I did one job on an AFTRA show and was told that the payrate was $109/8, because I was being hired as background. Then when I received the check, it was for almost $300. Later, after the showed aired on MTV, I received another check for $500 and a letter stating that I must join AFTRA. I was part of a group of actors hired to sing in a segment for an MTV program.

Obviously, I was paid more than the background rate. I went to the AFTRA website and did not find my particular situation on their pay charts. Would what I did, be considered an under 5 considering the amount I was paid? Or is it a featured role? The letter I received from AFTRA did not say. I plan to call them Monday, but I am confused, because I was clearly told that the group I was singing in was background and what the rate was for the job. Has this ever happened to anyone else? Is this a situation where I was paid SAG scale for AFTRA and can use the pay stubs as a voucher towards joining SAG?

I would call AFTRA; it sure sounds like a U/5. What show was this? A U/5 would pay $300 or a little more after taxes-but a $500 residual check sounds high. If you are a member of AFTRA you would be SAG-E.

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Originally posted by LADelight:
I would call AFTRA; it sure sounds like a U/5. What show was this? A U/5 would pay $300 or a little more after taxes-but a $500 residual check sounds high. If you are a member of AFTRA you would be SAG-E.

I'm not in AFTRA, because I was under the impression that it was less important than being in SAG, which I wanted to be eligible for first. The show was an MTV awards show.

Tuscangirl,

Did you not sign any kind of contract? I would think you would know by the contract. However, if AFTRA says you did an under-5 and they are willing to give you a letter to that affect then if you join AFTRA now you would be able to join SAG after a year.

Yes, I did sign papers, but they seemed to be some sort of release and MTV did not offer any of the talent copies (everyone signed a similar stack of papers, so I thought nothing of it). I was told that it was just a background job when given the job, but obviously it was more and I will call AFTRA Monday to find out what it was.

Good-luck!

Well, AFTRA told me that someone else in the project saw it play at the movies and called them, so that is where all the money came from.