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Welsh VO · Joined: 30 Sep 2014 Posts: 14 Location: Greater Boston

Hello all!

I have a question about SAG/AFTRA...
As a UK VO, I am a member of the British Union (Equity). A studio in the US asked me if I was a union voice and I explained this and they did not get back to me.

What is the deal with union/non-union voices and where do I stand as a UK union member?

Can UK voices join US unions?

Thanks in advance for any advice!
Noni
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Noni Lewis
www.welshvoiceover.co.uk

Bob Bergen · CM Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 979

Hi Noni. I don't think so. But let me do some snooping and get a definitive answer for you. But I'm pretty sure there's no affiliation/crossover between SAG-AFTRA and any other performers union globally. And I think you would still have to qualify to join SAG-AFTRA. But I may be wrong.

Melissa Ex might know.

B

Bob Bergen · CM Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 979

Ok, so I've asked a few members and I'm getting conflicting info. So, here is the SAG-AFTRA membership page: http://www.sagaftra.org/content/membership

I've not surfed it myself so I'm not sure if your answer is here. But I will try to get you an answer!! B

Yonie · CM Joined: 31 Aug 2011 Posts: 906

Doesn't it depend on where the money goes?

melissa eX · Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 3:47 pm Post subject:

The answer to the simple question is yes - UK voices can join US unions. Now, I don't know what kind of legal status - if any - is required to join the union but Bish belongs to SAG-AFTRA. He's a Brit and legal US resident.

If you book a SAG-AFTRA job it doesn't matter if you're a member of the union or not - you can be Taft-Harleyed. Very basically, it means the producer who want to hire you puts through paperwork to SAG and you're allowed to work that job and any other union job within the following 30 days before you become a "must join" - which means for the next union job you book after 30 days you HAVE to join the union.

I was looking around and found this from Canada's ACTRA site.

Bish · Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 4:19 pm Post subject:

I did not have to prove anything when I joined... no passport, green card, I-9 form (don't ask). However, I do have a US address. The simplest way to find out if you're eligible is to contact the union directly. You may get the run-around, but a definitive answer may eventually come. If Bob's on the case, I would trust his finding. He's probably the most knowledgeable here regarding union issues.

I think the biggest issue is whether you need to or not. A reciprocal agreement may well be in place... although again, finding the correct information could be difficult.

Maybe your best course is to go up the chain in Equity to find the answer. There are countless UK actors working on US movies. This cannot be a unique problem... it must have been answered for everyone from Ben Kingsley downward!

The main questions are: do you need to or are you covered under reciprocity... and if you need to, there must be a simple path that countless have trod already.

I also seem to remember a thread a while back where Philip Banks said there was absolutely no point in a UK talent (working out of the UK) joining SAG-AFTRA. Apologies if I'm mis-remembering.

Peter
_________________
Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

Welsh VO · Joined: 30 Sep 2014 Posts: 14 Location: Greater Boston

Thanks so much for taking the time to investigate for me, I really appreciate it!

I have spoken to Equity here and they say there is some sort of agreement when it comes to West End shows etc but as Bish suggested was wondering if I needed to join in my circumstances....

I have been told that it simply costs $3000 to join but the use of the Taft Hartley thingy makes this unnecessary.

Probably best to wait until I actually arrive and have a US address and hopefully some US clients before I contact SAG themselves!
Thanks again
Noni
_________________
Noni Lewis
www.welshvoiceover.co.uk

Lee Gordon · Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2014 10:18 am Post subject:

Taft Hartley will cover you for just the first couple of jobs. After that, you would have to pony up the three grand to continue working union jobs.

I am unaware of any reciprocal arrangement among the actors' unions of the various nations, whereby members of SAG-AFTRA, ACTRA, or British Equity could work in each other's jurisdictions without having to join the host country's union, but shouldn't there be one?
_________________
Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice