Utah 2007:07

UTAH BRANCH PRESIDENT REPORT

By Anne Sward

Work is coming back for the summer, slowly with a few low budget films. Some of us have worked the Sundance Institute Labs, which is always fun. You haven't worked until you have done the traditional "Osso Bucca" scene.

The Film Commission recently sent out a newsletter that made me feel a bit perplexed -- or at best out of touch. It said the following:

"Over the past two years, the state of Utah has seen more film and commercial activity than in any previous two-year period. From July of 2005 through June of 2007, 43 feature length films were shot, all or in part, in Utah including High School Musical 2, American Pastime, Unaccompanied Minors and Dark Matter. Other productions accounted for over 200 commercials, one network television series and parts of eight other series. With the new incentive package we know that this trend will continue."

OK, I get the Don Schain Disney Channel films, but 43 features, 200 commercials! I have been working in Utah for 10 years and never have been submitted for a commercial. Do they cast things here or should I talk to my agent?

Clearly, local SAG should be capturing some of this work. We need to organize this market. The council will be creating an organizing questionnaire for Utah SAG actors. Because the union cannot collect data for non-union work like it does for union jobs, we will have to put our ears to the street and find out who the producers are, where the work is, and who are the people working the jobs.

I realize the Madison Avenue car commercials go to Moab and such, which accounts for a lot of work. However, I am talking about our local bread and butter work. SAG actors have to become proactive and start organizing. At the national level we have an organizing director, Todd Amorde. He is wonderful. But without data it will be hard to approach him. If organizing is an interest to you, please contact me by email. We will form an organizing committee and make a plan. We need everyone on board with this.

Also, we will be planning an iActor party to make sure everyone goes online to submit their information. We will make it fun and easy. I am not savvy to these things, so we will figure it out on the computer together. We will enlist our brothers and sisters who actually know how to do the IT thing and the Internet.

Because we don't have an office, we have to organize in a different kind of way. We do not have a way to get together and meet on a regular basis so when we do plan events, let's see you there.

GOVERNOR HUNTSMAN NAMES NEW DIRECTOR OF FILM COMMISSION

On April 27, 2007, Jason P. Perry, executive director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development, announced that Marshall D. Moore was named the new Director of the Utah Film Commission by Governor Jon M. Huntsman Jr.

"The state has already benefited from Marshall's industry experience and guidance as he's been with the Film Commission for the past three years," Perry said. "And now with his willingness to step up and accept this role as Director of the Commission, Marshall's full talent, knowledge of the business, and support from industry leaders and local crew will benefit Utah and the motion picture industry."

Stephen King's mini-series The Stand brought Marshall, a California native, to the state of Utah 14 years ago as a location manager. After the production wrapped, Marshall decided to make Utah his home and continue his career here.

Marshall Moore's resume shows that he knows the film industry. His credentials as location manager and location scout include Warner Brothers, CBS, Leucadia Film Corp., ABC, Hollywood Pictures, HBO, M.G.M., Universal T.V., Showtime T.V., New World Pictures and Cannon Films, among many others.

As for direction of the Utah Film Commission will take, Marshall said, "Our goals will be to market the state of Utah for filming and continue the great reputation of the local film industry. We are going to deliver the message to producers that Utah is a destination where they can come in confidence to make ALL their projects."

UTAH FILM INCENTIVES DRAWING INTEREST AROUND THE COUNTRY

The mission of the Utah Film Commission is to market the entire state as a location for film and commercial production and to promote the use of Utah support services and professionals. While striving to meet that end, the commission recently reported that 15 different production companies are currently considering the state as their filming destination.

The next fiscal year begins July 1, and at that time four million dollars in state funding are in the offing for projects shot in Utah. The amount represents an increase in funding of 300 percent over the allocation available during the previous three years. Unlike many states, the program offers a rebate, not a tax credit. It pays out 10-12 percent on every dollar spent in Utah with a minimum expenditure required of one million dollars and a cap per project of $500,000. In order to receive this funding, each project must apply to the board of the Governor's Office of Economic Development.

SCREEN ACTORS GUILD TO STRICTLY ENFORCE REINSTATEMENT RULES FOR MEMBERS WHO RESIGN

Los Angeles (June 13, 2007)-Screen Actors Guild today announced that its National Board of Directors approved new procedures and policies governing reinstatement of membership for actors who choose to resign from Screen Actors Guild.

Effective June 14, 2007, the policy of Screen Actors Guild is that resigning union membership is a permanent decision. In accordance with Article IV of the Screen Actors Guild Constitution, members who resign are not eligible for reinstatement to the Guild, however such persons may petition for a waiver of this policy. The reinstatement candidate seeking a waiver of this policy is required to schedule an appearance before the Disciplinary Review Committee and present a petition for reinstatement. The petition for reinstatement must include a list of all non-union work done during the period of time between resignation and reinstatement.

"Individuals who make the choice to quit their union cannot expect to be allowed back in without the union asking some questions about why they quit and what sort of work they were doing." Screen Actors Guild Director of Organizing Todd Amorde said. "Making the decision to resign affects not just the member who resigns, but our entire union membership and our collective ability to enforce existing contracts and to organize more SAG covered work. We are dedicated to creating more union work opportunities, and it takes a strong and involved membership to keep us in a position to do that."

"There's a lot of misinformation out there and the Guild is re-asserting its position as the authority on union membership," Amorde said. "Union membership is between the member and their union, not their agents, not casting directors and certainly not employers. Screen Actors Guild membership offers opportunities and resources that many members are not aware of, so we urge anyone considering resignation, for whatever reasons, to call the union first. We're here to give you straight answers and discuss your options."

Members who resigned before this announcement will be given the opportunity to apply for reinstatement under the previous reinstatement process. Applications for reinstatement under that process must be received by Screen Actors Guild no later than Dec. 31, 2007.

This change will apply only to those individuals who have resigned from the union, not to those whose membership was terminated because of failure to pay dues. It also does not apply to members on Honorable Withdrawal or Suspended Payment status.

WHEN PRODUCERS COME KNOCKING, WILL YOU BE THERE?

When Screen Actors Guild's revolutionary online casting directory iActor rolls out to casting directors and industry professionals soon, will you be there?

Unlike other online casting services, iActor features exclusively SAG members...making it the only site casting directors need to find professional actors.

You can display your résumé, headshots, audio clips and video reels. You can even email a copy of your résumé to anyone.

Best of all, it's free!

Just sign in as a member at www.sag.org. Questions? Call our helpline at (323) 549-6789 or (800) 724-0767 outside of Los Angeles or email webhelp@sag.org.

DON'T GET HOOKED ON BAD INFORMATION

By Don Livesay, Utah Executive Director

As a member of Screen Actors Guild it is important that you learn as much as you can about the contracts that have been negotiated to benefit you. Recently, it came to our attention that some independent online casting services were advertising themselves to Utah members as doorways to job opportunities out of state. What was implied in the pitch was that actors in Utah could work in another state as "local hires" by signing up and paying for the service.

Our Screen Actors Guild contracts address what producers are to provide when performers travel. Those provisions may cover such things as transportation, travel time, room and meals--terms not ordinarily afforded to "local hires." Although the provisions do vary according to the specific contract the producer signs with SAG, our contracts are intended to assure that performers are compensated fairly whenever they are required to travel.

Receiving anything less than what is provided for undermines our contracts. Don't get hooked and assume that the information conveyed by these on-line services is correct. Members should always check with the Guild to see how travel is covered under the contract they have been offered before accepting the job.

ARE YOU ENTITLED TO AN UPGRADE?

QUESTION: What should I do if I'm working as a background actor in a movie or TV project and I am directed by the director or first assistant director to speak? What if I'm in a scene with a principal performer and that actor instructs me to respond while the cameras are rolling? Trust us, it happens. And when it does, you should know your rights under these circumstances.

ANSWER: If you are directed by the director or the 1st AD to speak, you should follow their direction. In most instances, this will qualify as a principal performance, and you should be offered a Day Performer contract on set. If you are not, please call the SAG office to file a claim. Remember that we must file this claim within three months from the day you do the work, so call us immediately to start the process.

A request from a principal performer for you to respond in a scene would not qualify for an upgrade. This is referred to as injected dialogue. If you think such dialogue would further enhance a scene, ask if that's what the director wants. Let him/her make that determination. Otherwise, a volunteered line cannot be considered as a basis for an upgrade. If you simply add the dialogue yourself without approval, the Guild will not pursue a claim on your behalf, even if your line remains in the final version of the film.

Of course, if you have any questions, pick up the phone and call. Fill us in with the details of any incidents pertaining to your potential upgrade and we will do whatever we can to help.

SAG AWARDS TO HONOR STUNT PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE

Screen Actors Guild will honor this year's outstanding performances by film and television stunt ensembles, it was announced recently by Yale Summers, chair of the Screen Actors Guild Awards Committee. Honorees will be announced on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008, prior to the televised 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremonies.

Nominees for Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture and Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series will be chosen by their respective SAG Awards film and television nominating committees, each comprised of 2,100 SAG members from across the United States, randomly selected on April 25, 2007.

Stunt ensemble performances for 2007 may be submitted for consideration from Monday, July 16 through Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2007. Nominations to honor stunt ensembles will be announced concurrently with the nominations for the 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2007 in Los Angeles.