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Right, you think hollywood is an example of unions helping out people based on merit. Do you know what kind of connections you need to get into a union? You thi

Right, you think hollywood is an example of unions helping out people based on merit. Do you know what kind of connections you need to get into a union? You think it is merit based?

gamblor956 3y ago
Hollywood unions you generally need to work on 1 or more productions (or for 10 or more days, depending on the union) covered by a union contract (meaning, generally, a major studio production). Some unions include work on non-union productions toward the threshold for union membership. No connections required. Indeed, I accidentally qualified for SAG membership purely on the basis being a background extra for fun, and I can qualify for IATSE Local 695 sometime in the next year if I work on another camera crew as a camera assistant when filming resumes. I got my start on the camera stuff by walking up to the camera guys when I was an extra and asking about their cameras. (There was a lot of filming activity pre-strike; they literally didn't have enough bodies and were hiring people with any sort of relevant experience.) If I didn't have a non-film day job I would already have done enough work to join the union.
- AnthonyMouse 3y ago
  If the requirements aren't intended to gatekeep then why do they exist? Shouldn't the union want as a member anyone who wants to join? > Indeed, I accidentally qualified for SAG membership purely on the basis being a background extra for fun It appears that the SAG-AFTRA "Initiation Fee" is $3000, so if you're an aspiring actress working as a waitress for minimum wage, you need to do more than qualify unless you know someone who can get the fee waived for you (or pay it for you). > There was a lot of filming activity pre-strike; they literally didn't have enough bodies and were hiring people with any sort of relevant experience. It sounds like you had an atypical experience as a result of an unusual circumstance. How easy is it to get that kind of work when there isn't a crunch on to get everything in before a strike?

Right, you think hollywood is an example of unions helping out people based on merit. Do you know what kind of connections you need to get into a union? You think it is merit based?

gamblor956 3y ago

Hollywood unions you generally need to work on 1 or more productions (or for 10 or more days, depending on the union) covered by a union contract (meaning, generally, a major studio production). Some unions include work on non-union productions toward the threshold for union membership. No connections required. Indeed, I accidentally qualified for SAG membership purely on the basis being a background extra for fun, and I can qualify for IATSE Local 695 sometime in the next year if I work on another camera crew as a camera assistant when filming resumes. I got my start on the camera stuff by walking up to the camera guys when I was an extra and asking about their cameras. (There was a lot of filming activity pre-strike; they literally didn't have enough bodies and were hiring people with any sort of relevant experience.) If I didn't have a non-film day job I would already have done enough work to join the union.

AnthonyMouse 3y ago
If the requirements aren't intended to gatekeep then why do they exist? Shouldn't the union want as a member anyone who wants to join? > Indeed, I accidentally qualified for SAG membership purely on the basis being a background extra for fun It appears that the SAG-AFTRA "Initiation Fee" is $3000, so if you're an aspiring actress working as a waitress for minimum wage, you need to do more than qualify unless you know someone who can get the fee waived for you (or pay it for you). > There was a lot of filming activity pre-strike; they literally didn't have enough bodies and were hiring people with any sort of relevant experience. It sounds like you had an atypical experience as a result of an unusual circumstance. How easy is it to get that kind of work when there isn't a crunch on to get everything in before a strike?