Stumble it!Another 2006 Milestone reached!
Back in the beginning of this year I had posted some milestones that I hoped to achieve during the coming year. I am happy to report that another of these milestones, the second so far, has now been met. The milestone I am referring to was my desire to be offered a SAG card from the Screen Actors Guild during this year. You are not allowed to just join the guild out right, you must be asked first. In order to be asked you must meet the requirements. The requirements vary; I worked 3 days as a background extra on SAG shoots for SAG wages. That is the tricky part, because non-union background extras are rarely paid union wages. However, if you are in a sister union of SAG like AFTRA, of which I am a member, you do get paid the same union wage. So many people join AFTRA first because it has no requirements and it is kind an easy back door into SAG. It does however cost $1400 dollars to join AFTRA, so some people don’t take this route. Also it cost another $1400 to join SAG once you are invited. I just sent in all my info yesterday and should get my plastic SAG card in the mail soon. Being a member of SAG looks damn good on actors resume and lets people know that you are serious about your craft because it ain’t cheap to join.
The first milestone I met this year was getting cast in a principal (speaking) role in a movie with a budget over $100,000. You can read that post here.
‘Tis all for now.
It’s the most exciting thing, isn’t it? How proud you must feel of yourself right now.
My tradition is that I take a fellow actor out for a cocktail immediately after registering so that we can talk about his/her dreams and ambitions and celebrate.
We live far apart so I raise my glass to you and look forward to reading more about your dreams and ambitions.
Comment by magickat — June 15, 2006 @ 5:10 pm
Congrats on your SAG card — a grand accomplishment (in more ways than the $1,000+)!
Comment by Trevor — June 16, 2006 @ 1:35 am
As they say it takes money to make money and the SAG fee will be money well spent. It’s an investment and a milestone. Nice job.
Comment by Ricardo — June 16, 2006 @ 10:53 pm
congratulations!!! I don’t know a lot about acting but I do know that card is important. Don’t forget to take a picture of you holding that card.
Comment by marsha — June 17, 2006 @ 10:15 am
Thanks for all the nice comments folks! I am very happy about this, and Marsha, I do plan on taking a picture with me holding my SAG card; great minds think alike. I was planning on making a postcard with me holding the card and sending it into the local casting companies, to let them know. I will post it here to.
Thanks,
Don
Comment by Don — June 17, 2006 @ 10:25 am
Hey Don! Congratulations! That is so awesome that you’ve reached that milestone! Way to go!
–Isabelle
Comment by iziezi — June 17, 2006 @ 11:49 pm
Congrats Don!! We all made it to SAG, now let’s get score some big breaks!
Comment by PatPitu — June 20, 2006 @ 8:57 am