there needs to be a video out there with strategies to get SAG eligible with real, proven steps. the #1 thing i recommend is PRIORITIZING the extra/background postings you submit for -- you can only guarantee getting a SAG voucher as a photo double or stand-in. the great thing about these gigs, which are listed by places like Central Casting in los angeles, is that shows need people who look just like specific actors. if there isn't a union person who is the actor's exact height, weight, skin tone, etc., central casting will hire a non-union person as the actor's stand-in or photo double. you will get a voucher for this. stop going to every background gig that's willing to take you. SAG vouchers given at random to non-union background on set is VERY rare. you should realize that SAG pay rates are much higher than non-union rates -- so there is very little incentive for a show/movie to pay non-union people SAG rates for non-union work. shows/movies are also obliged by the union to NOT hire non-union people for SAG roles. photo double and stand-in roles are protected under SAG, so you need to submit for these gigs if you want to guarantee that you get a voucher.
Client Photos there are of course other ways to get into the union - maybe you get a Taft-Hartley because you miraculously booked a principal role in a union commercial, or you knew a casting director that gave you a line of dialogue on a TV show. You could also get a SAG voucher as a background extra bc the show brought you back at an inconvenient time to do a reshoot of the scene you were in. These are rare opportunities, usually outside of your control - that’s why I recommend submitting yourself specifically for stand-in and photo double work.
@@MikeA1 I am all for your suggestion and it is a great one. However, I am AGAINST people stating things that are not true like "The only way to get into sag is be a double" This causes rumors and people to be miss lead. You can gain a principal speaking role in a smaller sag film or project if there are multiple lead speaking roles because only ONE has to be a sag member to qualify the film project. Or a film project can bring in hundreds of non sag background actors as "Extras" as long as they FIRST attempt to get SAG extras. Let's say a scene needs 100 extras and it's last minute. They can qualify to book non sag extras as long as they attempt to also book sag extras. There are several ways things can happen, people just need to research deeper to find answers. - Cheers.
Client Photos I agree with you 100% that there are tons of ways to get into the union. You did misquote me though. What I said is to PRIORITIZE stand-in and photo double work bc you will always get a voucher if you have these roles on a union project. It’s a hot tip that no one told me for the first year I was in LA trying to get into the union. You can throw everything at the wall and see what sticks like you’re suggesting, or you can go hard pursuing stand-in and photo double work only, which is what I ended up doing. Within a few months of focusing on those two areas alone, and not wasting my time doing every gig that had the potential to get me a voucher, I had my three vouchers. You can continue to pick apart my recommendation all you want and say it’s going to start rumors, but it’s a strategy that worked very well for me. If more people took the advice I’m giving, there wouldn’t be so many background actors sitting in circles on set complaining about not having any vouchers.
Mike Abbate & Client Photos, I took a lot away from both of your perspectives. Thank you both for the insight. Client, I’ll definitely keep an eye out for those rush calls/overnight shoots. Mike, I’m certainly going to keep an eye out for the stand-in roles. I don’t see a lot of postings for it on Backstage (I’m Philadelphia-New York based, so maybe there’s a different method here vs how it is where you are in L.A.) but I’ll start with Google & go from there.
But how does one get into a union project if they’re non-union? That’s the question no one seems to be able to answer. Becoming SAG eligible on a union set as an extra doesn’t cut it anymore. I did 4 days on the Creed 2 set as an extra, as well as a couple of Netflix series & I still have no SAG vouchers.
I too worked on 13 Reasons Why; no vouchers. Was told they were passing them out alot in previous seasons. The kicker is that agents won't take a look at me unless I'm SAG eligible.
@@hero.alexander So so so many questions I see people ask can be answered in 3 minutes by calling sag and asking. Stop looking at the internet for answers and go to the source.
Interesting enough, becoming SAG as an extra takes a little more pushing. You have to ask for a SAG voucher for each of the three days required on a SAG project. They don’t just give it to you. For me, I was non-union and was recently cast as co-lead on a SAG feature film. They “Taft Hartley” me into the project. I think there is some paperwork and a fee to have this done by production, but really if you are perfect for the role and non-union, they will feel you are worthy enough to make you SAG eligible. Seriously, having a lot of experience helps with this because they need to believe that you are able to handle and are experienced enough to work on a SAG set. Good luck!
there needs to be a video out there with strategies to get SAG eligible with real, proven steps. the #1 thing i recommend is PRIORITIZING the extra/background postings you submit for -- you can only guarantee getting a SAG voucher as a photo double or stand-in. the great thing about these gigs, which are listed by places like Central Casting in los angeles, is that shows need people who look just like specific actors. if there isn't a union person who is the actor's exact height, weight, skin tone, etc., central casting will hire a non-union person as the actor's stand-in or photo double. you will get a voucher for this. stop going to every background gig that's willing to take you. SAG vouchers given at random to non-union background on set is VERY rare. you should realize that SAG pay rates are much higher than non-union rates -- so there is very little incentive for a show/movie to pay non-union people SAG rates for non-union work. shows/movies are also obliged by the union to NOT hire non-union people for SAG roles. photo double and stand-in roles are protected under SAG, so you need to submit for these gigs if you want to guarantee that you get a voucher.
The ONLY way??? Really? This is not correct.
Client Photos there are of course other ways to get into the union - maybe you get a Taft-Hartley because you miraculously booked a principal role in a union commercial, or you knew a casting director that gave you a line of dialogue on a TV show. You could also get a SAG voucher as a background extra bc the show brought you back at an inconvenient time to do a reshoot of the scene you were in. These are rare opportunities, usually outside of your control - that’s why I recommend submitting yourself specifically for stand-in and photo double work.
@@MikeA1 I am all for your suggestion and it is a great one. However, I am AGAINST people stating things that are not true like "The only way to get into sag is be a double" This causes rumors and people to be miss lead. You can gain a principal speaking role in a smaller sag film or project if there are multiple lead speaking roles because only ONE has to be a sag member to qualify the film project. Or a film project can bring in hundreds of non sag background actors as "Extras" as long as they FIRST attempt to get SAG extras. Let's say a scene needs 100 extras and it's last minute. They can qualify to book non sag extras as long as they attempt to also book sag extras. There are several ways things can happen, people just need to research deeper to find answers. - Cheers.
Client Photos I agree with you 100% that there are tons of ways to get into the union. You did misquote me though. What I said is to PRIORITIZE stand-in and photo double work bc you will always get a voucher if you have these roles on a union project. It’s a hot tip that no one told me for the first year I was in LA trying to get into the union. You can throw everything at the wall and see what sticks like you’re suggesting, or you can go hard pursuing stand-in and photo double work only, which is what I ended up doing. Within a few months of focusing on those two areas alone, and not wasting my time doing every gig that had the potential to get me a voucher, I had my three vouchers. You can continue to pick apart my recommendation all you want and say it’s going to start rumors, but it’s a strategy that worked very well for me. If more people took the advice I’m giving, there wouldn’t be so many background actors sitting in circles on set complaining about not having any vouchers.
Mike Abbate & Client Photos, I took a lot away from both of your perspectives. Thank you both for the insight. Client, I’ll definitely keep an eye out for those rush calls/overnight shoots. Mike, I’m certainly going to keep an eye out for the stand-in roles. I don’t see a lot of postings for it on Backstage (I’m Philadelphia-New York based, so maybe there’s a different method here vs how it is where you are in L.A.) but I’ll start with Google & go from there.
Just do non-union work until your lucky enough to be chosen by someone who wants you for a union job..
Good advice!
Man, I thought it was as simple as filling out an application form. But, what are the benefits/disadvantages of joining SAG?
Thanks for this advice!
Thanks Daniel
But how does one get into a union project if they’re non-union? That’s the question no one seems to be able to answer. Becoming SAG eligible on a union set as an extra doesn’t cut it anymore. I did 4 days on the Creed 2 set as an extra, as well as a couple of Netflix series & I still have no SAG vouchers.
I too worked on 13 Reasons Why; no vouchers. Was told they were passing them out alot in previous seasons. The kicker is that agents won't take a look at me unless I'm SAG eligible.
@@hero.alexander So so so many questions I see people ask can be answered in 3 minutes by calling sag and asking. Stop looking at the internet for answers and go to the source.
Interesting enough, becoming SAG as an extra takes a little more pushing. You have to ask for a SAG voucher for each of the three days required on a SAG project. They don’t just give it to you. For me, I was non-union and was recently cast as co-lead on a SAG feature film. They “Taft Hartley” me into the project. I think there is some paperwork and a fee to have this done by production, but really if you are perfect for the role and non-union, they will feel you are worthy enough to make you SAG eligible. Seriously, having a lot of experience helps with this because they need to believe that you are able to handle and are experienced enough to work on a SAG set. Good luck!
Gotta be either the most likable person in your surrounding or most ruthless cut throat backstabbing person around.
That video told the obvious things, no in debt stuff.
Great video.
If you got money you can get it
The AD? What’s that?
As you know: Assistant Director