SAG question... They won't answer it for me!

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Okay,After due diligence, I'm going to do it. A feature film, shot on film, for $1500. Details on how it will be done are in another thread, you won't find them here...But, my question is about SAG. I have found out that any SAG actor can act in any non-union picture for pretty much $1 a day if they have declared "financial core" status.But SAG won't tell me who has declared "financial core" status! I called and asked about it and the receptionist said "what's that?" and actually claimed no such thing exists.Does a list exist of those SAG actors that have declared "financial core" status? A list I can actually get?All responses and brainstorms welcome!Thanks,A New Dawn

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]Okay, After due diligence, I'm going to do it. A feature film, shot on film, for $1500. Details on how ... Does a list exist of those SAG actors that have declared "financial core" status? A list I can actually get?[/nq]
Not sure what good such a list would do for you. You're just going to put out a casting call, right? And whoever answers will have to comply with whatever your budget requirements are. It's not like you intend to cold-call specific actors off a SAG list, do you? Not for a zero-budget Super-8 feature anyway.
SAG will certainly send you the info they have on small-budget films using SAG actors. I know they have literature on this because I've got a copy of a brochure lying around somewhere here.
You should read Rick Schmidt's "Feature Filmmaking at Used Car Prices".

Alan Brooks

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I'm not familiar with the term, but a bit of googling makes it seem like it comes from the same folks who claim you don't have to pay income tax. In any event, it sounds like a move that ****** off SAG a move most young actors probably shouldn't make. I say forget about "financial core status" and look at the usual agreements at www.sagindie.com. Working with SAG is a good thing because you get access to more experienced talent. But it can also be a bad thing because SAG can be a pain in the *** for indies to work with (depending on who gets assigned to your file) and because some SAG agreements prevent you from distributing outside fests without making additional payments.

My thought: You're working with a very small amount of money and you've never shot a film before. The SAG machine will likely add more cost and hassle than will be helpful for you on this one. I think it makes sense to decline to sign with the union. (I did not say "don't use union members," because if I did, I'd be telling you to break state and federal labor laws barring discrimination against union members.)

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Okay, After due diligence, I'm going to do it. A feature film, shot on film, for $1500. Details on how ... status! I called and asked about it and the receptionist said "what's that?" and actually claimed no such thing exists.[/nq]
You'll find an explanation here:
http://www.mcalistertalent.com/ara/finlcore.htm
Caroline
Basic Google is Good!

Usenet · Answer

I have to assume, from your question, that your goal is to get a name actor to appear in your movie in order to enhance its marketability at some future date. First, let me explain that there is more than one way to get a box office player to take part in your film, but.. BUT...! In every case, the first thing you have to do is get by the actor's agent, and that ain't easy! Even when you get to the actor, chances are extremely high the actor will say something like, "Hey, I like the idea. Let me talk to Fred about it." Fred, his agent, will raise cane and the answer will be no.

But assuming you get past Fred, and assuming the actor is chomping at the bit to be in your little procuction, you can pretty much bypass SAG and anyone else by making the actor a producer/financial backer of your film. You need to talk to a really sharp entertainment law attorney, because the rules vary from state to state. In other words, even if you live in L.A., you might decide you're better off shooting in Nevada or Nebraska or ****d*.

HOWEVER.. If your goal is to make a huge industry break-in indie a la Robert Gonzales, or whomever, he and the Blair Witch people and whoever else you'd like to emulate didn't use name actors in their films. Truth be told, you're probably a lot better off if you don't. Fewer legal hassles, fewer negotiations, and if things don't work out, a greater chance that everyone will be okay with that because they will have had a great first-time filmmaking experience.
Caroline

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Okay, After due diligence, I'm going to do it. A feature film, shot on film, for $1500. Details on how ... have declared "financial core" status? A list I can actually get? All responses and brainstorms welcome! Thanks, A New Dawn[/nq]I don't know where you are located, but you might want to find a local casting director and explain that you are doing a small budget indy film and want to cast SAG-CORE talent (you are shooting it locally so you do want the local talent pool) Now before anyone jumps up and down and says that a casting director won't work for no money on an independent film let me say that I used to work for a casting director and we did work for screencredit only on occaision (one does have to have paying clients to stay in business).

They may not set up casting sessions for you but they may have headshot files you can look at, and they may be more willing to share information about who is core and who is not. Depending on where you are there may be an experienced non-union talent pool some markets have a lot more union work than non-union work. It all depends.
Grace

SAG question... They won't answer it for me!

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