Screen Actors Guild: How Actors Become Eligible For SAG
College guys want to make their acting career explode fast and this is rarely possible. Guys have a laundry list of what they need to accomplish "before" becoming an actor - they want an agent, then they want a manager, then a head shot, and to get into SAG - the Screen Actor's Guild. SAG is the actor's union. SAG is quite difficult to join. You don't just write a check to get a SAG card. (It costs more than $1300 to join SAG.)
A "SAG card" is what actors refer to membership in the union. Joining the SAG union requires first becoming "SAG eligible," then writing a big fat check to SAG.
There are many websites that tell how to become SAG eligible. But first, you need to understand that while you need to become SAG eligible; you should not take the next join the union until you have ample experience.
Yes, by all means, work your ass off to become eligible for SAG.
But once you join SAG, you cannot take any non-union roles without special permission. So, being in the SAG union without any experience and not being able to take good film roles because you are a SAG union member can be disastrous.
There is no magic wind that flows in once you become a union member that propels you to stardom.
Instead, you should work to get into any decent independent films and projects so you can be seen by decision-makers (who watch the film). This is why you should not waste time with "hobbyists" - guys who are "making a movie" but will never release it. Footage that sits in someone's basement because they are too busy with their kids or wife to finish editing a movie after it is shot does nothing for you.
So, do independent movies, but get an ironclad promise that it will be released and when.
Presently, you can do background extra work, obtain a SAG commercial or get hired as a featured extra. The easiest is to do background extra jobs. However, as there is with everything in Hollywood, there is a huge catch. You need to do three days of background work during which you receive Taft-Hartley vouchers (also called a union voucher). A voucher is a receipt that shows you will be paid later.
Now it gets complicated. You see, while 86 extras might be hired one day, only a few receive Taft-Hartley vouchers. The rest receive non-union vouchers, which are worthless.
Males Don't Get Union Vouchers in Hollywood
Guess who receives the union vouchers? Well, in Southern California, count on the pretty girls receiving the union vouchers. If you have a penis, it may take you years to accumulate three vouchers. Why? Consider who is deciding which extras receive union vouchers vs. the worthless vouchers: low paid extra wranglers.
The extra wranglers are straight males and the only thing they have goin for them are the few vouchers they hand out each morning to the hot ass women who show up at their desk. They have no motivation to give a voucher to some dude who is standing next to 10 hot chicks.
So, it is tough to get union vouchers in Los Angeles. Yes, it is possible, but we suggest males do something different. Remember, all you want to do is become SAG eligible, not join the union.
Males Should Work on Non-LA Union Productions
Instead of coming to LA to try to accumulate vouchers, get yourself into a SAG film or TV production in a non-California city as an extra and show up early each day.
If you want to move to LA, but live 150 miles from New Orleans, find lodging through Craigslist and get yourself to New Orleans if there is a SAG film casting extras. It will be far easier for you to spend money on trying to get vouchers in a non-Los Angeles city, than trying to get vouchers in Hollywood as a male.
Why? Because extras in New Orleans don't know (or care) if they receive a SAG voucher or a non-union voucher. They only care about the rate of pay. They are not moving to LA, so they do not need to join the union and don't need SAG vouchers.
Keep in mind that it may take you weeks in a city to get your third voucher. So, you can't simply book a hotel room for three nights. Extras are auditioned before they are needed - perhaps 2 weeks before filming. Extras are not needed every day of filming. You may not be needed each day even though other extras are called. Finally, you will not receive a union voucher each day.
They only thing you can do to help yourself receive a union voucher is to show up early. Chances are they give out the union vouchers first - to get rid of them. So, if you call time is 6AM, arrive at 4:30AM. Yes, that is not a typo. If you want to be successful, you need to make that extra effort and get out of bed before others. You need to arrive early so you are the first to get in line and because you may have trouble finding the filming location.
Arriving on time, but after all the union vouchers have been distributed does not help you.
SAG Productions, Not AFTRA
Keep in mind you need to target union films and TV productions. Sometimes it is difficult to discover from a vague casting notice if a production is union. You also need to find out if the production is AFTRA or SAG. Aftra is a different union. Doing a union production, which is AFTRA, doesn't help you become eligible for SAG.
You can join SAG a year after joining AFTRA, which you can join at any time. However, AFTRA is expensive, too. More than $1000.
Once again, you need to become SAG eligible so you can join SAG when your skills are ready and you have tons of experience. Get eligible now. Join later. Jumping ahead can prevent you from doing great non-union roles that an agent or decision maker who is looking for talent might view.
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