Acting : Auditions #2: Going for Equity or Union roles, BEING a NON-union actor??? by Passion K. Shanks

If the casting call specifies "union only" you should respect that.

eh life is short Imma go for it...but about equity (WOW that sucks) it's cool I'm going for film now so I'll see where it would take me.

D Marcus I'll also respect the ads whether it's union or equity. Thank you for the advice guys.

Just to be clear; "Equity" is a union. "Actors' Equity Association" represents stage actors and stage managers. The union for screen actors is "SAG-AFTRA". When a casting call specifies "union only" and that call is for film or TV the call means they will only see current union members. There are many casting calls for Equity productions that will specifically see non union members just as there are call for union (SAG-AFTRA) projects that will see non union members.

There was just a great article on Back Stage by Paul Russell. You should check it out. http://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/backstage-experts/why-non-uni...

I read it thank you sooooooooooooo much it helped!

Insanely helpful!

I'm with you, Floyd. That article by Paul Russell focuses on the actor without taking into consideration the needs of the producer and the casting director. I have had your example happen to me several times; we see an actor we really like only to discover that they are not a guild member. That puts us in an awkward place. Rather unfair, I think.

To butt in on what you guys are saying: 1. A non-union actor is NOT "crashing" an audition. They are sending the CD a h/r. That resume should have letters on the very top that say NON-UNION, SAG-AFTRA, AEA, or whatever else. A casting director WILL see this. An actor can absolutely make an appointment with a CD outside of open calls. This is ALL the article is saying. It's not saying to "crash the audition". If an actor is repped, the agent will make the appointment, not send the actor blindly to audition. It's really not any different. 2. The ONLY time I have ever seen "union only" on a breakdown is if the breakdown was posted directly by that union. Chances are, the CD is seeing both, but the union will have you think otherwise. When I started out, had I sat at home when I was right for a role because someone told me no, I would have never worked. P.S. This is coming from someone that does occasional work inside of some of the bigger casting offices.

If you have to, color your hair blonde, play dumb and tell 'em you didn't see that. ;o) There's a saying in my business (I'm a journalist) that goes: it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

And we have seen journalism becoming more and more irresponsible over the years. Sometimes playing by the rules is a wiser overall, long term method. When a producer wants to see only union talent and specifically states that it is a waste of the producers (and CD's) time when 20, 30, 40 non union actors follow the "ask for forgiveness" method. But then few actors are thinking of the needs of the producer and hoping they will be the exception. There is clearly a divide over this issue with most of you suggesting actors just ignore the request of the CD and producer and ask for forgiveness after the audition. This is where my age comes into play and I realize once again that the times they are a-changing.

I'm not suggesting the person break the rules/requests, or lie, just bend them a little, and do so before the audition begins. Every successful person has a certain amount of chutzpah. If the person doesn't get the chance, or make the chance, to show their stuff, they'll never get the gig (or a producer's exemption) and there isn't a person alive who doesn't appreciate youthful determination and the courage to go for the brass ring. Besides, aspiring talent has no doubt been "escorted" out of the building but to my knowledge, no one has been shot for trying to get their foot in the door. And as far as your comment about today's journalism, you're right, but don't get me started in on that! I too come from the old school, BC (before computers, and bloggers posing as journalists)!

Bill, no one even gets escorted out of the building. It's a matter of respecting the process. There are so many open auditions and creative ways for actors to show their stuff; to show their determination and courage while still showing respect for a producers time. We producers know all the tricks and we are not impressed by an actor who plays dumb about a union only audition. Non union actors get invitations to join the guild all the time while still respecting the time (and requests) of producer who are hiring. But I also know from experience that many actors will bend the rules and hope that works.

It's been years since I looked at the basic agreement, but for someone to gain membership in the guild, don't they have to have a producer or maybe director's exemption on a sag sig film? Here in Georgia and in North Carolina, things are done differently, probably because there are so few guild members and sig productions. That's beginning to change. Lead and supporting roles are naturally exceptions. LOL! I was over at EO Studios once and someone asked if I wanted to act. My response was laced with profanity but the danged fool just smiled and said, "Good. Sign here, here's your script, learn the lines that are highlighted (all three of 'em) and be here tomorrow at six and sober!" It was a fun experience (but boring), but so was going to a nudist resort (which was embarrassing) and skydiving (which was just plain stupid)!

The article I posted NEVER at anytime stated to just walk into an audition.

-_______- thank you all....I'm really confused as what to do. I'm not represented by anyone. But let's face it, I'm a "starving" actor who needs a regular paycheck every week. I'm seeing that more and more Union casting calls or roles are better because I need to pay bills. That is why I'm asking advice on whether I should go for union roles being a non-union actress. Thanks for the help, I took in as much as I can.

Y'all know more about this than I would, but what about signing on as a crew member. The pay probably would be less but you'd be where the action is and you'd learn a lot to boot. LOL! It might not hurt to have a head-shot and resume in your backpack, in case.... Could you tell us what, "... a regular paycheck every week..." is, exactly? ;o)

lol a regular paycheck is in the hundreds! Just enough to cover my bills and take care of my business. I have thought about becoming a crew member, it's just that's not where my heart wants to be at the moment. IDK why but it was one of those things that I never really considered. I will surely check into it more just for fun and you are absolutely right I will be in the middle of the action :-).

Sign on as a crew member. Is it really that easy? You can’t get a part in the movie so you just sign on as a crew member. And make sure you have a headshot and resume just in case. Just for fun, of course because the pay may be less than acting. Is that really the way actors see the crew on a set?

No I wasn't downing any crew members because of the pay. If crew members get paid alot then good for them. I AM an ACTOR and want to be on stage doing what I'm passionate about. Being a crew member is not what I am going for as far as career goals.

unless you have been in the Industry for a long time, and have worked on many projects, being part of a crew is a great way to learn all the technics that go into a film.

If you are a member of S.A.G. or AFTRA, OR EQUITY you can get into a lot of trouble for doing non-union work, unless you get clearance first. if you haven't joined these unions yet then you can do the work.

If it says union only they probably won't see you, however if they DO indeed see you they might want you. If that is the case, that might be your ticket into the Union.

yes Ed's right you could get in via the Taft Hartley ruling when they say UNION ONLY It's most times because they are having to pay PENSION AND WELFARE so they need very experienced Actors