Working the Commercials Contracts and Making a Living

On July 15, the Los Angeles Local Conservatory held an Actors Evening panel to discuss the Commercials Contracts.

Panelists included SAG-AFTRA members Jamison Reeves (AARP, Bud Light - Super Bowl), Cyd Strittmatter (Walmart, Apple), Miller Tai (Hilton, Apple), Natalia Castellanos (Verizon, Bimbo Bakery), Nancy Linari (Progressive, Master Card), Tessa Claire Hersh (HR Block Campaign, Wendy’s) and Iris Liu (Toyota, Progressive). SAG-AFTRA and Conservatory Committee member Lee Garlington moderated the panel. 

Here are three key takeaways from the panel:

Auditions

When preparing for an audition, the panelists recommend that you leverage your community for support. Connect with people who are also involved in commercials. Get assistance with readers. This collaborative effort is essential as the world of self-tape auditions is not going away.

Education

Continuously developing your craft through classes is a must, just as athletes need regular training. Taking classes is just one way to stay “fit.” Look for classes that resonate with your personal philosophy and learning style. Additionally, consider utilizing your community just like when preparing for an audition. Get together with friends and run lines, watch different commercials and take notes. Research is also a key component of your education. Most commercial directors will have websites that you can view to get a feel for the work they have done in the past, which can provide valuable insight into their work and their style in general. Exposing yourself to the work you want to do will help you prepare yourself.

Stay educated about what the union is doing when it comes to the Commercials Contracts. Attend wages and working conditions (W&W) meetings to learn about the contracts and make your voice heard. Get involved with #AdsGoUnion, a commercials organizing campaign, which is a member-driven initiative that protects and increases union commercial work. To learn more, visit the #AdsGoUnion’s webpage.

Consider joining the SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Conservatory program, which makes an effort to program commercials classes, or visit the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Program Calendar to see what commercial classes they may be offering.

Representation

Panelists advised that when selecting a commercials representative it’s important to find a representative who supports union work and with whom you have open, effective communication. One of the best ways to find representation is through recommendations, so, again, tap into  your community! 
When it comes to the commercials world, there is no one right way to handle your career. However, building and utilizing a supportive network around you is essential for success.

The Los Angeles Local Conservatory Actors Evenings are monthly moderated panels that bring industry professionals to the Conservatory. Panelists include casting directors, working members, showrunners, producers, SAG-AFTRA staff, agents and show casts. To learn more about this and to enroll in the conservatory, visit the Los Angeles Local Conservatory webpage.

If you have questions about the Commercials Contracts, please reach out to comm.coedinfo@sagaftra.org.

Photo: From left, SAG-AFTRA members Tessa Claire Hersh, Iris Liu, L.A. Local Conservatory Committee member Lee Garlington, SAG-AFTRA members Jamison Reeves, Natalia Castellanos, Miller Tai, Cyd Strittmatter and Nancy Linari pose for a group photo in the James Cagney Boardroom after an Actors Evening panel on working the Commercials Contract.