[NEohioPAL]Got Pay Meeting-Another opinion

[TALENTnet1 at aol.com]

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To all Neohiopalers who attended Monday's "Got Pay" Meeting:

At the beginning, I sat in silence...just watching and listening, nodding my 
head in agreement, "We're meeting to inform and educate....." Later I sat in 
disbelief, shaking my head at what I was hearing.  When I was finally ready to 
raise my hand and offer an opposing opinion, I watched honest independent 
filmmakers get attacked for presenting their side of this issue.  I watched as 
people walked out.  After the meeting, I listened to several who had also 
remained silent, also apprehensive of speaking out.  

Now, with time to formulate my thoughts more articulately, I feel the need to 
speak out.  I need to share that the individual opinions of some union 
members did NOT represent the opinions of ALL union members....certainly not the 
opinions of THIS union member.  

Yes, all actors have worth...I totally agree.  Whether union or nonunion, all 
actors have worth.  No doubt about it.  I heartily concur, that if asked to 
do a commercial, industrial or training film, or ANY gig where the client will 
be generating income as a result, ALL actors, crew, editors, writers, etc., 
should be paid fairly for their services....Absolutely NO argument here!  In 
fact, in my opinion, on ANY project where SOME are being paid, ALL should be 
paid.  No one skill is more important than any other on any project.  

That, unfortunately, is where I parted company with the attitudes and 
comments expressed at Monday's "Got Pay" meeting.  Telling newcomers to negotiate 
union wages or "walk away" from the job is ridiculous.  Telling independent film 
makers with no financial backing to put actor's salaries on their charge cards 
is ludicrous.  Telling actors to not act unless they get paid is just plain 
foolish.  

I am a 15 year member of AFTRA, and ready to join SAG upon my next SAG film.  
I worked for many years on nonunion commercials, first free, then often 
working for $50-$150 dollars for unlimited usage.  For all I know, some of them are 
still running in Chicago...and quite frankly, I don't care. 

I worked for many years as an extra on over a dozen major films at a rate of 
$50 per 12 hour day.  With every job, I gained experience, confidence, 
business contacts, and friends.  I honed my craft and built my resume, line by line.  
I trained at Second City, wrote my own show, THE SIX AGES OF WOMAN, and put 
it on the market.  (and yes, I reduce my rates and do occasional free-bees when 
Spirit moves me to do so).  When my confidence, skill level, and resume were 
solid, I joined AFTRA.  I have an agent.  I earn union scale.  I don't "scab," 
and I have turned down suggestions to go "financial core," (yet I do NOT 
judge or shun those who choose to make a personal decision to do so).

But, listening to this meeting, I just kept shaking my head.  What gives 
ANYONE the right to judge others?  What gives ANYONE the right to shame, demean, 
or subtly threaten Email attacks to those who wish to offer no-pay gigs...or 
those who choose to accept such "opportunities" to work for free...for the reel, 
or experience or "fun of it?"  What right does ANYONE have to tell others 
they "shouldn't" work free or cheap, when MANY of us veteran actors got our 
starts that way?  Who has the right to tell others how to live their lives?  It is 
not up to ANY of us to tell others what to charge or which work to accept.  It 
is not our place to shame, attack or intimidate others who follow their 
hearts to do what is individually right for them.  It smacks of the American Auto 
worker who "keys" the foreign car in the parking lot.  

Until I am a full SAG member, I will continue to audition and participate in 
no-pay or deferred pay independent films. I have personally had nothing but 
pleasant experiences on such projects.  I do so because I love the film industry 
and I love film acting.  I do so because in my heart I KNOW it will lead me 
to bigger and better things. Acting is my calling, my passion, my pleasure.  I 
do so because I want to help film makers produce high quality projects, and I 
am a high quality actor.  I believe my independent film experience was what 
gave me the confidence and skill to win my SAG role in AMERICAN SPLENDOR.  

Don't get me wrong.  Money is good.  Money is nice.  I need money like 
everyone else.  But everything I do is NOT about money.  I always have and always 
will do what is right in MY heart to do, regardless of the opinions of others. I 
felt sad to see talented, good hearted, well intentioned people intimidated 
and shamed at this meeting.  I felt sad to see my union give the appearance of 
being controlling, greedy and angry.

I totally agree with the motto expressed last night...
       "IF MONEY GETS MADE, THE TALENT GETS PAID."  
I personally would not do a commercial for no pay.  In my opinion, neither 
should anyone.  But if you are a nonunion talent and feel led to say yes for 
whatever your reason, follow your gut and your heart and do what is right for 
you.  

I have done professional theater for non-equity pay.  And I have done good 
quality community/semiprofessional theater for a stipend that didn't cover my 
gas costs.  My latest theater experience was performing in Fred Sternfeld's 
Ragtime.  Did I get paid?  You bet I did.  Besides the small stipend, I got paid 
in ways that money can't buy.  I got paid with the pride of being an important 
part of a theatrical experience I will remember for the rest of my life.  I 
got paid by making some true close, intimate friends I will love until I die.  I 
got paid by the laughter and camaraderie at rehearsals.  I got paid by 
hearing thunderous applause, and seeing standing ovations before the curtain call 
even began.  Being a part of this theatrical masterpiece not only didn't make me 
money, it cost me money......and it was worth every single penny. I would do 
it again in a heartbeat.

I am the Cleveland Coordinator for the Artistic Spiritual Cinema Community.  
(www.SpiritualCinemaCircle.com) - A grass roots movement started by Stephen 
Simon (What Dreams May Come, Somewhere in Time, Bill and Ted's Excellent 
Adventure....and more) to produce quality films with a spiritual/positive message.  
Actors, producers, writers, directors, tech crew....working for NO PAY to 
produce quality inspirational and life changing films.  If the films ever make 
money, people will get paid. Sometimes it just has to be about trusting each 
other.  Sometimes it just has to be about THE ART.

Just one woman's opinion.

Warm hugs and a double dimpled smile from
Mary Faktor (the actor)
www.FaktorsTalentNetwork.com
888-913-3473
 


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<HTML><FONT FACE=3Darial,helvetica><HTML><FONT  COLOR=3D"#800080" SIZE=3D2 P=
TSIZE=3D10 FAMILY=3D"SANSSERIF" FACE=3D"Arial" LANG=3D"0"><BR>
</FONT><FONT  COLOR=3D"#800080" SIZE=3D3 PTSIZE=3D12 FAMILY=3D"SCRIPT" FACE=
=3D"Comic Sans MS" LANG=3D"0">To all Neohiopalers who attended Monday's "Got=
 Pay" Meeting:<BR>
<BR>
At the beginning, I sat in silence...just watching and listening, nodding my=
 head in agreement, "We're meeting to inform and educate....." Later I sat i=
n disbelief, shaking my head at what I was hearing.  When I was finally=
 ready to raise my hand and offer an opposing opinion, I watched honest inde=
pendent filmmakers get attacked for presenting their side of this issue.&nbs=
p; I watched as people walked out.  After the meeting, I listened to se=
veral who had also remained silent, also apprehensive of speaking out. =
 <BR>
<BR>
Now, with time to formulate my thoughts more articulately, I feel the need t=
o speak out.  I need to share that the individual opinions of some unio=
n members did NOT represent the opinions of ALL union members....certainly n=
ot the opinions of THIS union member.  <BR>
<BR>
Yes, all actors have worth...I totally agree.  Whether union or nonunio=
n, all actors have worth.  No doubt about it.  I heartily concur,=20=
that if asked to do a commercial, industrial or training film, or <I><U>ANY=20=
</I></U>gig where the client will be generating income as a result, <U>ALL</=
U> actors, crew, editors, writers, etc., should be paid fairly for their ser=
vices....Absolutely NO argument here!  In fact, in my opinion, on <I><U=
>ANY</I> </U>project where SOME are being paid, <U>ALL</U> should be paid.&n=
bsp; No one skill is more important than any other on any project.  <BR=
>
<BR>
That, unfortunately, is where I parted company with the attitudes and commen=
ts expressed at Monday's "Got Pay" meeting.  Telling newcomers to negot=
iate union wages or "walk away" from the job is ridiculous.  Telling in=
dependent film makers with no financial backing to put actor's salaries on t=
heir charge cards is ludicrous.  Telling actors to not act unless they=20=
get paid is just plain foolish.  <BR>
<BR>
I am a 15 year member of AFTRA, and ready to join SAG upon my next SAG film.=
  I worked for many years on nonunion commercials, first free, then oft=
en working for $50-$150 dollars for unlimited usage.  For all I know, s=
ome of them are still running in Chicago...and quite frankly, I don't care.=20=
<BR>
<BR>
I worked for many years as an extra on over a dozen major films at a rate of=
 $50 per 12 hour day.  With every job, I gained experience, confidence,=
 business contacts, and friends.  I honed my craft and built my resume,=
 line by line.  I trained at Second City, wrote my own show, THE SIX AG=
ES OF WOMAN, and put it on the market.  (and yes, I reduce my rates and=
 do occasional free-bees when Spirit moves me to do so).  When my confi=
dence, skill level, and resume were solid, I joined AFTRA.  I have an a=
gent.  I earn union scale.  I don't "scab," and I have turned down=
 suggestions to go "financial core," (yet I do NOT judge or shun those who c=
hoose to make a personal decision to do so).<BR>
<BR>
But, listening to this meeting, I just kept shaking my head.  What give=
s ANYONE the right to judge others?  What gives ANYONE the right to sha=
me, demean, or subtly threaten Email attacks to those who wish to offer no-p=
ay gigs...or those who choose to accept such "opportunities" to work for fre=
e...for the reel, or experience or "fun of it?"  What right does ANYONE=
 have to tell others they "shouldn't" work free or cheap, when MANY of us ve=
teran actors got our starts that way?  Who has the right to tell others=
 how to live their lives?  It is not up to ANY of us to tell others wha=
t to charge or which work to accept.  It is not our place to shame, att=
ack or intimidate others who follow their hearts to do what is individually=20=
right for them.  It smacks of the American Auto worker who "keys" the f=
oreign car in the parking lot.  <BR>
<BR>
Until I am a full SAG member, I will continue to audition and participate in=
 no-pay or deferred pay independent films. I have personally had nothing but=
 pleasant experiences on such projects.  I do so because I love the fil=
m industry and I love film acting.  I do so because in my heart I KNOW=20=
it will lead me to bigger and better things. Acting is my calling, my passio=
n, my pleasure.  I do so because I want to help film makers produce hig=
h quality projects, and I am a high quality actor.  I believe my indepe=
ndent film experience was what gave me the confidence and skill to win my SA=
G role in AMERICAN SPLENDOR.  <BR>
<BR>
Don't get me wrong.  Money is good.  Money is nice.  I need m=
oney like everyone else.  But everything I do is NOT about money. =
 I always have and always will do what is right in MY heart to do, regardles=
s of the opinions of others. I felt sad to see talented, good hearted, well=20=
intentioned people intimidated and shamed at this meeting.  I felt sad=20=
to see my union give the appearance of being controlling, greedy and angry.<=
BR>
<BR>
I totally agree with the motto expressed last night...<BR>
       "IF MONEY GETS MADE, THE TALENT GETS PA=
ID."  <BR>
I personally would not do a commercial for no pay.  In my opinion, neit=
her should anyone.  But if you are a nonunion talent and feel led to sa=
y yes for whatever your reason, follow your gut and your heart and do what i=
s right for you.  <BR>
<BR>
I have done professional theater for non-equity pay.  And I have done g=
ood quality community/semiprofessional theater for a stipend that didn't cov=
er my gas costs.  My latest theater experience was performing in Fred S=
ternfeld's Ragtime.  Did I get paid?  You bet I did.  Besides=
 the small stipend, I got paid in ways that money can't buy.  I got pai=
d with the pride of being an important part of a theatrical experience I wil=
l remember for the rest of my life.  I got paid by making some true clo=
se, intimate friends I will love until I die.  I got paid by the laught=
er and camaraderie at rehearsals.  I got paid by hearing thunderous app=
lause, and seeing standing ovations before the curtain call even began.&nbsp=
; Being a part of this theatrical masterpiece not only didn't make me money,=
 it cost me money......and it was worth every single penny. I would do it ag=
ain in a heartbeat.<BR>
<BR>
I am the Cleveland Coordinator for the Artistic Spiritual Cinema Community.&=
nbsp; (www.SpiritualCinemaCircle.com) - A grass roots movement started by St=
ephen Simon (What Dreams May Come, Somewhere in Time, Bill and Ted's Excelle=
nt Adventure....and more) to produce quality films with a spiritual/positive=
 message.  Actors, producers, writers, directors, tech crew....working=20=
for NO PAY to produce quality inspirational and life changing films.  I=
f the films ever make money, people will get paid. Sometimes it just has to=20=
be about trusting each other.  Sometimes it just has to be about THE AR=
T.<BR>
<BR>
Just one woman's opinion.<BR>
<BR>
Warm hugs and a double dimpled smile from<BR>
Mary Faktor (the actor)<BR>
www.FaktorsTalentNetwork.com<BR>
888-913-3473<BR>
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