2007

APRIL

An Industry Alert

It's been a while since I sent a Casting Tip. I guess you could say I've had a life changing experience. It's called marriage. On January 6, 2007, I married Dick Van Deusen, a long time friend and professional colleague - and now my husband. You can check him out on www.media-strategies.com. He's highly respected in his area of expertise and very willing to share information. And I'm willing to share him with you. You'll see why I think he's so special.

Speaking of sharing information: A very poorly conceived policy is now in effect involving the use of SAG actors. It's a very troubling policy that impacts us all. So troubling, in fact, that it is this month’s casting tip. Or rather - warning.

In a misguided effort to "protect" actors from being paid for doing Web-based commercials under an industrial contract, SAG is insisting that the union screen all industrial scripts before allowing their actors to work on a project. Since so many industrial scripts are highly confidential, this request is an impossible one to follow.

Fortunately, AFTRA (which has the same contract as SAG) has not followed along with this ruling. Why? Although both AFTRA and SAG are national unions, AFTRA is run by local chapters, while SAG is managed by Los Angeles. And there lies the difference. In the past, I've always preferred working under a SAG contract. More actors belong to SAG, the union generates more work - and, therefore, attracts more actors to work in our industry. But this new policy makes it very difficult, if not impossible, for me to hire actors under a SAG contract..

This month, I had a meeting with the Executive Director of SAG New York who was very sympathetic with the situation - and understands the need to try and change the thinking of those who run the union in California. She is hopeful - but at the moment there is not much I can do except use AFTRA for all union jobs.

Bottom line - if you are producing a program and have no problem letting the script be reviewed by an outside source, you can do it under a SAG contract. But if you need to protect the content of the program - go to AFTRA. The money is exactly the same - so it will not affect your budget. And the confidentiality of your script will remain secure.

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