How To Become A “SAG” Actor

You may have heard actors talking about the elusive “SAG card” and wondered what they were talking about. The Screen Actors Guild, most commonly referred to as SAG, is the largest union for working actors. The union represents nearly 120,000 working actors in film, television, industrials, commercials, video games, music videos and other new media. While many people who are interested in breaking into the industry as an actor have heard of SAG, or are somewhat familiar with the union, they don’t know how they become eligible to join.

There are several ways that you can become a member of SAG. You can become a member by 1) securing a principal or speaking role in a SAG film, videotape, television program or commercial, 2) securing a role as a SAG–covered background player at full SAG rates and conditions for a minimum of three work days or 3) if you are a member of an affiliated performers' union (ACTRA, AEA, AFTRA, AGMA or AGVA) for a period of one year and have worked and been paid for at least one role as a principal performer in that union’s jurisdiction.

That’s a mouthful! Let’s see if we can simplify it.

-If you book a role in a major television, film or commercial role, then you become SAG eligible. Most of the time this does not include independent film projects – although there are some exceptions.

- If you work as a background actor for at least three days on a film where the producer has signed a SAG agreement where he must cover background actors, then you are SAG eligible.

- If you are a member of another union such as ACTRA or AFTRA for at least a year, and you secure a principal role on a major union production, then you’re eligible.

Being a member of SAG is a great opportunity and has a lot of invaluable benefits. If you have more questions about SAG, post them on our bulletin board. We have lots of SAG members that are active on Star Search Casting and I’m sure they’d be happy to answer your questions.

Stay tuned for my upcoming blog about the many opportunities available to non-union people who are getting started in the entertainment industry as actors, models, dancers, singers, background players (extras), etc. And be sure to take a look at our forums for more great information about the entertainment business: http://www.starsearchcasting.com/forums/index.php