Acting between the clicks
Acting between the clicks
Last night, you taped your favorite shows. You had other things to do and games to watch before bed. You taped "Glee," "Modern Family," "Hawaii Five-0" and a movie, and you've settled in to watch them. In the middle of the story, up pops that annoying commercial. So you pick up that new remote and zip forward. Whooosh! We all do that. We're busy people for whom instant gratification isn't fast enough.
Most commercials are a bore, especially after you've seen them seventy thousand times. You're sick of watching the handsome couple in the twin tubs who have apparently just shared a magic moment. You can't understand why they don't just get one tub like the one you and your sweetie had on the cruise last winter.
You dread those spots that try to sell you those drugs with the side effects that are worse than the illnesses they're designed to help. I don't blame you. I hate them too, even though I used to make them. I wrote a few, acted in hundreds and cast and directed some. It was my life once.
Once upon a time in the golden days of television, actors would turn up their noses at selling toothpaste. They wanted to play all the leads on the soap operas and prime time shows. They wanted to do serious acting and get a permanent series. All actors want that.
But acting in theater, film and television is a tough, competitive game. As the competition grows tougher, the good jobs come slowly. So when their agents suggested sending them out for a job selling toilet tissue and soap, soft drinks and aspirin, shaving cream and diapers, they winced. But when they saw the money come in, the wince turned to a smile.
On your screen every night, hundreds of commercials roll by. You probably don't see them anymore. You press the button and move on. They matter little to you.
But to the thousands of actors, mostly unknown to you, pretty and plain, fat and thin, tall and short, selling you all the stuff you use every day, they matter a lot. Many are kids, just starting their careers, getting their faces out in public.
Screen Actors Guild Health Insurance - News
Don't be fooled by those gorgeous young "party kids." They're mostly actors trying to make enough money to keep their Screen Actors Guild health insurance. They have to make $15000 in four quarters just to maintain the minimum coverage.
The view of the pending SAG-AFTRA merger on the red carpet before today's SAG Awards was mixed. Supporters far outnumbered detractors but many were cautious in their enthusiasm and concerned about potential hidden traps in the deal's fine print.
SAG and AFTRA have not released details on the merger plan, OK'd over the weekend by the two national boards. But people with knowledge have told that the proposal provides that the current elected leadership of the two unions will remain in
The shift in work benefits AFTRA by increasing the number of members and total membership dues, and increasing employer contributions to the union's health and retirement funds. SAG is conversely disadvantaged. AFTRA members also benefit from the
She earned a pair of Emmys for her guest appearances in the HBO series “Six Feet Under,” and was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her work in the 2003 film “Pieces of April.” Batt has won two Screen Actor Guild Awards for his portrayal
SAGWatch – Observing the Screen Actors Guild and AFTRA » Blog ...
The Committees agree to recommend that the consolidation of the respective pension plans be studied so that it may ascertained (a) what, if any, merger plan can be achieved which will satisfy the requirements of law and the protection of all eligible members against loss of benefits, presently or in the future; and (b) the willingness of industry trustees to consolidate the plans.”
That’s why the threatened lawsuit about the supposedly required study never happened.
Q. Does the AFTRA individual health plan have a $17,260 annual premium?
A. No. The AFTRA individual health plan premium is $1,524.00.
Q. Did they just get it wrong and mean family?
A. Who knows? But the number is wrong anyway. The annual family premium is $2,928.00.
Q. Have the unions exchanged contract details? The statement says they haven’t.
A. The statement is wrong. There was extensive due diligence done, and each contract of each union was made available to the other.
Those are just the errors we caught on a quick read through. We’re sure you’ll spot others – that is, if you think the Stinke is worth it and don’t wait for the real statement.
FYI-
If you earn the lower level AFTRA insurance (which only covers the individual – $10,000 in earnings) and you want to purchase coverage for your family, that coverage costs $17,188.00/yr ($1,452 for the individual, plus $15,736 for the family buy up). If you earn Plan 2 in SAG (under the lowest earning level – “Plan 2 Age and Service” – 10 year vested, over 40 years old, $10,900 in earnings), you will pay $2,076.00/yr to cover your family. If you earn Plan 2 at the highest level ($15,100 in earnings), your family coverage only costs $1,620.00/yr. There is no question that, if you have a family, SAG health insurance is cheaper than AFTRA’s.
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Admin. Comment: Those are essentially COBRA rates you’re talking about. That’s for people who don’t actually qualify for the Family Plan but want to buy insurance for their family anyway. It’s not anything like the same as SAG Plan II. In SAG, that rate is called Self-Pay, and is $1543 per month, or $18,516 per year, and the Self Pay plan is still losing money every year , according to the Trustees.