I would think that it would help. Makes you seem more professional so they would feel more secure and/or safe.

"Anyone who has ever been privileged to direct a film also knows that, although it can be like trying to write 'War and Peace' in a bumper car in an amusement park, when you finally get it right, there are not many joys in life that can equal the feeling." - Stanley Kubrick

SAG isn't in place to make actors feel secure or safe, nor does it indicate professionalism. The Screen Actors Guild is a union that sets pay scales, hours worked and insures prompt payment of salaries, P&W and residuals. Frankly, being a "hollywood" actor doesn't make any difference at all.

Yes. If you are hiring SAG actors, you must be a SAG signatory and follow all the rules, regulations and contracts.

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

maybe it may not mean they will be safer but i think it def has some impact on how the actors view the professionalism of the film being made. If an actor has to pick between a movie that is not affiliated with SAG or one that is they will pick the one affiliated with the SAG. Why? because it shows that the one director is more professional (whether they really are or not) it makes them appear as if they have their crap together better then the other guy. It is the same way with any other career. If you have a choise to work somewhere that doesnt have unions compared to one that does, I'm sure most people would pick the job with the union.

So while is isnt essential that you belong to SAG it can do nothing but help you and will make it that much easier to find solid and serious actors

"Anyone who has ever been privileged to direct a film also knows that, although it can be like trying to write 'War and Peace' in a bumper car in an amusement park, when you finally get it right, there are not many joys in life that can equal the feeling." - Stanley Kubrick

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Originally posted by robi8886
If you have a choise to work somewhere that doesnt have unions compared to one that does, I'm sure most people would pick the job with the union.

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I don't entirely disagree with you. But if people from actors to crew are not already a member of the unions, they cannot work on a union show. I regularly work on both union and non-union shows and haven't found that being unionized makes a production more professional. When I direct a low budget movie without signing on to the SAG contract that doesn't indicate that I am less professional than a director using the SAG contracts. I don't think that other people believe that directors who don't shoot under the SAG contract are less professional - at least I have never experienced that.

If the actors Directorcls wants to use are SAG members then he must use the SAG contracts.

quote:

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So while is isnt essential that you belong to SAG it can do nothing but help you and will make it that much easier to find solid and serious actors

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I have not found this to be true either. In fact I have found the SAG rules (specifically the minimum of $600 per day) to NOT help me at all. Most of the time I cannot pay that rate. Even the SAG Low Budget Agreement is often beyond my budget. And I have found many non union actors who are solid and serious.

Clearly your experiences with SAG and SAG actors is different than mine.

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

Judging from Loyd Kauffman, one reason independents don't use SAG contracts a lot is because the contract specifies that pretty much every job on set has to be union which can really up the budget.

SAG now has a special independent film contract that allows you to pay below scale rates for SAG members. I'm not sure how it deals with other unions, but its a good sign that the union is showing a bit of flexibility.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

SAG is in place to keep the billionaires from ripping people off. Normally it gets in the way of no-lo budget movies. From what I recall, you can get a SAG agreement and only have to like pay them a $1 for their time. I've been shooting independent projects for over 5 years now. The only reason to go SAG is if you are getting a big name attached that will ensure coverage of your project. Otherwise, cast non-union.

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