SAG after casting

R

ronin99

Active member
I'm casting for a low budget film and I have not had much luck finding good actors for the roles, particularly for the lead. I tried the non-union, Copy/credit route with the usual websites with not much success. Therefore, in order to choose from a more talented talent pool, I figure SAG and pay. However, I only want to go SAG if I find a SAG actor who is right for the part.

This presents an issue, because when posting a breakdown they want to know your union status, and I would SAG actors to actually check it out and not skip over the breakdown when they come across it?

Thanks
 
Both SAG short film and SAG Ultra Low Budget allow you to mix union and non-union actors. There are some clauses though that may make a difference depending on your circumstances.

ULB is $100 per day and if the project is sold you have to pay regular rates.

There are sub categories too. Honorable withdrawl (often child actors while going through college), SAG eligible, Fi-core, etc.
 
ronin, that is a bit of a problem. It would be wrong to post it as SAG if it is not yet but it will be hard to get SAG actors to read without posting it that way. What state are you in? Perhaps we can find some agents who will send you some talent...or another web site or two where you can post it. Also, on the sites you have been posting, if they have a subject heading...will they allow you to put (Will go SAG for right actor) after the title heading?

Again, what state are you in?
 
SAG misnomers

SAG misnomers

It is a misnomer to think that SAG actors are more talented. In practical reality a "good" community theater actor -- what SAG might disparagingly refer to as "amateur" -- will have more actual experience.

Many lust for their union credential and think they've arrived when they get it. But ultimately, it limits their acting opportunities. And being an extra is NOT acting.

So, in most cases, a SAG "actor" is, in fact, an experienced extra. At least the community theater "amateur" is regularly auditioning for LEAD parts. If they get them, they have to endure the rehearsals, then survive the schedule of performances (under direction)... A "good" community theater "amateur" does this at least several times a year.

That's much more practical experience than the typical SAG actor. So, unless you can afford Russel Crowe...
 
frntstflms, ummmmm... what? Yes, there are instances of talented "amateurs" but they are far and in-between. As a general rule of thumb you should think: non-union = access to smaller pool of talent while SAG = access to every actor out there (both talented and not).
 
There's nothing wrong with posting the breakdowns for the roles and stating SAG/NON UNION actors are okay. That's what we did. We weren't signatory until after casting. The local SAG chapter didn't say we did anything wrong.
 
ronin99 said:
I'm casting for a low budget film and I have not had much luck finding good actors for the roles, particularly for the lead.
Click to expand...
What community are you in? There are a lot of good Actors in the large metropolitan areas. Maybe in a smaller town your ad is not getting wide distribution.
 
Agreed, say you are casting for both Union and Non and if and when you've made your casting decisions you can worry about your Union status.

Also, want to know what city you are in.
 
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