I'll tell you my story, but before I begin I'll tell you why it's interesting: I became eligible because of the work I did on the web series that I created.
I never imagined this would be one of the (many) benefits of creating my own project, but, low and behold, it was. I feel like I tapped into one of the best kept secrets in the industry. To be honest, it feels like I got away with something, and because of this I have been hesitant to tell anyone about my experience. I feared that SAG would hunt me down and strip me of my honor for letting their secret out!
But you know what, oh well! If they have a problem with this method, they can change it, right!? And maybe they will, but until then, if you have the drive and the resources, you too may be able to do what I did.
My Story
Last April I wrote a web series called "Leaving Bliss" so that I could have a project to act in. I was non-union, and we shot the first five episodes non-union, but several SAG actors were involved in the show because at the time SAG was lenient about its actors doing internet work.*
Several months later, after we released our first episode in January, my producing partner, Steve Yager, and I decided we wanted the project to be SAG because we were looking into a distribution site that only hosts web shows that have union status. I'm not WGA and Steve's not DGA, so we thought we could most easily register with SAG because we already had so many SAG actors in the project, not to mention we wanted to continue shooting episodes and using talented SAG actors. It just felt right (and long overdue) to register with the union.
Steve called SAG and asked about registering an internet project, and they transferred him to the right department. A very lovely woman named Maria helped Steve work through the process. He had to fill out some paperwork about the show, including information on budget, and he had to submit a copy of the script.
After Maria received this paperwork, we went down to the SAG office on Wilshire to meet with Maria and sign some paperwork. I gave her a list of all the SAG actors in the project, and she gave us a notebook outlining our responsibilities as a SAG signatory producer. We received time-sheets and copies of the SAG Internet agreement, which is fully negotiable.
At the end of the meeting, she handed us a Taft Hartley form and said that if we needed to, we could Taft Hartley principal actors. It is not necessary to do this under the agreement that we have with SAG, but if the actors would like it, then we can do it for them. I asked her if there was a fee associated with the process, and she said no. Steve and I played it cool, took our paperwork, thanked Maria for all her help, and were on our way. By the end of the 30 minute meeting, Steve was a SAG signatory producer, the show was union affiliated, and I had hope in my heart that I could soon get my own SAG membership.
The next day, we filled out the 2-page Taft Hartley form and sent it in to SAG along with my headshot and resume. After a few days they approved my application, and I was good to go!
My Advice to You
If you are a principal on a web series that has SAG status, ask your producers about the Taft Hartley process and ask if they are willing to do this for you. If so, all they have to do is give you the two pages of paperwork, which you need to fill out and send in with your headshot and resume. (Again, Steve and I are working under the SAG Internet Agreement, so if your producer has a different contract, I do not know if the process is any different/harder.)
If you are an actor who wants to create your own web series to try to get your SAG card, call the SAG office in your area and ask about setting up an Internet Agreement for your show. They will get you started on the process. If you want advice in general about starting your own web series, I am considering doing a post on that topic in the near future.
Best of luck in your endeavors! If you have any questions, let me know!
:)
Shanna
*My understanding of things. I cannot say for certain if this was the case.
