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| re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership | |
| Posted by: Singapore/Fling 08:14 pm EDT 07/21/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership - PlayWiz 07:47 pm EDT 07/21/21 | |
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| But that’s the whole point, the current approach to non-Union actors asks them to put in the time to show up, wait outside, and maybe be seen if they got there early enough. Hoping that maybe some BIPOC actors will be seen only for shows that specifically need BIPOC actors because there aren’t enough BIPOC actors in Equity is not a solution, even as it points directly at the problem: A) not enough BIPOC actors in Equity, and B) the notion that BIPOC actors should be seen only in cases where the parts require BIPOC actors. The current set-up to join Equity, especially the EMC process, favors white, cis-gender, able bodied actors. This is one possible solution that might lead to actual success in broadening the industry’s idea of who deserves to be seen on stage and regarded as professional. |
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| re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership | |
| Posted by: ryhog 10:18 pm EDT 07/21/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership - Singapore/Fling 08:14 pm EDT 07/21/21 | |
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| something needs to be done but I am not sure that a pay to play solution just as unemployment benefits are winding down is the solution. Again, maybe I am wrong but that was my reaction. | |
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| re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership | |
| Posted by: Singapore/Fling 11:20 pm EDT 07/21/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership - ryhog 10:18 pm EDT 07/21/21 | |
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| But Equity is always pay to play, it's just that in the past, it was the privilege of producers, directors, casting directors, and training institutions to determine when an actor had reached a point at which they could now pay to play. I'm also ambivalent about whether this will be a good solution - the toxicity and dysfunction of our industry is a much bigger knot than Equity can untie by creating more access to opportunities - but I'm willing to wait and see how this plays out, and I'm willing to trust that Shindle et al are doing this for worthwhile reasons rather than economic necessities. |
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| re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership | |
| Posted by: ryhog 11:43 pm EDT 07/21/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership - Singapore/Fling 11:20 pm EDT 07/21/21 | |
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| I don't think it is a revenue grab but I am not sure it is meaningful access. But I agree we will wait and see. | |
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| re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership | |
| Last Edit: PlayWiz 09:55 pm EDT 07/21/21 | |
| Posted by: PlayWiz 09:45 pm EDT 07/21/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership - Singapore/Fling 08:14 pm EDT 07/21/21 | |
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| I'm not only "Hoping that maybe some BIPOC actors will be seen only for shows that specifically need BIPOC actors" -- there are plenty of Equity actors already in the union showing up and waiting around to be seen too. Non-Equity BIPOC actors and non-BIPOC are free to show up for anything, like current Equity actors do and wait. That part of it is not favoring anyone demographically -- as the saying goes, "90% of success in show biz is showing up"-- so show up! But as it stands now, Equity actors, who pay dues, which pay for the upkeep and salaries of the union employees, etc., get preference to be seen first. | |
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| re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership | |
| Posted by: Singapore/Fling 02:01 am EDT 07/22/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership - PlayWiz 09:45 pm EDT 07/21/21 | |
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| New York has gotten too expensive for people to take time off from their jobs to hang out in the Equity lounge all day just in case they maybe get called in to audition for a job that might pay minimum wage. That becomes another way that theater privileges people who come from money, which overwhelmingly means white people. If this shift allows more actors to become dues paying members of the union who can have a better auditioning experience (including appointment times), then all the better. |
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| re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership | |
| Posted by: kess0078 09:45 pm EDT 07/21/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership - Singapore/Fling 08:14 pm EDT 07/21/21 | |
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| One aspect I have not seen mentioned in this thread - I feel like this will open up opportunity to join the Union at one’s own pace, and not at the first offer of an Equity contract, or to be automatically “in” once you earn enough EMC points. I realize that my own experience is anecdotal, but I do feel it’s relevant: I was offered an Equity contract after a few years touring non-Equity. I was apprehensive about joining, and not 100% sure I was ready to jump into the next talent pool. But, I wasn’t sure if the opportunity to be given my Equity Card would come again any time soon, so I went for it and joined the Union. I was not ready- my career suffered. I would have benefited from a few more years working non union. If the opportunity to join Equity at my own pace, and when I felt like my career was in the “right place,” I would absolutely have waited to join. A personal experience, yes, but I think so many people are discussing the eagerness of new members to join, but aren’t assessing the other end of the spectrum - many actors joined the Union at an inopportune time simply because that’s how the system worked. |
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| re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership | |
| Posted by: ryhog 10:14 pm EDT 07/21/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership - kess0078 09:45 pm EDT 07/21/21 | |
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| yes but... as I understand it, this is a 2 year window so if you pass on it now, you have no guarantee the opportunity will present itself when you are ready. | |
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| re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership | |
| Last Edit: PlayWiz 09:52 pm EDT 07/21/21 | |
| Posted by: PlayWiz 09:51 pm EDT 07/21/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership - kess0078 09:45 pm EDT 07/21/21 | |
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| Many years ago, I called Equity inquiring about requirements for joining, and the kind lady I spoke to actually told me it was sometimes worthwhile to wait to build up a resume with some good acting roles before jumping into the Equity audition pool with more experienced actors. I believe it was good advice. Many folks who worked quite a bit in non-Equity roles found that work slowed down significantly after joining Equity. I can understand the eagerness to join, as it seems to be a natural progression in a career to want to become more established as a professional and to go out for bigger shows in better theaters though. | |
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| re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership | |
| Last Edit: Snowgrace 01:19 am EDT 07/22/21 | |
| Posted by: Snowgrace 01:12 am EDT 07/22/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership - PlayWiz 09:51 pm EDT 07/21/21 | |
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| All this is fascinating...for several years in the 80s & 90s, if one earned a certain amount at a theatre, including a non-union one, one could become what I think was called an "eligible performer" & attend AEA calls (btw oh how I wish someone had told me back then how many of those were held merely because they were required by the union), but one couldn't join the union. So many members protested the increase in actors competing for audition spots that AEA put an end to that for us. It took a lot of us years to earn the points/contracts to ultimately join (with 4 points left, mine was thanks to a principal SAG contract which gave me eligibility first for THAT union), & it felt like a huge achievement when we did...That said, it's in huge part to the years of non-union tours & other productions that so much good came along during them & later. Maybe more theatres, including community, will all become union ones to accomodate all the new union members...time will tell. The world is changing... | |
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| re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership | |
| Posted by: Squillo 10:20 pm EDT 07/26/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership - Snowgrace 01:12 am EDT 07/22/21 | |
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| Too many of the discussions I’ve seen on AEA open access both here and elsewhere don’t even mention that AEA is making such a move during a pandemic. Theatre was already a fragile industry. AEA houses have closed, gone nonunion and reopened with one and two person shows. One of the arguments for open access has been, “If we all join, they can’t hire anyone else.” I’ve never bought it. AEA leadership thinks NOW is the time to take such a risk? The result could only be more AEA members competing for fewer jobs and destroying an already difficult audition system for a long time. The union’s leadership should have focused on tightening our belts and trying to regain what we had before 3/20, not reinventing the wheel when the industry barely exists. | |
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