Middle Class Actors

[JasonRadley]

Clooney should have stayed in the closet. 

[jbyrd130]

I'm not in SAG, but I completely support the NO side. I'm a wannabe/gonnabe indie writer/producer who intends to produce my own series content for the web. From the production side, being accountable to talent in terms of residuals and backend agreements requires more tact, labor and savvy, but it is simply the respectable and fair way to do business. If I wee in the guild i'd be voting with you guys.

[girlygirlindahood]

TO SAG ACTORS VERY IMPORTANT

VOTE NO ON NEW CONTRACT

Your SAG President says to, to 1) protect our union and 2) gain LEVERAGE.

Your image will be used for free in perpertuity, plus no more OT or meal penalties

VOTE NO to help kick out producer puppets who've infiltrated our union.

Remember, producers NEVER PLAY FAIR, ALWAYS GO BACK ON THEIR WORD & WILL NOT revisit residual issue (like DVDs 20 yrs ago).

VOTE NO ON NEW CONTRACT, IT'S UNFAIR!

VOTE NO, VOTE NO! VOTE NO!

[RevelationJoeTess]

All you SAG Members out there--NO MATTER WHAT YOU'RE LEVEL OF ACCOMPLISHMENT, KNOW THIS--YOU HAVE EARNED THAT UNION CARD, WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE ALSO EARNED A VOTE ON YOUR FUTURE. DON'T BE PRESSURED OR MADE TO FEEL SMALL BY ALL THESE RICH SCUMBAGS--YOU ARE IMPORTANT, YOU'RE LIVELIHOOD MATTERS, AND YOUR FUTURE IS AT STAKE RIGHT NOW. S.A.G.--Standup Against Greed. PLEASE VOTE. VOTE NO.

[RevelationJoeTess]

I am a typical SAG Member and I make 100% of my income AS AN ACTOR. The Contract at hand is a carrot being dangled in the face of a Starving Man TODAY, that will result in CATASTROPHIC LOSS TO YOU TOMORROW. The EXACT same scenario as when VHS was "new". We screwed up and trusted them to reevaluate the Contract stipulations later, AND THEY NEVER DID. The Greed Machine is at it again. All those 'little guys" out there who've busted their backs to be an actor for years finally get a voice. VOTE NO

[pubbies]

Cool music, what music is this?

[kamerakrazy]

I am out over $50K that I will never get back in residual checks. If I'm not mistaken, the majority of middle-class actors have alternative means of generating income to supplement their needs. I RELY ON TV & FILM PRODUCTION FOR 100% OF MY INCOME! Are you going to pay my child support with your residual check? Are you going to help my 2 college bound kids buy books with your residual check? If the answer is NO, then stop this insanity, sign a contract and let's all get back to work!!

[kamerakrazy]

While you all are fighting to preserve a few dollars in FUTURE residual checks, I (and thousands of others) are losing 10's of thousands of dollars in loss of work THIS year. Since September of 2007 I have seen my income literally cut in half due to a WGA strike and now a SAG pseudo strike, which I might add is far from over only meaning continued loss of 1,000's of dollars.

[LuciusBaston]

People are losing money all over the country. The economy is affecting your income more than this issue alone. Take a look around you. How many people do you know that have lost their jobs. I truly don't think you'd be a happy camper to find out that you've lost residual payments from all the work you've done. Suffer a little now for the greater good of all actors like yourself or cave in and take anything they wanna shove down your throat.

[bluejava]

The video is showing how actors, who have had to work their way up the ladder, have a clear understanding of why its important to consider the welfare of less fortunate members when trying to negotiate an ambitious contract.

Vote NO on a strike and DEMAND that a productive negotiating process begins immediately!

[MembershipFirst]

So we're assuming that what you mean by "productive negotiating" is when SAG starts pulling down its pants? And your first paragraph makes absolutely no sense relative to the video. Could you maybe say it a different way?

[bluejava]

Your analogy of pulling your pants down is an interesting one but if thats the way you choose to define negotiating then my answer is yes. Its time to drop your pants! How many contracts have I.A. members achieved by taking work away from actors by imposing a strike on the industry? Locals 44, 80, 728 & 729 are in the process of agreeing to a new contract with big concessions. They call it negotiating.

[bluejava]

If you truly believe that the threat of a strike is just what SAG needs to help leverage a better deal then why dont ya gangstas just start using guns. Selfish Angry Gangsters SAG.

[generatrix999]

What's the point of this vid?

Let's name some actors that bypassed the 'middle class'.

[UnionUndergroundACT]

Just in case you're not joking I have to ask you, Generatrix, if you actually watched the video. The point is the actors in the video were middle class before they became stars.

[FreakOfMeds]

Dakota Fanning! Olsen Twins!

[UnionUndergroundACT]

Membership First has it right. Ask yourself; Why do the NY Board Members hate LA so much or more specifically MF? Please explain what your perception of Alan & Doug's agenda is. It looks to me like they're trying to save residuals and fend off rollbacks, and all in the climate of supposed sister Unions undercutting them left and right. And, having their own SAG Members trying to discredit them...? I mean, isn't that what Union leaders are supposed to do? Behave like Union leaders?

[notsocynical]

Okay, now ask YOURSELF why is it that our sister Unions AND our New York branch are undercutting us left and right? Do they all lack the understanding of the importance of unity? Do they not care about residuals and fending off rollbacks? See, this is the problem with the Membership First supporters, they freely point the finger and cast others as evil cardboard cut outs. How does that possibly result in unity or strength? I'm an LA Actor who relies on residuals and even I can't stand them.

[arsebisquits]

Good thinking- let's bring down the entire industry because we want more than the writers got... or, I guess, we could wait and strike WITH the writers next time and get all we want and need. Who was the genius SAG board that separated SAG contracts from the writers?

[UnionUndergroundACT]

Variety(2/8/04): "In a surprise announcement Sunday, SAG and AFTRA said they were considering a proposal by studios to extend, by one year, their current three-year film-TV contract, set to expire June 30 Producers, of course, are seeking to deleverage the upcoming WGA contract negotiations, expected to center on strong demands for a revision of residuals in the booming DVD market."

Also, currently a WGA writer gets $600 after 6 months free streaming. SAG was offered $23. Please get informed.

[Kelpine]

It is my understanding that Melissa Gilbert gave the AMPTP a 3 months extention when she hel the office of SAG President. This gave the AMPTP added leverage setting SAG's negotiations 3 months later weaking our union solidarity. The time frame favored the AMPTP and still does.

[htfttf]

Once your rich the Union is of no use.

[notsocynical]

Unfortunately it's not as simple as this. The economy is in a really bad place and the last thing actors need is to turn the crews against them. Alan Rosenburg and Doug Allen have been AWFUL for SAG members. Let's use our efforts to consolidate actors under ONE union, until that is done we have no power.

[UnionUndergroundACT]

"Awful" because they tried to convey to Aftra that the stake holder (SAG) in the Theatrical contract needed to have a proportional voice in Negotiations? Because they don't believe broadcasters and DJs would be able to show anymore leverage in Theatrical Negotiations by merging with Aftra? SAG Members will suffer worse during the next three years if the June 30/union busting/residual eliminator offer is imposed.

[notsocynical]

Awful because they lack any sort of diplomacy or skill in how SAG actors are presented. They have managed, not only to sour the view of crew members and the public at large against actors, but also to turn actors against themselves.

[MembershipFirst]

How did Alan and Doug fail in diplomacy? All they've ever done is try and reach out not only to New York and the Branches but to Management... to freakin' negotiate. The VO Board Members in NY obviously resent LA actors and their residuals. No one can seem to figure out why. Alan and Doug not only are fending off Management but also NY SAG Board Members and celebrities who simply want a Management compliant Union. Alan and Doug are willing to be non-compliant in order to save the middle class.

[notsocynical]

They try to push through their agenda (which is my agenda too, I'm a middle-class actor who relies on residuals) but they are too ego bound and unwilling to listen or work with others. You can't just say "New York is just resentful" and leave it at that, that's just ridiculous. I've been to LA SAG meetings and watched those two throw their weight around. They set an agenda and try to push it through, they don't work with the people, they try to steer the members where they want them to go.

[JackieEco]

Cool! Still waiting for a response from SAG on some important, basic questions.

[SAGDEAL]

YES

[BrianHamiltonTV]

Nicely done. Thank you!!

[VDOVault]

This is so very brilliant. Nice work KEEPSAGRELEVANT

[whywewatch]

To become a 'name brand' or A-list actor you have to first pass through the middle class of actors on your way to household name recognition. If SAG via it's TV/Theatrical, Cable, & Commercial contracts can't secure residuals in new media, a means of supporting middle class actors will not be there and we lose the next generation of talented star-level actors because they can't afford to act for a living.

It's your future actors. Only you can secure it.