This is probably the most important thing you could be doing right now, grasshopper.
Unless, acting is your hobby, you are already well aware of all of the benefits that come with becoming a member of SAG.
If you are reading this, I don’t think you are a hobbyist. Chances are, you want to be a professional, full time actor. If so, getting your SAG card is something you need to do at some point in your career.
But when is the right time to get your SAG card?
If you want to build your acting career slowly, then you should not focus on becoming SAG eligible.
On the other hand, if you would rather open up opportunities for yourself sooner rather than later, then getting your SAG card is of the up most importance.
After being in some sort lockdown for what genuinely seems like forever, I think I can safely say that most actors are chomping at the bit to get back on set.
However, while most people are sitting at home, binging on Netflix and walking the dog to get their minimum 20 minutes of sunshine once a day, there are also actors who are taking the opportunity to build their careers.
They don’t just want to go back to business as usual, they want to skyrocket their career.
If you want to make big career strides, after everything is said and done, here’s what you can do during this time, to become SAG eligible and get your SAG card...
Full disclosure: while you won’t catch me calling for the abolishment of SAG anytime soon, let’s just say, I have my issues with it.
For one, it is the embodiment of the old Hollywood guard clinging to power and putting in place obstacles that limit competition for themselves. In a way, it’s how they screen someone before letting them into the “club.”
That’s not an understatement, and there are all kinds of barriers to entry.
Most “mainstream” productions are going to be SAG productions. That means they have to jump through one hoop after another in order to hire a nonunion actor.
Not only do they have to fill out tons of paperwork and pay a fine for hiring a nonunion actor, the process isn’t black and white. There are some requirements that are open for
interpretation, which means that a production could go through the entire process only to be told they didn’t meet the subjective requirements.
Maybe, whomever processed the paperwork at SAG doesn’t think production searched long enough for an adequate SAG performer. Maybe, they have a few friends they feel should have been called in to audition for that part.
Anything can happen when things are left open to interpretation like this, so productions that are willing to undertake this are unbelievably rare.
That’s were the problem lies for most actors!
It’s necessary for you to get SAG credits in order to become a member, but you pretty much have to be a member in order to get SAG credits (at least the credits that count towards your eligibility).
That’s not to say it’s impossible, but improbable is just a small step above being impossible.
For example, you can book jobs and get 3 vouchers for your work as a background actor and that would make you SAG eligible.
On the surface that sounds easy enough and it sounds like just about anyone could accomplish it...and that’s kind of the point.
In reality, how many times have you been on set and heard rumors about production handing out vouchers?
How many times, have you taken a job with the understanding that part of the deal was for you to receive a SAG voucher, only to be sent home empty handed?
Most actors I’ve spoken to, lost count a long time ago.
That’s what my big problem is when it comes to SAG. There is too much red tape for actors and productions to cut through, and it’s far too easy for someone to get caught up in industry politics.
However, the internet upended nearly everything in existence. The industry wasn’t spared either.
When it became evident that content streaming was going to be the new normal, SAG created the “new media” division. Its goal was to regulate nontraditional forms of content.
In doing so, they kind of overplayed their hand and left the door wide open for nearly anyone to become SAG eligible, without having to be cast as a lead in union production, and without having to play the “voucher lottery” all over town.
It’s not a loophole or even a grey area. It’s just that, when it comes to just about anything online, the rules change.
Because the internet is as some would put it, the great equalizer, a project that qualifies as new media under SAG guidelines, can be anything that ranges from Stranger Things on Netflix, to you and a couple friends with an iPhone.
What the rules of the new media division allow you to do is create a project that is going to be distributed online, rather that through traditional ways such as broadcast TV or cinemas. You can then Taft-Hartley yourself in the process.
That, in and of itself, would make you SAG eligible.
Of course, you do have to be sure that you adhere to SAG rules, regulations, and guidelines in order for it to work.
What’s great about this is that, because the internet changes so quickly, things are a lot more straightforward when you’re dealing with the new media division.
It’s a simple 4 step process, that you can accomplish before the lockdowns are even over (mostly).
You will probably have to go back and complete some steps retroactively, but you will be 90% of the way there.
Your first step is to sign up as SAG signatory production. You can do this online and it only takes a few minutes.
After they have received and processed your application, SAG will send you a production information packet to fill out. This is the part you may have to complete retroactively, since you probably won’t be receiving the packet anytime soon.
That’s ok! Technically, because the packet is considered to be proprietary information, I can’t provide you with one here. However, let’s just say, search engines are your friend.
The packet is a bit lengthy but don’t let that deter you. It comes down to just filling in the blanks and providing SAG with information that you should already have readily available.
When you are producing your project, you will have to follow all SAG guidelines, even though you are not technically a SAG production yet. You will have some help with this, since you are going to be assigned a SAG representative.
If you are unsure of something, ask!
There are many reasons why SAG wants to expand their new media division. That gives you some leverage and it also means they will help you along the way.
There are some things to keep in mind as you consider what kind of project you want to pursue.
You have to pay everyone in accordance with SAG scale rates. While you can’t just have your friends volunteer to help you out, SAG does allow for smaller productions and even deferred payment, so you don’t have to come out of pocket for this.
There is also a “Legitimacy of Application” clause that establishes a threshold your production must meet. It’s only there to prevent abuse and as long as you put forth a real, good faith effort with your project, you won’t have problems with this.
Believe it or not, it is possible to film 10 second short that meets all of the new media
requirements that would force SAG to give the project a stamp of approval. That’s what they are trying to prevent with this clause.
I’m sure you have tons of ideas for a project so let this be the time when you indulge those ideas and bring one of them to life.
Taking something from an idea, through the production process is incredibly rewarding and you will become so much better for having done it.
You will gain a level of experience that you can’t get anywhere else. Not to mention you will also be a producer with a SAG credit. That can go a long way if you play your cards right!
So, work on a project you are excited about but keep your production simple.
You don’t want to try and tackle a stunt driven action project for this. You’ll be adding a layer of safety regulations that will bog down your production.
Pick something that you can easily film, without having to use specialized equipment, exotic locations, and that doesn’t require a long and expensive postproduction.
While you don’t want to rush it, you should want to get this done as fast as possible. When you have notified your SAG representative that you have wrapped your project, you will be sent a post-production packet.
This is your admission ticket!
You will take this, your check stub from the production, and your SAG initiation dues into a SAG office to finish things up.
Some of you reading this will roll your eyes and complain about how hard this is going to be. That’s ok!
Being a successful actor is not for everyone. It’s only meant for those that are willing to work hard, go the extra mile, and do whatever it takes.
Do you have to do it this way? No.
You could continue doing what everyone else in the industry does, and continue going all over town searching for those coveted vouchers and hoping that you somehow catch a break and find someone that is willing to go through the bureaucratic hoops to hire you on as a nonunion actor, and that all the stars align so you are allowed to perform.
Or...
You can take your destiny back into your own hands.
Most actors are sitting at home right now, wallowing in some kind of self pity, complaining about the opportunities they lost during the lockdown and how things just aren’t fair.
There’s also a group of actors that have deliberately chosen to use this time to prepare for what’s to come. They have used this time to build their career.
They are reaching out to contacts and making themselves highly visible to industry decision makers.
If you are reading this, you know that having a SAG card will open up incredible opportunities for you and it’s how you can immediately upgrade your career and get access to better projects.
It’s how you can get access to better agents and representatives.
It’s how you can go full time and build a career that exceeds your wildest dreams.
Of course, that’s not to say that it’s a magic want you can wave and manifest a career out of thin air. You will still have to do everything else necessary to succeed as an actor. A huge part of that is ensuring that your industry reputation matches your goals.
I get emails all the time, from actors who had fantastic auditions, had great rapport with the Casting Director and the process stopped after casting looked into them and their background.
Before moving on in the casting process, CDs build on actors. The actors whose reputation doesn’t measure up to their acceptable standards, will get passed over.
If you are not booking as much as you should be, this would be a great place to start.
Let me know how I can help, in the comments below or shoot me an email. Use this time to move your career forward. I’m with you every step of the way because I truly want to...
See you at the top,
Scott