Maybe this is the right place to ask this. are there any agents or managers who do only commercial or industrial casting for Non union?

Managers and agents don't "do" casting. They represent actors who hope to be cast by "casting directors." I imagine you meant, are there agents and managers who rep non-union people and submit them for this type of work? Yes. Is it the "only" thing they do? Probably not, unless they want a small income stream, since n/u commercials and industrials don't pay a whole lot. Some agencies will take n/u and submit them for n/u jobs, but they also will try to submit them for union gigs.

oddly enough, in the non-union world, AGENTS actually DO casting, managers do casting, and they usually take 10% from the production for their "casting fee" then charge the talent 15-20% on top of that ! and there are such people as "casting agents" in the non-union world, and sometimes non-union actors have to pay to audition. yes its true. One time a low end casting co. was holding auditions for a pepsi commercial, and when they finish auditioning SAG, they charged nonsag people 5 dollars to audition. you should have seen how many non-union reused to leave. it made me sick.

that non-union world, its full of animals I tell you.

Yep-those blatant conflicts of interest do occur. However, it is generally prevalent in smaller markets(everything other than LA basically). When one do-it-all huckster who serves as agent, manager, acting teacher, headshot photographer, and casting director is the only person in town, you have little choice but to deal with them. In a union town like LA the players are more clearly defined. Even the wild west of the n/u world is more defined-you would raise significant eyebrows and probably get a bad reputation-and the industry would turn its back on you.

UGH, you wont believe the amount of non-union scum here in NYC, seems like every corner you walk around theres a scam. pick up a copy of the daily news and see all the ads for ACTOR WANTED no experience necessary ! ... really. its disgusting...

Well I'm sure this question has been asked a million times or so,but since I'm new here I'll ask it again.
How in the hell do you get in the Union then? Obviously experience dosent count nor does talent. Cant get a gig without a agent ,cant get a agent without a gig.
The voucher system seems to be at the whelm of a 20 somthing 2or3rd AD or even worse a PA who has the hots for a cast member.
On the other hand if you do work without union status the union will "Raise thier eyebrows" and ban you for life?

I'm 56 and have tons of experience in film ,television,industrials,commercials and over 150 theater shows, hell I ran for 8 years in one show alone.

Now I'm treated or thought of as a "scum'if I attempt to work?

And what about some of these bright boy's and girls who flaunt thier SAG card to me?

I look at thier "resumes" and am shocked. They usally say somthing like: Acting seminar with Mr. Billy Bob"or "member of the such and such theater group in NOHO" and even worse the ever popular"Acting studies ongoing"?

The reality is they have done 1 or 2 shows in high school , a few bit parts in community theater spent bunches of $$$ to sit in a store front "Theater' and do improv games,not to mention the other $$$$ spent to create a series of headshots/reels and web sites that all get lost in the shuffle as they strive to become a star.

And the end result? They cant act. They dont act. They just play the game of acting.

Alot of these "actors" want to be a "movie star".

What about being a good actor that can hold his or her head up high and know that they have finally become a real actor?

One who can take the written word and touch the inner soul of the audience member.


Hey I dont discount the on going process that trains a new actor, it is the basis of all future work,ya gotta learn through doing though as well.

So the key question still remains....What do you have to do to get the almighty "CARD"?
Thanks for taking the time to read this post.

you already know how to get a "card".

It is when you desire to work in the union's juridiction is when you WANT to join,

the qualifications are listed on each unions site.

AFTRA asks for no qualifications.

yes my friend, qualifying CAN BE HARD.
but if the industry WANTS YOU as much as you WANT IT, then your union card will come easy and fast. if they dont wnnt you, then its gonna be a long road.

quote:

Tell me no right away ,It puts me that much closer to a yes

also I keep reading this as a part of your post. wny dont put a series of dashes above it so ppl knows its a sig line ?

There are several ways to become SAG Eligible.

- Booked a SAG Commercial.
- Speaking part in SAG Production.
- Backgrounds and get 3 SAG Waivers.
- 1 YEAR in Equity.
- Principle Role within 1 YEAR in AFTRA.

(correct me if I'm... my brain is fried)

*** Commercial Works ***

The production company would often over look your union status, as long as you got the look and charisma they want.

*** Speaking part in SAG Production ***

Not sure if I need to explain this... But it can happen, if the director felt the need and you happened to be in the scene, that you are asked to say or reach to the main actor.

*** 3 SAG Waivers from Background Works ***

As far as I know, there are 2 different 'ways' of getting a SAG Waiver from doing Extra work.

1) You got the exact look (or right age range) for a particular scene. There are just not enough SAG talents to full-fill the background. (For Spiderman 3, a lot of models & actresses got 3 days booking for a particular scene. And all of them were offered SAG Waivers)

2) 5 out of 50 booked SAG backgrounds didn't show up. Your call in number is #52. You get boosted into the top 50. Tah-dah, SAG Waiver.

** EQUITY **

Now, this is where Experience and Skills comes in (Yes, Dutchman).

If you are Non-Equity, there are ways to get "EQUITIED." A friend of mine recently got his Equity Card, because the Off-Off Broadway show that he was starring got picked-up, and became Off-Broadway. Tah-dah, the entire cast got "Equitied."

You can always attend the Open Calls for Shows (AEA) - usually, they would see a couple non-Equity actors at the end of the day (yes, bring newspapers, books with you). It's your call if you want to invest an entire day, waiting to be seen, waiting to audition.

Once you are in Equity, maintain good membership for a year, and get more principle/leading parts... then Tah-Dah, SAG Eligible.

(I think this scenario occurs more in New York than Los Angeles....)

** AFTRA **

This can be tricky.... But in New York, it's tough to get one principle/speaking role in an AFTRA production. Since, there are not enough AFTRA works around. But in LA, it's a different scene.


But you know what? Just keep on working and working and do what you love to do. I mean, being in the Union would definately help financially --- but don't let it get in the way of your passion for the craft.

like what SAGAFTRAAEA said... if the Industry wants you, the Union stuff will come knocking on your door. If the Industry doesn't want you, then you will have to show them how good you are.

Now, here is a quote from a talent agent that I heard at a workshop.

"I don't really care if you are in the Union or Not. If you are good and able to book the auditions; you *will* be in the Union."

Thank you all for your responses. Today as I started checking e mails I had one booking notice for a principal's part in a feature in LA and another for a commercial as a principal.
I think thats 2 for 3 from last weeks auditions in LA. I will take all your comments to heart and look for every oppurtunity to use them as I can.
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