The Empowered Background Actor

Empowerment: The process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially with respect to controlling one’s life and claiming one’s rights.

SAG-AFTRA background actors are afforded many protections via their various contracts. Unfortunately, there are many times they deal with production and casting folks who neither know nor understand their contractual rights. It is at that point members must decide how to handle these situations.

What steps can be taken to empower yourself and ensure your contractual protections are enforced?

Know and Understand Your Contracts

The more you know about your contracts, the more power you will have to get a violation corrected, maybe not immediately, but ultimately it will likely be resolved. Also, background actors work under many varied contracts, so it is imperative to know under which contract you are working and the terms and conditions of that contract.

A great source for background actors is the Background Actors Digest, which lists all of the contracts associated with background acting, including pay rates, allowances, adjustments, and terms and conditions. It can be found online here. Please note that updates are coming soon. 

Knowledge is power!

Ask to Speak to an Assistant Director if the Correct Payment Is Not on Your Voucher at Wrap

At wrap, if there are items owed to you but not noted on your voucher (meal penalty, wardrobe, wet pay, use of personal auto, smoke, props, body makeup, wigs, hair good affixed with spirit gum, hazardous requests to perform, etc.) and you are told you are not getting a “bump” in pay for these items, do not argue or make a scene. Ask to speak to an assistant director (AD) and then calmly explain the provision/violation affecting your circumstances. Production assistants (PAs) do not have the authority to approve or deny any adjustments/allowances. If your request is still denied, report it to the SAG-AFTRA Background Actors Department ASAP, and then follow up with a claim inquiry.

Know How to File a Claim Inquiry

Complete the Entertainment Contracts Background Claim Inquiry Form if you worked as a Background Actor under a theatrical or Television/New Media Contract and wish to file a claim inquiry.

File Claim Inquiries if Not Paid on Time

Background actors must be paid by a check postmarked by the Thursday following the work week. If you have not received your initial payment after 10 business days as guaranteed by our contract, you may file a “no initial payment”
claim inquiry with the union. On the claim inquiry form, include the name of the project, date worked and any communications from casting. This way, the union may begin an initial investigation as to why payment was not made on time.

After receiving your pay, you may file a late payment violation claim inquiry by including your pay stub and corresponding envelope with the postmark, as a follow-up to your “no initial payment” claim inquiry.

Before Performing Hazardous Work Beyond the Realm of Background Acting, Negotiate Additional Compensation

When asked to perform such work, assess the situation and determine if any additional compensation should apply.

If you believe an additional fee should be paid, always negotiate the amount before performing the task by speaking with the 1st AD, 2nd AD or unit production manager.

If additional compensation is denied, even though you were not informed of the rough or dangerous working conditions at the time of your booking, you have the right to refuse the work and are entitled to receive a portion of your contracted payment. You can always contact the union to seek assistance in securing this payment.

SAG-AFTRA members are the union; the eyes and ears of what happens on set. If you see a violation, report it. The Background Department is here to help. Remember, if the union does not know about it, the union is unable to fix it.