I have been a member of the Screen Actors guild for twelve years and am currently on the S.A.G. Guild Government Review Committee, S.A.G. Women's Committee, S.A.G. Health and Safety Net Committee, S.A.G. National Background Committee and am an executive member of "The Wild Bunch of Hollywood".

Background eligibility reform and dues cap removal
By: Marlene Sosebee. 4/2006

(Two motions I put forth last year that were ignored by the board.)

Too long has our union relied on a failed three voucher system to raise income to support our guild and in doing so, has failed to secure jobs by flooding our ranks with over three thousand new members each year.

The flood gates remain wide open with little concern for those of us that struggle to find work or auditions.

It is time to control the wide open flood gates with a new Eligibility Review Entrance Committee. A committee that not only reduces the amount of new members but makes sure that those allowed in are qualified to be in an actors union.

The loss of income from such a reduction of new members must be countered by a dues cap removal. We can start small with just an eighth of a percent over the current half a million cap which should eliminate any fallout or repercussions from out wealthier members.

Therefore I will again put forth the following motion at the next open S.A.G. meeting:
One background union voucher be required for eligibility along with a one on one interview with a new Eligibility Entrance Review Committee. This new committee will be responsible for reviewing and controlling the number of new members.

Here is the motion I got passed at the last S.A.G. open mike meeting, July 16th 2006.
The current dues cap of 500,000 be lifted and an eight of a percent be added to all income over that amount. This motion is to be acted upon within 90 days by the board of directors.

More about the dues caps....

We need to remove the dues caps with my "Foot in the Door Plan". The only reason the dues caps are still there is because most of the proposals have been 1% across the board. It is too much to ask an actor that makes 10 million to go from paying $5,300 to $100,000. I would jump ship just on general principals if my union told me I had to pay such an increase! We need to start with an eighth of a percent. That would take the 10 million earner from $5,300 to $12,500. doable. Review possible increases annually.

Fi-Core problem...

The only way to solve the Fi-Core problem is to offer some sort of insurance with every S.A.G. card (Use the money from the dues cap removal to help this along).

Background pay and BG numbers... on the set need to be drastically increased. Our negotiators always fold on these issues when they do not have to. Stop selling out the struggling actors on such small percentages of overall budgets. Ten years ago there were many 1500 background calls but with modern technology in computer graphics we now see no more than 100-150 at the most. it is time to make all BG union on union shoots.

Background calling services... must be regulated. Most of them take 30-40 percent! They should only be allowed to operate with non-union talent. the jobs should all go back to the casting agents and put up on the hot lines. This systems reeks of nepotism, favoritism, payola and extortion.
Everyone I talk to that is in a calling service agrees that they should at least be be regulated.
It is outrageous that most people only average 1-3 days a month and they are paying on average, 30-40% of the income that they get from the calling service.
Our S.A.G. President has told me he thinks they should be regulated and he should act on this. The only reason they continue to operate this way is because they can. Regulating what S.A.G. members pay them will not destroy their business because they would be free to take on more S.A.G. members if they were only taking 15% of 1-3 days work.
If a SAG actor were to get 20 days in a given month they should just pay the 75 dollars (or whatever the fee is) and not the 15%.
Under the present system too many calling services take advantage of SAG actor by stringing them along for months only getting them 1 or 2 jobs each month until they quit. but they keep the cash at 30-40 percent. It's BAD.
The only people who will be apposed to this regulation of calling services will not be SAG members.

How about all actors should be in S.A.G. and radio announcers in AFTRA and what if our negotiators always have the power to strike if need be. We must always remain strong and fully aware of our strengths.

I supported California's AB 777...

It is the only way to stop the run away production to other states.
Assembly Bill 777 lays out a 10-year plan in which television shows would receive a maximum 15 percent tax break, while commercial productions could claim a 10 percent credit. 75 percent of principal photography would have to be done in California, and certain costs would not be covered, such as rights acquisition, development, financing, distribution, and residuals.

ALSO.... Qualified voting is insane! Supporters of this elitist approach to voting will give you all kinds of reasons why it is a good idea but the bottom line on this baby is that they want to silence voters that disagree with their agendas.

The S.A.G. members that do not know the issues throw away their ballots anyway so there is no problem with everyone having a voice if they want it. Qualified voting targets lower income S.A.G. members. DO NOT let them take away your vote. You pay dues....you get to vote.

Background entrance eligibility plan proposal.

Background entrance eligibility plan proposal.

To become SAG eligible doing background work a non-union background artist must attain one union voucher and recite a memorized 60 second monologue in front of a new Eligibility Review Entrance Committee . The memorized monologue will be presented to the committee in writing before the recital. Those who successfully complete the monologue will be eligible to join no matter how good their performance.

Too long has our union relied on a failed three voucher system to raise income to help support our guild and in doing so, has failed to secure jobs by flooding our ranks with over three thousand new members each year. The flood gates remain wide open with little concern for those of us that struggle to find work and auditions. We are giving away too many union jobs with the 3 vouchers system. One union voucher along with this new Eligibility Review Entrance Committee would not only reduce the amount of new members but it would also make sure that those allowed in were qualified to be in an actors union.

This system would still give the background artist a way to get into the union and because we are the Screen ACTORS Guild our lawyers should have no trouble defending the Eligibility Review Entrance Committee requirement .

Those with one voucher wishing to recite their monologue would be on a first come first serve basis and would have to wait in line to recite in front of the committee.

The committee would be on a volunteer basis and consist of current paid up S.A.G. members meeting once a week for 3-4 hours. They would not judge the performance only verify that it was completed before the committee. One verification letter would be signed by the committee members to accompany the one union voucher.

Those non-union background actors that have already met their SAG eligibility requirements prior to the implement of this new plan will still remain eligible as long as they get in line and present their monologue before the Eligibility Review Entrance Committee .

I believe this monologue requirement would eliminate up to 50% of eligible candidates. Many would just never get around to learning a monologue and some would not feel comfortable performing it in front of an eligibility committee.

This new system will reduce the number of new members, eliminate the loss of thousands of union jobs, maintain the integrity of our union and eliminate the current three voucher system and the corruption that goes with it.

Proposed Union voucher distribution rules for background performers.

By: Marlene Sosebee

Union vouchers can only be given out to union actors by presenting a SAG card on the set.

No union vouchers will be given to non-union actors.

If there is a no-show by a union background actor, no union voucher can be given out to a non-union actor to fulfill the minimum number of vouchers for the day.

Production would then need to add to the SAG count for the following day with background performers to compensate for the previous day's incomplete SAG count.

If the production reaches the end of the shoot with SAG jobs unfulfilled then production would be fined the amount of these non-issued vouches and the money would go to the SAG Actors Fund to help struggling actors.

The on-line casting data base that is being created by SAG will eliminate the need for casting agent to give any non-union background SAG vouchers because they cannot find what the need.

With over 100,000 SAG members to choose from all casting needs should easily be met.

If there is an unusual casting need and no SAG member is willing to do the job as a background performer then production must offer the SAG job at principal rate.

Here are some more of the important S.A.G. issues that need to be addressed:

•  Where is the S.A.G. casting website ? WE need an investigation into why this website is not up and running. Our members spend millions of dollars each year to online casing websites when they could get the same service for free.

•  Change the 3 voucher eligibility plan to 1 voucher and control the number of new members with a new Eligibility Review Entrance Committee.

•  Expose the corruption and extortion of calling services in regard to S.A.G. background performers.

•  Support FTAC and encourage local and state tax incentives to prevent more runaway production.

•  Promote bi-partisanship politics and discourage personal vendettas.

•  Prevent fearful cowering of our contract negotiators and re-instate the power of strike.

•  Rapidly increase the S.A.G. background performer job numbers to keep up with New York .

•  Increase background performers pay . It should be 1/3 rd of principal pay as it used to be . not 1/6 th .

•  Address the rising abuse of photo fee scams on background actors as well as the many set abuses .

•  Remove all studio influence within S.A.G.

•  Hire more qualified field reps and train them properly.

•  Record board meeting minutes and votes. Make everyone accountable !

•  Stop over paying upper management and increase membership services !

We have to stop AFTRA from stealing SAG contracts! How dare our union allow S.A.G. background to work for $90 for eight hours of work!! S.A.G. with AFTRA rates it pure bullshit!!

14 years ago S.A.G. took over the Screen Extras Guild and has never kept the promise to create equality between New York and Hollywood . HOLLYWOOD S.A.G. Background Artists are being SCREWED! Compare the numbers! The dues and initiation fees are the same as New York but Hollywood gets so much less !

KEEP IN MIND THAT NEW YORK PRODUCTION WAS UP 35% WHILE LA SAW A DROP OF 23% DURRING THE 2006 PILOT SEASON BECAUSE OF RUNAWY PRODUCTION!!

20 years ago New York and Hollywood both had 75 for TV and 125 for features. Also, the TV/theatrical zone was a 300 mile radius. We used to have a 'silent bit' provision that was 50% higher than the base rate. There was a time when the background rate was 1/3 of the principal day rate but it is now only 1/6 of the principal rate . The struggling actors are getting screwed!

California is known for innovative and forward thinkers. Let us change this union for the better with reason and compassion. For more information on where I stand on the issues please visit thewildbunchofhollywood.com or queenboudica.com

Not paid for by S.A.G.funds