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59-650: Arkansas Repertory Theatre (The Rep) is the longest-running nonprofit resident theater in Arkansas. It is affiliated with Actors' Equity Association and offers a year-round season. The Rep is housed in a 377-seat facility in Little Rock, Arkansas . It was founded in 1976 by Cliff Fannin Baker. 34°44′35″N 92°16′16″W  /  34.74305556°N 92.27111111°W  / 34.74305556; -92.27111111 Actors%27 Equity Association Leading up to

118-524: A Financial Core member of the SAG, and Financial Core members were not permitted to "represent themselves as Screen Actors Guild members". Additionally, the Screen Actors Guild said "Fi-Core/FPNM are viewed as scabs ... by SAG members, directors, and writers—most of whom also belong to entertainment unions". This statement was met with skepticism by some. Former SAG President Charlton Heston

177-526: A SAG production, background actor (originally the "three voucher rule"), and one-year member of an affiliated union (with a principal role). The basic categories were: Members joining the Los Angeles, New York, or Miami SAG locals were assessed an initial fee to join the Guild of $ 3,000. At the time of initiation, the first minimum semi-annual membership dues payment of $ 58 must have also been paid, bringing

236-713: A basic minimum agreement with the Guild which is in full force and effect", and this became known as Rule One of the organization. Every SAG performer, as a condition of membership, agreed to abide by this and all other SAG rules; thus SAG members could not perform in any non-union project that was within SAG's jurisdiction. Beginning in 2002 the Guild pursued a policy of worldwide enforcement of Rule One, and renamed it Global Rule One . Like other organizations that represent actors, SAG rules stipulated that no two members could have identical working names; many actors were thus prevented from registering under their own names and had to make changes. Some maintained their usual name but added

295-573: A climate of fear, enhanced by the threat of detention under the provisions of the McCarran Internal Security Act , permeated the film industry. On November 17, 1947, the Screen Actors Guild voted to force its officers to take a "non-communist" pledge. On November 25 (the day after the full House approved the ten citations for contempt) in what has become known as the Waldorf Statement , Eric Johnston , president of

354-514: A major role in the recognition of the impact the AIDS epidemic on the world of theater, co-founding Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS . In 2021, Actor's Equity introduced an "Open Access" membership policy, whereby "any theatre worker who can demonstrate they have worked professionally as an actor or stage manager within Equity's geographical jurisdiction" may join the union. This opened eligibility to

413-572: A member of a committee headed by Mayer, the purpose of which is allegedly is to 'purge' the motion-picture industry of Communist party members, which committee was an outgrowth of the Thomas committee hearings in Washington and subsequent meetings ... He felt that lacking a definite stand on the part of the government, it would be very difficult for any committee of motion-picture people to conduct any type of cleansing of their household". Subsequently,

472-568: A member of one of Equity's sister performing arts unions, the "Four A's": SAG-AFTRA , AGMA , AGVA or GIAA . Such applicants must have been a member of said sister union for at least one year, be a member in good standing of that union, have worked as a performer under the union's jurisdiction on a principal or "under-five" contract or at least three days of extra ("background") work, and must have completed non-union theatrical work. The AEA has several different types of contract, with different rules associated with them. Each contract type deals with

531-663: A middle initial; others adopted a stage name quite different from their legal name to comply with this rule. Notable examples include Michael Keaton , Michael J. Fox and Emma Stone , whose birth names " Michael Douglas ", " Michael Fox " and "Emily Stone", respectively, had already been registered by other actors. SAG contracts with producers contained a variety of protections for Guild performers. Among these provisions were: minimum rates of pay, adequate working conditions, special protection and education requirements for minors , arbitration of disputes and grievances , and affirmative action in auditions and hiring. All members of

590-631: A more organized equality strike. Starting on June 5, 1929, Gillmore attended several meetings in New York with the heads of Broadway. After the meeting, he notified the AEA that appearances in sound and talking motion pictures had been suspended until the outcome of the meetings with the international Studio Crafts Union. Due to the negotiations and the suspension of contracts through the AEA, studios were desperate for actors to speed up production, which had dropped significantly. The New York Times wrote, "It

649-453: A specific type of theater venue or production type. These include, but are not limited to: Council of Resident Stock Theatres (CORST), Guest Artist, Letters of Agreement (LoA), League of Resident Theatres (LoRT) Small Professional Theatres (SPT), and Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA). AEA actors and stage managers are not allowed to work in non-Equity houses or on any productions in which an Equity Agreement has not been signed anywhere within

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708-443: A studio would put out worldwide. On July 20, 1929, the AEA gained its first victory, which gave producers and actors a leg to stand on in their battle for equality. Over 30 days (up to August 20, 1929), Gillmore fought to give the AEA the ability to represent all actors, producers, radio personality, vaudeville performers, and agents in the country. This would also give all power and representation to one organization in order to create

767-481: A success, asserting that it not only saved Pay-Per-Play (residuals) but it also increased cable residuals by 140% up from $ 1,014 to $ 2,460. Others suggested almost identical terms were available in negotiation without a strike. In the wake of the strike, SAG, and its sister union AFTRA, gathered evidence on over 1,500 non-members who had worked during the strike. SAG trial boards found Elizabeth Hurley and Tiger Woods guilty of performing in non-union commercials and each

826-600: The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) to create SAG-AFTRA . According to SAG's Mission Statement, the Guild sought to: negotiate and enforce collective bargaining agreements that establish equitable levels of compensation, benefits, and working conditions for its performers; collect compensation for exploitation of recorded performances by its members, and provide protection against unauthorized use of those performances; and preserve and expand work opportunities for its members. The Guild

885-675: The Committee for the First Amendment (CFA) and flew to Washington, DC, in late October 1947 to show support for the Hollywood Ten. The president of SAG – future United States President Ronald Reagan – also known to the FBI as Confidential Informant "T-10", testified before the committee but never publicly named names. Instead, according to an FBI memorandum in 1947: "T-10 advised Special Agent [name deleted] that he has been made

944-458: The Hollywood blacklist , the AEA refused to participate. Although its constitution guaranteed its members the right to refuse to work alongside Communists , or a member of a Communist front organization, the AEA did not ban any members. At a 1997 ceremony commemorating the blacklist's 50th anniversary, Richard Masur , then president of the Screen Actors Guild, apologized for its participation in

1003-580: The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), issued a press release : "We will not knowingly employ a Communist or a member of any party or group which advocates the overthrow of the government of the United States by force or by any illegal or unconstitutional methods." None of those blacklisted were proven to advocate overthrowing the government – most simply had Marxist or socialist views. The Waldorf Statement marked

1062-722: The Screen Actors Guild Awards , which are considered an indicator of success at the Academy Awards . It continues through SAG-AFTRA . In 1925, the Masquers Club was formed by actors discontented with the grueling work hours at the Hollywood studios . This was one of the major concerns which led to the creation of the Screen Actors Guild in 1933. Another was that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences , which at that time arbitrated between

1121-627: The US Trade Representative to investigate Canadian film subsidies for their violation of trade agreements Canada signed with the United States. Financial core , or Fi-Core , was a payment to the union to allow someone to work in a union environment without being a member of the union. The concept was defined in 1963 by Supreme Court case Labor Board v. General Motors and clarified for the communications industry in 1988 via Communications Workers of America v. Beck . Approximately 96% of normal union dues were paid to make an actor

1180-406: The AEA's jurisdiction. [REDACTED] Media related to Actors' Equity Association at Wikimedia Commons Screen Actors Guild The Screen Actors Guild ( SAG ) was an American labor union which represented over 100,000 film and television principal and background performers worldwide. On March 30, 2012, the union leadership announced that the SAG membership voted to merge with

1239-551: The Actors' and Producers' strike of 1929, Hollywood and California in general had a series of workers' equality battles that directly influenced the film industry. The films The Passaic Textile Strike (1926), The Miners' Strike (1928) and The Gastonia Textile Strike (1929) gave audience and producers insight into the effect and accomplishments of labor unions and striking. These films were set apart by being current documentaries, not merely melodramas produced for glamor. In 1896,

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1298-600: The Guild agreed to work only for producers who had signed contracts with SAG. These contracts spelled out in detail the responsibilities that producers must assume when hiring SAG performers. Specifically, the SAG basic contract specified: the number of hours performers may work, the frequency of meal breaks required, the minimum wages or "scale" at which performers must be compensated for their work, overtime pay, travel accommodations , wardrobe allowances, stunt pay, private dressing rooms , and adequate rest periods between performances. When applicable, and with due regard to

1357-583: The Guild's president made this statement: Only our sister union, Actors Equity Association , dared to stand behind its members and help them continue their creative lives in the theater. ... Unfortunately, there are no credits to restore, nor any other belated recognition that we can offer our members who were blacklisted. They could not work under assumed names or employ surrogates to front for them. An actor's work and his or her identity are inseparable. Screen Actors Guild's participation in tonight's event must stand as our testament to all those who suffered that, in

1416-403: The Guild. The eligibility requirements varied by age of the performer and the desired plan chosen (there were two health plans). There were also Dental , Vision, and Life & Disability coverage included as part of the two plans. The Guild secured residuals payments in perpetuity to its members for broadcast and re-broadcast of films, TV shows , and TV commercials through clauses in

1475-632: The SAG was affiliated with the International Federation of Actors . In addition to its main offices in Los Angeles , SAG also maintained branches in several major US cities, including Atlanta , Boston , Chicago , Dallas , Denver , Detroit , Honolulu , Houston , Las Vegas , Miami , Nashville , New York , New Orleans , Philadelphia , Phoenix , Portland , Salt Lake City , San Diego , San Francisco , Seattle , and Washington, D.C. Beginning in 1995, SAG began to award

1534-562: The ban, saying: "Only our sister union, Actors' Equity Association, had the courage to stand behind its members and help them continue their creative lives in the theater. For that, we honor Actors' Equity tonight." In the 1960s, the AEA played a role in gaining public funding for the arts, including the founding of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The AEA fought the destruction of historic Broadway theaters . It played

1593-409: The basic SAG agreements with producers. In July 1948, a strike was averted at the last minute as the SAG and major producers agreed upon a new collective bargaining contract. The major points agreed upon included: full union shop for actors to continue, negotiations for films sent direct to TV, producers could not sue an actor for breach of contract if they strike (but the guild could only strike when

1652-529: The beginning of the Hollywood blacklist that saw hundreds of people prevented from working in the film industry. During the height of what is now referred to as McCarthyism , the Screen Writers Guild gave the studios the right to omit from the screen the name of any individual who had failed to clear his name before Congress. At a 1997 ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the Blacklist,

1711-466: The contract expires). In March 1960, SAG went on strike against the seven major studios . This was the first industry-wide strike in the 50-year history of movie making. Earlier walkouts involved production for television. The Writers Guild of America had been on strike since January 31, 1960 with similar demands to the actors. The independents were not affected since they signed new contracts. The dispute rested on actors wanting to be paid 6% or 7% of

1770-736: The first Actors Union Charter was recognized by the American Federation of Labor as an attempt to create a minimum wage for actors being exploited. It was not until January 13, 1913, that the Union Charter failed. It later reemerged as the Actors Equity Association, with more than 111 actors and Francis Wilson as its founding board president. At a meeting held at the Pabst Grand Circle Hotel in New York City, on May 26, 1913, Actors' Equity

1829-664: The future, we will strongly support our members and work with them to assure their rights as defined and guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. The Screen Actors Guild Ethnic Minorities Committee was co-founded in 1972 by actors Henry Darrow , Edith Diaz , Ricardo Montalbán and Carmen Zapata . The Screen Actors Guild Women's Committee was founded in 1972. In 1980, SAG and AFTRA held a strike over issues regarding profit sharing from home media and pay TV. In 1998, Naomi Marquez filed suit against SAG and Lakeside Productions claiming they had breached their duty of fair representation. The claim

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1888-407: The gross earnings of pictures made since 1948 and sold to television. Actors also wanted a pension and welfare fund. In December 1978, members of SAG went on strike for the fourth time in its 45-year history. It joined the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists in picket lines in Los Angeles and New York. The unions said that management's demand would cut actors' salaries. The argument

1947-423: The guild. "Honorable withdrawals" constituted the largest portion of these, at 20% of the total membership, or 36,284 members before the merger in 2012. "Suspended" members were the second largest, at 10%, or 18,402 members. This classification scheme is continued by SAG-AFTRA. An actor was eligible to join the Screen Actors Guild by meeting the criteria in any of the following three categories: principal actor in

2006-473: The loss of their jobs. The theater strikes combined with freelance contracts fueled the need for actors and stagehands to strike for better working conditions and pay. Frank Gillmore , the head and treasurer of the Actor's Equity Association, understood that he would need multiple unions across the country to make a change not only in proper representation and pay, but in actors' ability to negotiate any contract

2065-425: The member's earnings from SAG productions. The minimum annual dues amount was $ 116, with an additional 1.85% of the performer's income up to $ 200,000. Income from $ 200,000 to $ 500,000 was assessed at 0.5%, and income from $ 500,000 to $ 1 million was assessed at 0.25%. For the calculation of dues, there was a total earnings cap at $ 1 million. Therefore, the maximum dues payable in any one calendar year by any single member

2124-630: The members of a list of suspected communists working in the Hollywood film industry were summoned to appear before the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC), which was investigating Communist influence in the Hollywood labor unions . Ten of those summoned, dubbed the " Hollywood Ten ", refused to cooperate, and were charged with contempt of Congress and sentenced to prison. Several liberal members of SAG, led by Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall , Danny Kaye , and Gene Kelly , formed

2183-488: The movie stage under better conditions, but this was the least of its problems. In late December, groups of theater owners and non-represented producers filed lawsuits to claim damages from the AEA's contract holdout. "The plaintiffs not only seek a temporary injunction against the defendants, pending trial on an order to show cause why a permanent injunction should not be granted, but also ask damages of $ 100,000." The AEA allowed small numbers of contracts to be negotiated over

2242-566: The next few years. In 1933, the Screen Actors Guild was created and took the AEA's place as the main representative for movie actors and producers. This allowed the AEA to focus on live productions, such as theatrical performances, while the Screen Actors Guild focused on movie production and non-scripted live performances, such as minstrel, vaudeville, and live radio shows. In the 1940s, the AEA stood against segregation . When actors were losing jobs through 1950s McCarthyism and

2301-434: The organization when it was first founded), Leon Ames , Tyler Brooke , Clay Clement , James Gleason , Lucile Webster Gleason , Boris Karloff , Claude King , Noel Madison , Reginald Mason, Bradley Page , Willard Robertson , Ivan Simpson , C. Aubrey Smith , Charles Starrett , Richard Tucker , Arthur Vinton, Morgan Wallace , and Lyle Talbot . Many high-profile actors refused to join SAG initially. This changed when

2360-545: The producers and actors on contract disputes, had a membership policy which was by invitation only. A meeting in March 1933 of six actors ( Berton Churchill , Charles Miller, Grant Mitchell , Ralph Morgan , Alden Gay, and Kenneth Thomson) led to the guild's foundation. Three months later, three of the six and eighteen others became the guild's first officers and board of directors: Ralph Morgan (its first president), Alden Gay, Kenneth Thomson , Alan Mowbray (who personally funded

2419-577: The producers made an agreement amongst themselves not to bid competitively for talent. A pivotal meeting, at the home of Frank Morgan (Ralph's brother, who played the title role in The Wizard of Oz ), was what gave SAG its critical mass. Prompted by Eddie Cantor 's insistence, at that meeting, that any response to that producer's agreement help all actors, not just the already established ones, it took only three weeks for SAG membership to go from around 80 members to more than 4,000. Cantor's participation

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2478-511: The representation of women, both in numbers and quality of representation. SAG Women's Committee had been dedicated to working towards strategic objectives adopted from the Fourth World Conference on Women Beijing Platform of 1995. These objectives included supporting research into all aspects of women and the media so as to define areas needing attention and action. The SAG Hollywood Division Women's Committee also encouraged

2537-475: The safety of the individuals, cast and crew, women and minorities were to be considered for doubling roles and for descript and non-descript stunts on a functional, non-discriminatory basis. Performers who meet the eligibility criteria of working a certain number of days or attaining a certain threshold in income derived from SAG productions could join the Producers Pension and Health Plans offered by

2596-741: The studios to dictate the public and private lives of the performers who signed them, and most did not have provisions to allow the performer to end the deal. The Screen Actors Guild was associated with the Associated Actors and Artistes of America (AAAA), which is the primary association of performer's unions in the United States. AAAA is affiliated with the AFL-CIO . SAG claimed exclusive jurisdiction over motion picture performances, and shared jurisdiction of radio , television , Internet , and other new media with its sister union AFTRA, with which it shared 44,000 dual members. Internationally,

2655-405: The total amount due upon initiation into the Guild to $ 3,058. All other SAG locals still assessed initiation fees at the previous rate. Members from other locales who worked in Los Angeles, New York, or Miami after joining were charged the difference between the fee they paid their local and the higher rate in those markets. Membership dues were calculated and due semi-annually, and were based upon

2714-516: The union to theatre workers who had not previously worked for Equity employers. Theatre workers need to provide a copy of their contract and proof of pay. This policy was made permanent in 2023, superseding previous methods for earning eligibility to join Equity such as the Equity Membership Candidate (EMC) program. Asides from Open Access, theatre workers may join Equity by being employed under an Equity contract, or by being

2773-483: Was apparently a supporter of Fi-Core. Entertainment remains among the most gender unequal industries in the United States. The National Women's Committee operated within the National Statement of Purpose to promote equal employment opportunities for its female SAG members. It also encouraged positive images of women in film and television, in order to end sexual stereotypes and educate the industry about

2832-951: Was critical, particularly because of his friendship with the recently elected President Franklin D. Roosevelt . After several years and the passage of the National Labor Relations Act , the producers agreed to negotiate with SAG in 1937. Actors known for their early support of SAG (besides the founders) include Bette Davis , Edward Arnold , Humphrey Bogart , James Cagney , Dudley Digges , Porter Hall , Paul Harvey , Jean Hersholt , Russell Hicks , Murray Kinnell , Gene Lockhart , Bela Lugosi , David Manners , Fredric March , Adolphe Menjou , Chester Morris , Jean Muir , George Murphy , Erin O'Brien-Moore , Irving Pichel , Dick Powell , Edward G. Robinson , Edwin Stanley , Gloria Stuart , Lyle Talbot , Franchot Tone , Warren William , and Robert Young . In October 1947,

2891-557: Was denied by the Supreme Court. The membership of the Screen Actors Guild voted to merge with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists on March 30, 2012. According to SAG's Department of Labor records since 2006, when membership classifications were first reported, 30%, or almost a third, of the guild's total membership had consistently been considered "withdrawn", "suspended", or otherwise not categorized as "active" members. These members were ineligible to vote in

2950-514: Was fined $ 100,000. SAG Principal members could not work on non-union productions. Union background actors were not fully covered nationwide and could work non-union outside the background zones. These background zones included the state of Hawaii, 4 zones in California, Las Vegas NV, and a 300-mile radius around New York City. Many film schools had SAG Student Film Agreements with the Guild to allow SAG actors to work in their projects. SAGIndie

3009-570: Was formed in 1997 to promote using SAG actors; SAG also had Low Budget Contracts that were meant to encourage the use of SAG members on films produced outside of the major studios and to prevent film productions from leaving the country, known as " Runaway production ". In the fight against "Runaway production", the SAG National Board voted unanimously to support the Film and Television Action Committee (FTAC) and its 301(a) Petition which asked

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3068-512: Was founded by 112 professional theater actors, who established its constitution and elected Francis Wilson as president. Leading up to the association's establishment, a handful of influential actors—known as The Players—held secret organizational meetings at Edwin Booth's The Players at its Gramercy Park mansion. A bronze plaque commemorates the room in which The Players met to establish Actors' Equity. Members included Frank Gillmore , who from

3127-537: Was founded during the strike. Equity represented directors and choreographers until 1959, when they broke away and formed their own union . The Actors Equality Strike was a series of walkouts that started in 1927 in local theaters in Los Angeles and quickly grew to the motion picture stage. During the nationwide walkouts, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences started issuing contracts to freelance film actors, which led Hollywood's actors and actresses to fear

3186-418: Was founded in 1933 in an effort to eliminate the exploitation of Hollywood actors, who were being forced into oppressive multi-year contracts with the major movie studios . Opposition to these contracts included that they did not include restrictions on work hours or minimum rest periods, and often had clauses that automatically renewed at the studios' discretion. These contracts were notorious for allowing

3245-448: Was limited to $ 6,566. SAG members who became delinquent in their dues without formally requesting a leave of absence from the Guild were assessed late penalties , and risked being ejected from the Guild and could be forced to pay the initiation fee again to regain their membership. The SAG Constitution and Bylaws stated "No member shall work as a performer or make an agreement to work as a performer for any producer who has not executed

3304-519: Was over filming commercials. Management agreed to up salaries from $ 218 to $ 250 per scene, but if the scene were not used at all, the actor would not be paid. In July, SAG members walked out on strike, along with AFTRA, the union for television and radio artists, and the American Federation of Musicians. The union joined the television artists in calling for a successful boycott against that year's prime-time Emmy awards . Powers Boothe

3363-467: Was pointed out that while the Equality regulations were in effect, about 2000 motion picture contracts, involving salaries said to amount to $ 500,000 were offered to actors in New York." Any actor who entered into a contract not approved by the AEA would be banished from the union and have to reapply for admission after negotiations were finished. By December 1929, the AEA was negotiating terms to reset

3422-605: Was the executive secretary of Actors' Equity from 1918 to 1929 and president from 1929 to 1937. Actors' Equity joined the American Federation of Labor in 1919, and called a strike seeking recognition as a labor union. The strike ended the dominance of the Producing Managers' Association , including theater owners and producers like Abe Erlanger and his partner, Mark Klaw . The strike increased membership from under 3,000 to approximately 14,000. The Chorus Equity Association , which merged with Actors' Equity in 1955,

3481-418: Was the only one of the 52 nominated actors to attend: "This is either the most courageous moment of my career or the dumbest" he quipped during his acceptance speech. The guild ratified a new pact, for a 32.25% increase in minimum salaries and a 4.5% share of movies made for pay TV, and the strike ended on October 25. The commercials strike of 2000 was extremely controversial. Some factions within SAG call it

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