International Diplomacy

SAG-AFTRA New York Theatrical Contracts staff broke out their passports for a trip to Montreal for an educational seminar with the Directors Guild of Canada. Director of Theatrical Contracts Stephanie Perry and Manager of Theatrical Contracts Leif Larson gave a presentation on the SAG Codified Basic Agreement for DGC members, trainees, and representatives from ACTRA (the Canadian actors’ union).

Many SAG-AFTRA members go north of the Great Lakes for employment, and their SAG-AFTRA contract protections go with them. As a result, DGC assistant directors and unit production managers must be familiar with the provisions of our contract, and the May 24 seminar was a perfect way to address this need.

The presentation covered the various differences between contract provisions governing the employment of SAG-AFTRA members working in Canada versus those governing local ACTRA members, including turnaround time, overtime and rules for minor performers. “DGC members were eager to learn about the details of our contract to insure compliance and cooperation on both sides,” commented Perry. “This was our first presentation with the Directors Guild of Canada, and it was a huge success. I look forward to making it a regular event.”

SAG-AFTRA members should note that their contract protections follow them wherever they work in the world. If you have any questions about working overseas, call the union for details.

This article was originally featured in the August 2014 local e-newsletter.