Actors' Equity Association: I've been asked to work in the United Kingdom or Australia. What should I do?
Call Actors' Equity Association directly. While we will need to speak to the Producer as well, don't assume that the Producer will contact us voluntarily. Also, don't assume that everything is fine just because the Producer tells you it is.
4 comments:
I am undecided regarding my feelings about this. I understand that the union wants to represent me and make sure that I'm getting paid a reasonable salary in addition to benefits and livable housing conditions, but this feels more like a situation where the institution is just trying to take their slice of my paycheck--Especially if the producer is willing to give me compensation comparable to the standards by which I live by here. Why would work union want to create more obstacles for its members on the path to find work? If an opportunity arises overseas, and you're willing to take it, go. Submit notification to the union that you're doing it--and ask for forgiveness, not permission. If you get there, and the conditions are horrible, or not to your expectation, maybe you didn't ask all the right questions before you left. It's part of the risk you take, I think. However, I can see that you wouldn't want to get to a foreign country (where you might not speak the language, even) and be unhappy with housing, per diem, etc.
I am undecided regarding my feelings about this. I understand that the union wants to represent me and make sure that I'm getting paid a reasonable salary in addition to benefits and livable housing conditions, but this feels more like a situation where the institution is just trying to take their slice of my paycheck--Especially if the producer is willing to give me compensation comparable to the standards by which I live by here. Why would work union want to create more obstacles for its members on the path to find work? If an opportunity arises overseas, and you're willing to take it, go. Submit notification to the union that you're doing it--and ask for forgiveness, not permission. If you get there, and the conditions are horrible, or not to your expectation, maybe you didn't ask all the right questions before you left. It's part of the risk you take, I think. However, I can see that you wouldn't want to get to a foreign country (where you might not speak the language, even) and be unhappy with housing, per diem, etc.
Considering I've had some of these same questions in my head for a while, I I found this article helpful. Since I am not an Equity member and don't know all of the specifics of how and when you receive benefits and pay dues,I'm not 100% sure how all of this communication with the Equity office about these things would affect the work and the pay. I disagree with Jody though; I don't think is Equity trying to insert itself in something that doesn't concern the union; I think that this is Equity making sure that its members are receiving just compensation and benefits commensurate with union expectations. It's part of the deal when you join a union and is the same reason that you can't take a non-Equity contract once you've become a member.
I understand what Jody is saying. I don't know if I was imaging this, but the tone of this informational page is a little less than pleasant. The response for everything really is to just call your union and talk to a representative, but that may not help, unless you talk to the president! However I do understand why they may say that you would have to pay taxes in both countries and there is some information mentioned that would be important for anyone aspiring to work in another country however I feel that they could have offered more information than they did. Also I wish that the unions would get to stage where you could easily move from union to union in other countries and work freely.
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