What is SAG-AFTRA and How Do You Join? | When Should You Join SAG-AFTRA?

What is SAG-AFTRA? How to join SAG-AFTRA, when to join SAG-AFTRA actors union. What's the difference between being union and non-union?
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Video Sections:
0:00 - Intro
2:21 - Discaimers
4:18 - What is SAG-AFTRA?
4:52 - Difference between union and non-union
8:38 - How to join SAG-AFTRA?
11:41 - When to join SAG-AFTRA?
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[@ActingCareerCenter]

Raise your hand if you're a member of SAG-AFTRA! 🙋‍♂️

[@mfkenzotuberkz5347]

Oof

[@korymann6723]

🙍🏻‍♀️

[@luisvelez8096]

Not yet but I will be one day 😁

[@lalalalaaAa123]

Me! I was Taft-Hartley'd in late 2019 and joined immediately because I was with LA representation that only submits me for union jobs! 🙋🏾‍♀️

[@AussieGirl235]

Eligible but not a member

[@luisvelez8096]

This episode is really important for young actors to know. Great content as always!

[@marcuslouscious]

Thanks for all of this content, Kurt. I'm kind of in the middle tier of acting, still working toward the consistent work you're getting. I'm SAG eligible, but your video helped me determine it's not quite time to join up. I appreciate you helping everyone get to where ever it is they want to end up in the business. Hope to see you on set soon!

[@tuckerscottwolf5995]

I have been acting in Chicago for 3 years now. Just this year I broke into feature film as a feature actor. And getting paid work to boot! This video helped me SO much with my recent conundrums. Right now I am getting contacted for productions that I am not comfortable going into negotiations alone without representation. Even though I do not have my SAG membership(YET) I still feel I have plenty to offer an agency with this paid work I am being contacted about. With the helpful tips to the trade from your videos I feel much more confident in the research and applied studies of my craft. Your videos give off the same vibe I feel when I train at the Acting Studio Chicago. Big thank you for doing this channel and looking forward to the rest of your channels future content!

[@jedidiadyer6708]

Great you're busy and good to see you here again.

[@jakereehl1394]

This was very informative! I feel better knowing this info for the future of my acting career. Thank you Kurt. Subscribed!

[@khooouri]

I just found your page from Kristen’s and wow! Thank you for high quality and informative videos. It can be daunting learning about this industry so I’m glad your page is another resource as I continue to grow 😊

[@ElmoKnowsWhereYouLive5150]

I absolutely love your page. You're providing the community with indispensable advice & inspiration, plus you're implicitly supportive in a way that comes off as very genuine.

[@CJ-pp1th]

Awesome video, Kurt!

[@mikkel6391]

This was great! Very informative and helpful video! I'm a 20 year old Dane who's planning on moving to California this September for half a year after I'm done with military service. Can't wait to get to act every day - hopefully :)

[@-zenro4617]

I LOVE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOUR VIDEOSS!!!!

[@kirstie7545]

Thank you so much for this video it helped me out a lot! I had a hard time deciding whether to be a union or non union actress, so now I’m going to wait until I get more jobs. Thank you again Kurt!😄👍🏽

[@Vandan9166]

Great advice thanks. I'm considering going all the way with my acting career at age 67. I have a KZbin channel that satisfies my creative side, but many friends are encouraging me to stop "half-stepping" as they say. I always like your videos and just Subscribed. thanks Kurt. Thanks, Dan

[@ActingOutwMike]

Greenland is a wonderful movie!!!! Great job and thank you for all of the information.

[@willfultonjr]

Very informative! Answered all my questions.

[@BillKrupp]

Kurt, great video once again. As someone just starting out, your videos are so well done and extremely helpful. Thank you!

[@diandrawright9357]

Your explanation is the best!! I was so confused when other people explained joining the union after working union jobs but now that you have explained it, it’s clear as crystal . Thank you so much !!

[@Dragon-Slay3r]

Sorry you died come back to life again 🙀👽🤣

[@danielasanchez4674]

Thanks for this video Kurt, I didn't know i had the freedom to do union work as well. This is a game-changer. When I saw that some union projects only want union actors, I mistakenly assumed that all union projects were like that. I'm going to be submitting way more now, thanks!

[@Dragon-Slay3r]

Uffffff makes me want to curl when I see this

[@adhamsabryviolin981]

Thank you very much for all this simplified information😍

[@liquidbraino]

There is also AGVA which is the American Guild of Variety Actors which is for performers that work at Universal Studios and Disneyland (like for Halloween Horror Nights for example or any of the characters in the park). I've heard it's a good union to get into because once you're in you have job security - and job security as an actor is hard to come by.

[@charlottekidd9451]

Your videos are so helpful thank you so much!

[@nikkiew]

Great video. Eligible. Joining this year 🎬don’t give up y’all 💃🏾

[@ShaeLove61]

Congratulations on that, you are awesome.

[@JeffNeckonoff]

Fantastic video. It took me like 2 months to figure all this out this past Winter.

[@amjadalmohammad4540]

Thank you a lot waiting for your Emil 👍🏻😀

[@byronlopezellington8839]

Thank you, super great info!

[@organicguac]

This is such good advice thanks so much!

[@theluckshow9617]

Very informative. Thank you

[@newblueentertainment]

Fantastic video -- thanks for the detail in-depth -- been eligible for a number of years now in a right to work state but feel that it's at a point where career-wise I want to make sure I'm in the auditioning pool more frequently for the larger supporting / lead role opportunities -- that's the main selling point for me to finally join.

[@LifewithDrTrishVarner]

This was very helpful. Thank you.

[@donaldlovejr.4857]

See you on set soon Kurt....😉🤸🏽‍♂️

[@Lenaa-ry1lj]

The movie greenland was so so good!!! I watched it twice in the cinema

[@hanslyosne2819]

I have all the steps of becoming a actor i just needed this of how to join sag aftra so my plan is complete

[@vwalker58]

He's right when it comes to union actors get priorities first. I want to do background acting in New York.

[@kingjaries]

Hello, I am from the future. I appreciate your very informative video as I believe I am ready to start acting.

[@bakulinaction7053]

Intresting......

[@Simply_Evory]

Wow, I work with a musician. I seen the opportunity for him to be a background actor. He's in a Universal Pictures movie that will be releasing it 2023. Today is his second day and he has two vouchers. He may not be wanting a career in acting so soon but this is great information and I appreciate you for explaining it so well. Someone on the set mentioned union and I did more research and I have a better understanding. Thank you so much

[@meer2778]

Thank u soo much 👌

[@willievaughn6474]

You're amazing Thank you

[@tonynasaofficial]

I'm just watching this cause I'm a usps employee, and they said I got selected to be a part of an ad, but I need to join SAG-AFTRA

[@dustinkoziara6562]

Yet again, another jam packed video of knowledge! I just discovered your channel a few weeks ago, and it has helped me tremendously. You answer all the questions that an aspiring actor may have. Being that I live close to Pittsburgh, how do you feel about the rise of film & tv in that area?? I'm just curious as to your thoughts. It's a shame it wasn't this big when you lived close in Cleveland. Have a Happy Thanksgiving! 🤙

[@ActingCareerCenter]

Happy Thanksgiving! I'm not familiar enough with the state of film and television production in the Pittsburgh area to be able to give my opinion on that. Use other actors in the market as a barometer. Are you consistently seeing local actors in major television shows and movies? I can definitively say that about Atlanta. My friends have been in Stranger Things, Walking Dead, Cobra-Kai, Marvel movies, Disney movies, and many more.

[@mfkenzotuberkz5347]

First comment!

[@n1ghtm3re--]

I’m 16 years old I’ve been wanting to be an actor for awhile now just never new how to get started. Next school year I’m going to try to get into some classes. What is some good advice for getting started at my age?

[@itsmyworld8111]

I am also 16 and want to be actor.

[@briannasingleton8867]

im 14 i just watch a bunch of acting videos

[@ivannaquimi8598]

i'm 16 as well and want to become and actor :( but don't know how to fully start..

[@itsmyworld8111]

@@ivannaquimi8598 I am also 16 and want to be actor in Hollywood.

[@ivannaquimi8598]

@@itsmyworld8111 me too :(

[@myfirstcrappyvideobilly]

The guy that played Rocket was really good. I felt that.

[@brianscott4977]

Great

[@gadnac1031]

Where did you get that “life uh, funds a way” poster! That is awesome!

[@ActingCareerCenter]

On Etsy!

[@lizethmarza4874]

I just saw holidate, the movie is very cool and suddenly I see that you appear as a DJ, I don't know why but I got excited😅and I remembered that you said you would be in a movie but you couldn't say the name, I imagine it's that one🤔

[@ActingCareerCenter]

You got it!

[@daytonabeachhigh3038]

Hey Kurt. Great videos. I'm a non-union actor in Atlanta. Did background on Greenland. Hope to see you around. Rick Papaleo.

[@ActingCareerCenter]

awesome! I just watched the movie on Friday!

[@TheNervousnation]

Interesting

[@Theman11596]

I was forced to join SAG AFTRA because i would have lost a profit of over 10k. I was a core background extra for a Netflix show. I became eligible right before we were going to start shooting the final season. So i joined so i wont miss out on 7 months plus of SAG AFTRA pay

[@ElmoKnowsWhereYouLive5150]

I only have two union waivers for featured background work... I came close to getting my third one, which would've made me eligible to join.

[@sarahveeofficial4737]

Amazing video! Can you do one explaining how actress and actors get paid if you haven’t yet? Thank you so much 😊

[@ActingCareerCenter]

This video is sort of what you are asking about: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXm6daJma9SXgKc However, if you want to know how we are paid and how much we are paid for individual jobs, that is tough to answer because it depends on many factors: union status of the job, budget of the production, size of the role, negotiated rate, residual payments, etc. I may do a video on it in the future and try not to over complicate it :)

[@sarahveeofficial4737]

@@ActingCareerCenter Just watched the video and it was super helpful thank you 🙏🏻

[@KK-vh2xz]

Thank you for the video! I have one question, are independent movies also considered non union productions?

[@StarksthaKing]

Great video and even better information. Question; if I’ve worked on a show for 2 days straight here in Los Angeles, should I receive a voucher from the production company?

[@ActingCareerCenter]

You should ask the production company about that. Not every production is the same

[@sebastianjacome9759]

Unfortunately, I could not see you Kurt in the movie Greenland, but I saw a guy pretty similar to you. Maybe is your evil twin or lost brother!!!! I am glad for you congrats soldier!!!!!!!!!!

[@ActingCareerCenter]

🤣

[@lashere]

I just completed my 1st industrial training video. What would I write on my resume? Is it under film and then a principal role? Thanks for these tips! You’re amazing

[@KS-nb4wx]

I’m sag - e as of today 🥰

[@prathameshkumbhar4178]

I saw you in Greenland

[@lexonlexon1327]

Hey mr yue i saw you in the movie GREENLAND

[@biggregmac29]

Thank u sir I love the advice u gave I appreciate it

[@nbart003]

Kurt, great video, explains a lot so well! One question, and it's a bit personal so feel free to ignore, but given that you (1) live in a right to work state and (2) your market doesn't show preference to SAG actors, what made you decide to join? Thanks again!

[@ActingCareerCenter]

The short answer is that I wanted to support the union and the majority of my work and income was already coming from union bookings. I also didn't want to put myself in the situation where I book a little non-union corporate training video and then having that be a conflict with a huge movie audition.

[@tommylikes4511]

Wow these are very good information.also assuming that you want a agent very good one what are agents looking for before they sign someone what do they need to have are do before getting sign by a great agent ?

[@ActingCareerCenter]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2icp3trqshliJI

[@aidylweiss.]

Hi Kurt, thanks for the insight! I have a question: Would you consider yourself to be self-employed? Even though you’re in a union that provides benefits, how do you handle things that would normally already be taken care of in a traditional 9-5 job (taxes, health insurance, etc)?

[@ActingCareerCenter]

It's very tricky, especially with non-union work being 1099 and union work being W-2. Also, some actors incorporate themselves for tax purposes. On top of that, most actors have a side income or multiple side incomes. SAG-AFTRA offers health insurance, but only if you meet an earnings threshold every year (currently approx. $26,000). There's no one-size-fits-all answer to this as everyone is going to have a slightly different situation. Highly recommend you talk to a tax professional to help you find the best path forward for you.

[@Kel_the_slacker]

Dude!!! I thought that was you in Greenland!! Lol

[@ActingCareerCenter]

😂

[@marinbros2882]

Mister Kurt , Can you please tell us maybe you know some same site for to found an agent but in Europe ? I am in Netherlands now :)

[@katycollins5914]

2 questions... 1) Does paid film work in the UK count toward principal or background work, and 2) Does being featured in a documentary count toward SAG eligibility even though those aren't paid? Thank-you!

[@tinksky7354]

Do you have any advice to anyone who is stuck in their state? (The governor just released a law saying that the people in my state can't visit other states) Also congratulations on the films you've been working on!

[@ActingCareerCenter]

You won't be stuck there forever. Plus you can still train either in your state or via Zoom acting classes anywhere.

[@ayushsingh789]

Kurt please tell about nyfa

[@ou812invu6]

Hey Kurt I know this is an older video but I have a question for you. You provided some good information but one thing you never addressed was what one thing (or things) specifically compelled you to join the Union. Since you live in Georgia you could work on all of the Union projects that you wanted to. And you indicated that (unlike L.A.) Atlanta is not a place where Union productions would necessarily favor Union or Non-Union actors. And as you pointed out, the advantage of being Non-Union (in a right to work state) is that you can work both Union and Non-Union projects, whereas Union members can only work Non-Union projects. So what compelled you to join the Union at all?

[@Fdlkhffgh]

Just saw you in black widow

[@chilllax9493]

I’m a sag member in Chicago but never have done speaking acting . I’m working on a reel now do you think I should put my membership on hold or will there be enough student films or beginner things to make a professional reel?

[@ActingCareerCenter]

I think the Chicago market will have enough union opportunities available to not leave the union, but that is just my guess since I dont' live there

[@montaiju]

Hey Kurt, quick question, Can you become SAG-e from a principal role in a project under SAG Short Term Agreement contract?

[@ActingCareerCenter]

I don't believe so but definitely check with SAG-AFTRA to make sure that is correct. You can also use their eligibility checker on their website to see if a recent project you worked on has make you eligible www.sagaftra.org/membership-benefits/sag-aftra-eligibility-checker

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

It is my understanding, no.

[@kinghayatullah5357]

Hi I want to start my sdudy in this feld So but I do not know what collage is blongs to acting Thank you Kurt yue

[@luckypawfilms3408]

If someone lives in Tennessee will they need to relocate to become an actor/actress?

[@shikha5246]

I have one out of three vouchers. I don’t want to get the other two just yet because from what I remember once you are sag eligible you only have one month to decide to join union or not. Wanting more experience first so may slow down on background roles

[@wolfmanplaysw7498]

Been doing background for about 3-4 years now got my fist 3 union jobs my first year never was forced to join the union. But I’m total of all my union work I have at least 10i did like 3 union job this year as well I wanna join for stand in work personally

[@mohamedamer6213]

We want a video about for acting books

[@ActingCareerCenter]

here are some books I recommend : www.actingcareercenter.com/best-acting-books-and-resources

[@1131982vincent]

What are the best talent website for the new york city arena that can get me to sag?

[@liblubb]

Question for ya: I live in Colorado (a right to work state), and have local representation as well as representation in New Mexico (union state), I often submit as a local hire in New Mexico to the union jobs I go out for, and I’m wondering: if I book the minimum number of union jobs in NM in order to join sag, and I am a local hire on those jobs, would SAG force me to join? From a paperwork perspective I have an address in NM, but my permanent address is in Colorado, which is right to work.. curious if you have an answer, the internet is coming up short. Thanks!

[@Ian-kj5mn]

Hey Kurt, can Union actors work on their own projects (as director and lead actor, for exemple) even if those projects aren't union productions?

[@ActingCareerCenter]

Union actors can direct a non-union production but cannot act in it, even if it is your own project

[@liquidbraino]

@@ActingCareerCenter My best friend is SAG/AFTRA and somehow he gets away with doing non-union work. Probably only because SAG/AFTRA doesn't regulate the non-union industry and there's too many individual actors & productions for them to keep track of. I keep telling him that it's going to bite him in the @$$ some day but so far it hasn't. I told him he should just go Fi-Core if he wants to do both Union & Non-union but he doesn't want to piss off the union. BTW, he also directed a bunch of Doritos spec commercials which he shot non-union and he appeared in a few of them but never got paid for it. It all came out of his own pocket. This is one of his spec commercials - he did like six of them, I think: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGfcpZaim7JsaKc

[@tommcilwain73]

Honestly, being in SAG hasn't been much help here in the SE US. It's been more helpful in different markets, but in Atlanta, it hasn't really benefited me much if any.

[@CJ-pp1th]

What do you mean exactly? regarding to your market

[@tommcilwain73]

@@CJ-pp1th I'm in sag, and in Atlanta, i can't see where it's helped me book any differently. As a right to work state, it's not an issue. Ive worked in other states where SAG was a requirement to work or audition (example. Yellowstone).

[@ActingCareerCenter]

Agreed. Being a union member in the Southeast doesn't have the same advantages as it does in other markets

[@ou812invu6]

A couple of more follow-up questions for you Kurt. If as a Non-Union member you get cast on a Union project are they required to pay and treat you the same as the Union members working on that project? Also you said that once you join the Union you can never work on a Non-Union project the rest of your life. But what if at some point you stopped paying yuour Union dues. Wouldn't you get kicked out of the Union? And if so wouldn't you then be free to work on Non-Union projects once again? Or will you then find yourself in a place where you can never work on any movie projects (Union or Non-Union) ever again?

[@tamaesau]

👋🏽

[@Ewokgarbagehunterericjonesip2]

Hello I was raised in Hollywood my father was a multi award winning hairdresser part of the union, now I have a friend who is one of the most. Talked about Internet celebs name is paul denino his nickname is ice Poseidon , in the last week dozens of top podcast mention him, and this has been happening for the last 3 years, I talk with him and I recently explained to him about sag and getting an agent, now my question is do you think he just needs an agent and then join sag? How would you go about it? I can only help him so much he has connection I’m sure but I’m the only one explaining to him how Hollywood works with guilds and agents

[@jaylatief8727]

Forgot to mention sag offers payment plans and they also have their own credit union

[@eireneluxs8854]

And if I am a Chinese actor or Korean actor do I need it?

[@SoCalBrian]

Can someone please make me SAG AFTRA eligible so I can get my SAG Card? I could never get 3 vouchers as a background actor

[@XanderShiller]

Sag lives matter!

[@sonnylachine]

Hi Kurt, how willing are Union Productions willing to hire Non Union Actors?

[@hoangvan-rq9zh]

I have a question if I join the union in california and I am an immigrant, can I extend my visa?

[@ben_cena]

So for people working on films and want an A-list actor, the project must be a union project, correct? What if you are someone who doesn't want to act but wants to work behind the camera, like writing, storyboarding, and prop making? Would you need a SAG membership? Is the membership a one-time fee, or is it a monthly bill?

[@ActingCareerCenter]

The crew members union is IATSE. Writers have their own union (WGA) as do directors (DGA).

[@knightwatchkennels629]

Hey Kurt. In screen acting less is more.. How do I do less and still stay interesting to watch? and is it possible to mess up by doing too little?

[@ActingCareerCenter]

This is so hard to explain by typing an answer. I highly recommend you take an on-camera acting class, either in person or via zoom. That would be the easiest and fastest way to learn what you are asking.

[@Stephaniefarrah]

I got cast a principal, reoccurring role on a sag aftra new media project. I was told by the sag aftra office this made me eligible to join. Then I checked just now and was just told no. New media projects makes you eligible when the project budget is $50,000 and above. I did not know this 😢

[@lalalalaaAa123]

This is fairly new because a LOT of people were joining the union by making "new media" at home with 0 budget and no release date JUST to contract it as a SAG-AFTRA project and Taft-Hartley themselves. It was a very common way to "cheat the system" up until a couple years ago when the union got wind of it and shut it down.

[@Stephaniefarrah]

@@lalalalaaAa123 the 50K budget for new media is fairly new?

[@lalalalaaAa123]

@@Stephaniefarrah Yes, before you could just ~say~ that you were going to make a movie and Taft-Hartley yourself with a SAG-AFTRA contract and a SAG member friend, now you must prove it with a (rather high) budget

[@rebekahbrown4728]

What are the union and non union projects .

[@BJSimmons99]

The union projects are basically major movies and tv shows ( but you have to become a member of SAG-AFTRA if you want to audition for more film and television ) and non union projects are basically short films, student films, and webisodes ( or webseries ). ( But their non SAG-AFTRA projects ).

[@richardfamousactor2261]

The specific page on the sag website are vague . I want to know how many SAG jobs I can book before I’m a must join . I booked a principal on a union show about 90 days ago . I’m hearing 30 days after your first and once you book your second job you have ton join. But I’ve head that you don’t become a must join until your 3 rd job

[@ActingCareerCenter]

You can call the SAG-AFTRA office to have them explain it in more detail. My understanding is that you are considered a "must-join" 30 days after your SECOND principal role. This only applies if you are in a union secure state. If you are in a right to work state, you are never a must-join.

[@dianascrimger284]

The yes on prop 8 man can sue you in 2021!

[@itsmyworld8111]

I am non - union

[@AussieGirl235]

Of what benefit is it to productions to prioritise union people when it’s not necessary? What happens if you do a non union job after becoming a member?

[@ActingCareerCenter]

There can be many reasons but one is that the production needs to file more paperwork to hire a non-union actor as opposed to a union actor. If you do a non-union job after joining the union, you could be kicked out if they find out.

[@abbyroseyingling]

are there productions that accept both union and non-union actors?

[@ActingCareerCenter]

The short answer is yes, all productions can technically hire both union and non-union actors. But if a union actor decides to break the rules and work on a non-union production, that actor could get in trouble with the union. The production wouldn't suffer any consequences

[@Mini-Sun]

Hello! 👋🏻 I recently watched a video in KZbin about the careers that where no longer gonna exist and it said that part of the people that where gonna lose their jobs like in 2-5 years where gonna be actors, and movie productions are gonna start replacing them with CGI like they’ve been doing in some movies. 🤯...I’m really scared, I don’t know if this will really happen, there’s a lot of talented actors out there. I would like to know your opinion about this and if you have any friends in the industry that know about this and their opinion. I hope this doesn’t happen. Thank you, great videos!

[@charlesfrederick8567]

No one wants to watch ONLY animations, animations can't portray the range of emotions/expressions that human actors can.

[@Mini-Sun]

@@charlesfrederick8567 exactly

[@Mini-Sun]

@Rafael Cruz I totally agree, so many talented actors out there, and a lot of actors starting there career; it’s just wonderful how they can take you places with there beautiful talent while you’re still in the couch. It won’t be the same with CGI 🤯

[@zoetaylor8263]

@@Mini-Sun i dont think that will ever happen actors make up alot of the entertaiment indistery

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

That is not going to happen. Would you rather watch a film with Brad Pitt or Tom Hanks, or a artificial 'actor'?