get a lot of exposure because I'm essentially just making it for my grad film school application. However, I sense the risk here. I know actors could be expelled from the union if they do non-union work without notifying the union. But what I'm more concerned about is---will I, as the producer, get fined if later, by any chance, SAG finds out that I used a union actor without the paperwork?
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Suggest the Actor go FiCore and then he is in the driver's seat as to when, where, and for how much, including 'gratis', he can work.

If enough actors go FiCore, perhaps SAG will change it's "Rule Number One" policy, to accommodate truly NoLo Budget filmmaking.
 
But he would loose voting rights and a few other benefits that I can't think of at the moment. I don't know of any actor that would do that.
 
Absolutely. If your choice is FiCore actor or nothing, only an idiot would choose "nothing". SAG needs to change to the reality of the business and the faster they do that, the better. Or watch their members get no work in the new reality.
 
I have used SAG actors in several films without involving SAG at all. It's on the actor. If he is willing to do it, it's his decision. SAG can't do anything to me.
 
gonzo_entertainment said:
I have used SAG actors in several films without involving SAG at all. It's on the actor. If he is willing to do it, it's his decision. SAG can't do anything to me.
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But SAG can censure the actor for working outside a SAG agreement. I agree it is 'up to the actor'... And I've also read in the 'actors' section that actors outside the Hollywood zone, especially in states where 'unionization' has less clout, they do have a different attitude about working outside of SAG signatory projects.

Where I live, some 90 or so miles from Downtown Hollywood, most actors who are in SAG tend to expect more gigs, and may not want to potentially affect their SAG status by working outside of an agreement.

Since my projects are no budget... and I mean 'no'... I can't even ante up for the $100/day minimums or something like that... for a 'low budget' agreement. Everyone has to participate 'gratis' at the moment... Ok... I did get a $40 gift card from the producer of the last short for my directorial efforts... but other than that sort of thing, I can't at this point offer cash compensation.

For larger 'budgets'... I don't have a problem divying up 'pay' but it sill probably would not match up with the SAG requirements... heck if travel was involved... I expect folks to pay their own way... and then there's the 'hours worked'... and minimum times for 'back to set'... etc...

While these sorts of things are 'good' for a major motion picture budgeted production... for the 'short films' and 'truly independent' productions, these things often are 'required' to get something accomplished.

And some will wax 'philosophical', about if 'you can't afford it... then don't do it'... well no... sorry... just I'll get it done without 'union' workers...
 
I pay the low budget rate of $100 a day. I just don't comply with the work rules and don't want to fill out the paperwork. If I could afford to hire someone to handle that BS I would, but I can't.
 
If the SAG actor wants to do your film, and he understands the possible ramifications as relates to his union status, then it's his decision. I've used SAG actors in films without any problems. It's up to them to get right with the union, and they know it.
 
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