Great new article on NYCastings about this!

http://www.nycastings.com/dmxr...ychildjoinsag-aftra?

Why don't they mention SAG-e? (Or I guess SAG-AFTRA eligible now).

I would think the whole article is dedicated to SAG-e. If you're not SAG-e, there's no decision to make.

True. It's odd, though, because I've ALWAYS seen the advice for kids to stay SAG-E as long as possible.

The article is basically saying to stay SAG-e as long as you can but keep in mind that kids can only work SAG-e up to age 6. After age 6 he or she will have to join the union in order to take on SAG or Aftra roles. A child can't join the union unless he/ she has accumulated SAG-Aftra credits, regardless of age -- so, like Trillian said, the whole article is basically pertaining to SAG-e kids.

Since she encourages eligible kids to join after age 8 and kids can only work SAG-e up until age 6, it would only really be a tough decision about whether or not to join during the ages of 6 or 7, according to the article. We will be facing that this year when DS turns 6...

Thanks for sharing the article!

It's not saying to keep SAG-e as long as possible.

It emphasizes that it's a personal decision. That the economic burden is big. But it also says that, even though many productions accept submissions from both union and non-union (to have more options to pick from), "most productions give preferential treatment to union performers" because they have experience and are eager to get back their investments (according to the article).

They're saying it's "not critical" for kids under 6 years old, which is not the same as encouraging to stay SAG-e as long as possible. Their reasoning is that it's an economic burden (too expensive to join) and it's a personal decision. Like "if you can't and the kid is under 6, you can get away with it."

Her answer "I have found that it really isn't critical for kids under 6 years" to join the union is in direct response to this question: IS IT PREFERRED THAT YOUNG PERFORMERS STAY NON-UNION AS LONG AS POSSIBLE? (Their caps, not mine!)

Her comment about productions giving preferential treatment to union actors is in reference to kids over the age of 8.

"It's not critical." That's her answer. Meaning it's up to the parent. It's not the same as "should stay SAG-e as long as possible."

Anyway, she's more straightforward in the next section where she says that kids 5yo and under should NOT join until they have to. And I agree.

quote:

keep in mind that kids can only work SAG-e up to age 6. After age 6 he or she will have to join the union in order to take on SAG or Aftra roles.

Right, but if you book one union role and become SAG-e, you have the choice of joining the union immediately, or staying SAG-e until you book the next role. I thought that's what the article was addressing.

Always wait until you are a MUST join, once your child joins the Union, ANY union, they are NO LONGER ALLOWED TO DO ANY NON UNION WORK AT ALL.

Again, once you join you are prohibited from doing any non union film, TV, Theater, VO work of any kind.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2581909/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Do you ladies think there is less work for sag kids?

I believe that alot more non union commercials are in NY then union ones.

Non Union commercials suck( sorry about the language)... no residuals...

When my DD was 7 and joined SAG things definitely slowed down in terms of auditions, but in my opinion I am glad not to be driving around auditioning for all of the $100 or $500 jobs any more.

I have a SAG/SAG-e question. Last summer my son got a SAG waiver as an extra in a commercial. At that time I was told to be careful not to do alot of SAG extra work as it would be expensive for him to join the union at that stage in his career. Recently my son was offered a supporting role in a short film with a SAG-Aftra agreement. Does that mean if he takes the role he has to join SAG?