Arizona 2008:08

August 26, 2008

Branch President Lucky Hayes with honoree
Francesca Jarvis at Old Tucson Studios on
June 20.

WOW! WHOTTA PARTY!

By Lucky Hayes
Arizona Branch President

Arizona’s rip-roarin’ 75th anniversary event took place in the saloon at Old Tucson Studios, where we stayed cool and comfortable whilst gnawing on our barbecue and eating up the entertainment. We viewed a personalized welcome clip from SAG National President Alan Rosenberg. We also saw a superb documentary that sparked a huge sense of pride in what that handful of stars began 75 years ago, and what they accomplished and so unselfishly and graciously handed off to us: our union. We must protect that trust for the next generations of actors.

There were proclamations from:

• Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, presented by former State Senator Toni Hellon, the primary sponsor of our state filmmaking incentive legislation
• Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, read by Film Commissioner Phil Bradstock of the Phoenix Film Office; and
• Tucson Mayor Robert E. Walkup, delivered by Director Shelli Hall of the City of Tucson Film Office

All declared SAG Day in their various domains.

There were door prizes, and an award to Francesca Jarvis for her outstanding contributions to Arizona SAG. Overall, we had some general rowdy fun as befitted the occasion. Everybody got a goodie bag to take home, along with the satisfaction of knowing that our union is still strong and still fighting for us every day.

Old Tucson Studios played a huge part in the history of film in Arizona, and many of us have shot there on location. Their resident gang did it up in spades for us: there were saloon girls, cowboys, gamblers and a whole raft of performers dressed to the teeth and completely in the swing of things. After our event was over, Old Tucson's stunt team stayed and put on a really great Wild West stunt show, complete with high falls, fist fights, dust a-flyin’, guns a-firin’, explosives smokin’ up the joint and lots of hokey humor.

Event chair Amanda Melby and her committee didn’t miss a trick. They chose a terrific menu, decorated the place as SAG’s Saloon and gathered goodies and gifts so that nobody went home empty-handed. It was a truly remarkable celebration to mark a truly remarkable occasion. Kudos, committee!

Our only regret is that so many of our members couldn’t get away on a Friday to celebrate. They missed a doozy!

Happy 75th anniversary, Screen Actors Guild. It’ll never come to pass again. Sigh…





IT'S TIME FOR SCHOOL AND BOOKPALS

Actors, practice your skills and help children at the same time.

If you would like to add to your contributions by reading aloud to groups of children in their classrooms, consider joining BookPALS. Children will be delighted by your ability to bring a story to life.

BookPALS (Performing Artists for Literacy in Schools) is a program of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation. We will train you and provide book suggestions for your oral reading sessions.

BookPALS has been going strong in Arizona since 1998 in Metro Phoenix and Tucson. We provide the support, you volunteer your time and talent. The children provide the most appreciative audience you will ever perform for.

Call Ellen Dean at (602) 750-2923 to sign up. Visit the BookPALS website to see what fun we've been having. If you can't read during the day, there are opportunities to read on the story telephone line, at shelters and at Crisis Nursery evenings and weekends. Check with Dean about these placements. Come join us, and see how rewarding BookPALS can be.





WHAT DOES SCALE REALLY MEAN?

By Don Livesay
Arizona Branch Executive Director

I’ve heard non-members boast that they may work non-union, but they never work below scale. They contend if, at the end of the day, they bring home at least as much money as members working under a SAG contract, that’s okay.

The problem is that their definition of scale simply doesn’t measure up to what real union scale means. They make a false assumption that the work itself is somehow the same as it is under a union contract. “Work is work,” they say. But frankly, non-union work is not union work, and certainly non-union pay is not union pay.

Before we go any further, let’s define the term “scale.” Scale is the minimum payment or payments set forth in the collective bargaining agreement between SAG and the producer. Scale is not just the session fee. Scale, in fact, covers all the negotiated fees that are part of the contract, including residuals, wardrobe allowances, per diem, mileage, transportation and travel time—to name a few. Scale is the upgrade you get when, as a background performer, you are thrown a line, and the liquidated damages that are added when your check is late. And don’t forget pension and health. Can a non-union producer provide the benefit package that is the equivalent of what professional performers make when they work under contract? I don’t think so. All of these payments are scale because they are negotiated as the minimum payments that come due when the particular circumstance calls for it. For scale to be paid on a non-union job, the equivalent of all these payments would have to be assured, and they are not.

Scale is a win-win.

Did you ever wonder why things tend to run smoothly on a SAG set? It happens because under our contract, all work is “on the clock.” Production dollars are saved when schedules are met. The discipline of time and money determines that time and money are rarely wasted, and the best people are usually hired so they aren’t.

No, not everything is smooth—this is show business after all—but when the producer sets up the optimum working conditions according to the contract that he/she has signed with us, the best possible results are more likely to occur. The consequence is that scale buys a quality of performance that tends to permeate the set. Good for producers. Good for actors.

The fact that producers continue to look to our members for quality performances is a tribute to what scale terms and conditions bring to the process. The fact that performers seek out SAG work, so that they can join and build their careers on standards of excellence, is a tribute to what we are as an organization.

Non-union pay can never match up to what true scale is. If one works for scale, the “work” and the “pay” have to equal out. And with non-union employment, they don’t come close.

Scale honors the contribution of the performer. Scale means respect. Scale puts production on a path toward excellence and value, a path we have followed for 75 years. As we look to the future, let us all remember that.





DID YOU KNOW?

INFORMATION FROM THE COMMERCIALS DEPARTMENT:
B-ROLL/BEHIND-THE-SCENES FOOTAGE

More often nowadays, we are seeing commercial producers shoot behind-the-scenes footage. The usage for this type of footage varies: Internet, director’s reel, advertiser’s in-house reel, etc. This work is covered under the SAG Industrial & Educational Contract and should be negotiated separately from the commercial work. If behind-the-scenes footage is not negotiated at the time of booking, contact SAG immediately, and we will notify the producer that they are required to negotiate and pay for this under the Industrial & Educational Contract. The Arizona Branch office number is (602) 383-3780, or you can call toll free at (800) 724-0767, ext. 7.





OPO - LITTLE KNOWN KEY TO JOBS

Have you ever been told by a producer that he would love to hire members of the Guild but that it's just too expensive? You might have pointed him to SAGindie for a look at the special contracts we have for low budget films. But what if he is not producing films, but local commercials or industrials?

AFTRA and SAG in Arizona provide a contract for commercials that are produced in and played in the state. It is called the Arizona Regional Commercials Contract, and it includes rates that are discounted and geared to our market. It was designed specifically to give an incentive to local producers to hire union members who make Arizona their home.

But there's more. This contract and the Industrial Educational Contract are available on a one-production-only basis. Let's say a producer wants to hire SAG members, but his budgets don't always allow a full commitment for the full term of our agreements. In most instances, we can help him by way of the One Production Only Agreement, or OPO. This arrangement permits our members to experience full union protection for a job, including SAG Producers Pension & Health Plan credits, while allowing producers who wouldn't ordinarily be able to afford it, a chance to hire our people.

The OPO is limited to programs produced under the Industrial & Educational Contract and to commercials produced under the Arizona Regional Commercials Contract. It might be a key to opening a door for work that you might be missing out on. Use it when you can. Call the office. And when producers say SAG is too expensive, point them in our direction. We can be reached at (602) 383-3780, (800) 724-0767, ext. 7, or by e-mail at dlivesay@sag.org.





IN AN EMERGENCY SAG IS STANDING BY

In case of an emergency requiring immediate after-hour assistance for matters concerning safety, health or harassment, please refer to the numbers on the back of your membership card. For emergency assistance on the West Coast – including Arizona and Utah – call (323) 954-1600. Please know that if an emergency comes up, we will respond to your needs wherever and whenever you might be performing.





SAG 75TH ANNIVERSARY GEAR AVAILABLE

Visit thesagshop.com for the latest in must-have, union-made merchandise. Check out the new Screen Actors Guild 75th anniversary items, including T-shirts and polos. Demonstrate your good taste and union pride.




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