SAG... Worth its Weight in Gold?

When we were trying to decide whether to go through the whole process of becoming a SAG signatory or not, I wasn’t sure that the SAG card was going to make a difference.

When we learned that one of Larry’s friend of a friend high school classmate was a working professional actor, we contacted her. She went to the same high school as he did, but different years. He knew of her from a friend. He contacted her and we spoke about what she was doing and if she might be free. She was game.

We pursued becoming a SAG signatory for her. However, when we were hiring cast and crew, the fact that we were a signatory impressed most people. It showed that we knew what we were doing. At that point… we didn’t know… exactly.

Larry and I flew up to NYC to attend a meeting on becoming an Independent signatory. We stayed at the Marriott in Times Square, it was just a couple blocks away. We spent a whole lot of money… to learn… not so much.

Some would say that I am borderline OCD. I like to research; I like to read. I spent a couple days going though the SAG site and learning everything I could. I did make a (small) list of questions, which the SAG representative was able to answer. Our return on investment was not great. However, I would rather have spent the money to go up to NYC and not learn much, than have not spent the money and risked not knowing what I needed to know.

Ultimately, we had only one SAG actor on our shoot, but two had just become SAG-eligible. If I had to make one comment, I would say that the SAG actors were more serious. Not about their craft or ability but about themselves. They claimed to be actors, nothing more. Some of the non-union actors would say they were an insurance salesman (or insert job here) that wants to be an actor. I think that Phobia – The Short had an amazing cast (and crew), both union and non-union.

Given the choice, I would always want to be a SAG production- especially in the indie category, where it is easier to have union and non-union actors. You may think that it is too much hassle. But, just do it…

Don.

http://www.sagindie.org/