This question is about Union films vs. Non-Union films? Important!! Acting Career and Performing Arts?

Question by strictlymob: This question is about Union films vs. Non-Union films? Important!! Acting Career and Performing Arts?
I understand that in the acting business for working actors and working actresses there are two different types: Union work and Non Union work. I understand that part.

But what I do not know or understand is if a Film or Movie or TV Show is not made by the Unions (SAG, AFTRA) than it is automatically and immediately considered Non Union, is that correct? Example is that me and my buddys are making a movie we have a script and everything ready. We are (by no means affiliated with any actors union) not with SAG (Screen Actors Guild) or AFTRA (American Federation Of Television And Radio Artists). We are just a dozen friends who recently purchased 6 cameras from Wal-Mart. Now if we make that movie with those cheap cameras maybe cost about $ 100 each, the Hollywood cameras cost about $ 100,000 each. But if we make a movie and film it where we live at, in the neighborhood will that be considered a “Non Union” movie. And what is the difference between Indie movies (Independent films) and Non Union movies. Are all Non Union movies considered Indies and vice versa.

Also, where do feature length Non Union films get shown at, do they get played on TV or sold on DVD. And are there any popular non union films or tv shows. As well as Indie Films? Can we send in our movie or tv series in to an agent to be played on TV once we get it finished, even though we are not union associates?

Thank You

Best answer:

Answer by Lawrence B
The movie you and your friends are making would be considered a non-union film. But keep in mind that there are unions for many of the crew positions, not just the actors. There is the Director’s Guild of America, the American Cinematographer’s Society, and many others. Some films may use a non-union crew but hire SAG actors. So it depends.

As for indie films, some are union and some are non-union. There are a lot of definitions for what makes a film an indie, but the broadest definition is that it’s any film not made by a major production company, such as Paramount, Warner Bros., or FOX. In other words, it’s a film made independently of the major production companies. Note that a production company is different from a distributor. A small production company could make an indie movie and sell it to a big distributor like Lions Gate, Universal or MGM. Even though a major distributor is advertising the film and showing it to audiences, it’s still considered an indie movie.

Usually, non-union films are the cheapest kind of movies, so they don’t get advertised, and they don’t play in many theaters. These are the types of movies often played in “Art House” theaters, which are found in many cities all over the U.S. Some of them make it onto the Sundance or IFC channels, but that’s about it, and even then it’s only after they get distribution with those channels or parent-companies of those channels. Aside from your local Public Access channel, these are the only places to find non-union (Non-SAG, Non-AFTRA) films or shows on television, with the exception of documentaries and reality shows. For this reason, you won’t have any luck getting producers to put your movie or TV series on television, even if you hire an agent.

What you can do is make what’s called a “spec pilot”. Google this term for all the information you’ll need. Good luck with the shoot.

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