As you begin your filmmaking career, unions will not really be much of a concern. For the most part, you will do all your hiring of actors and crew members from non-union members. However, after you have successfully completed a couple of films and made some money, you will most certainly need to start hiring union member actors and crew.
There are many unions affiliated with this industry including local ones. Here is a short list of a few you may encounter when embarking on your filmmaking career.
ACTRA
The Alliance of Canadian Cinema and Radio Artists is obviously a Canadian union. It's the sister union of the US based AFTRA. This is an actor's alliance, including performers in film, television and radio. As well as voice over artists, puppeteers, stunt performers, dancers and background performers.
Founded in 1943, this unions works to promote its members as well as protect them while they are on the job. As with any union, they negotiate wages, medical and dental benefits as well as retirement benefits for one particular branch.
ACTRA has their own awards ceremony to honor their performers much like the Academy Awards.
The requirements for membership include a onetime initiation fee of $75, plus a $75 annual fee. In addition, the actor must have had at least one speaking role in a film or television production, however this rule does not apply to background performers as they o not typically have a speaking role.
AFTRA
This union is based solely in the United States. Just as ACTRA does, it negotiates wages, working conditions and benefits for its members.
This union focuses on protecting actors, journalists and anyone working in the media and entertainment industry.
This union is one of the oldest in the United States as it was started in 1930. In 1937, it began including radio artists and has evolved to include negotiations with SAG or the Screen Actors Guild.
CFTPA
This union represents multimedia and television companies and negotiates trade, taxation, copyrights, labor agreements and broadcasting and film. It is a Canadian union and its letters stand for the Canadian Film and Television Production Association.
Focused mainly on independent producers and production companies, CFTPA also trains young people on the ins and outs of the industry as well as how to compete in it.
Directors Guild of America/Canada
This union represents Directors in both Canada and the United States. Assistant Directors, Unit Production Managers, Associate Directors, Stage Managers and Production Associates are also included.
Just like the afore mentioned union, this one negotiates wages, benefits and working conditions for Directors of Film, Television, Stage, Media, Broadcasting and any other form of production.
Founded in 1934 with only 100 Directors at the time, it has evolved into a large worldwide union.
SAG
Founded in 1933, SAG or the Screen Actors Guild was designed to protect actors and their rights. It was formed when Directors controlled the contracts of actors in order to release the actors from these unbearably long contracts that did not truly benefit them along with making sure the actors were treated fairly while under contract.
This union was founded because at the time, actors worked incredibly long hours with no restrictions. Studios themselves and producers held contracts on these actors which basically controlled the actors entire life, including their personal.
In order to make their working life bearable, 21 actors started this union to improve their careers. It's one of the only unions that has stood the test of time and has always done their best for their members.
The requirements for joining this union include filling out an application as well as having had at least one speaking role.
WGA/WGC
Writers Guild of America and the Writers Guild of Canada, promote writers in the film and television industry, media, CD-ROM, movies and news broadcasts.
The unions purpose is to negotiate contracts for its members and then enforce them with producers and directors. They also ensure their members receive medical and dental benefits in their contracts as well as residual pay for all screenwriters.
Members are offered training programs and resources and novel authors and screenwriters can register their work with the union in order to protect it from theft and plagiarism.
Many unions are also available for those in theatre, projectionists, camera operators and post production. The best way to ensure you are choosing the right union for you is to do some thorough research.
There are many unions affiliated with this industry including local ones. Here is a short list of a few you may encounter when embarking on your filmmaking career.
ACTRA
The Alliance of Canadian Cinema and Radio Artists is obviously a Canadian union. It's the sister union of the US based AFTRA. This is an actor's alliance, including performers in film, television and radio. As well as voice over artists, puppeteers, stunt performers, dancers and background performers.
Founded in 1943, this unions works to promote its members as well as protect them while they are on the job. As with any union, they negotiate wages, medical and dental benefits as well as retirement benefits for one particular branch.
ACTRA has their own awards ceremony to honor their performers much like the Academy Awards.
The requirements for membership include a onetime initiation fee of $75, plus a $75 annual fee. In addition, the actor must have had at least one speaking role in a film or television production, however this rule does not apply to background performers as they o not typically have a speaking role.
AFTRA
This union is based solely in the United States. Just as ACTRA does, it negotiates wages, working conditions and benefits for its members.
This union focuses on protecting actors, journalists and anyone working in the media and entertainment industry.
This union is one of the oldest in the United States as it was started in 1930. In 1937, it began including radio artists and has evolved to include negotiations with SAG or the Screen Actors Guild.
CFTPA
This union represents multimedia and television companies and negotiates trade, taxation, copyrights, labor agreements and broadcasting and film. It is a Canadian union and its letters stand for the Canadian Film and Television Production Association.
Focused mainly on independent producers and production companies, CFTPA also trains young people on the ins and outs of the industry as well as how to compete in it.
Directors Guild of America/Canada
This union represents Directors in both Canada and the United States. Assistant Directors, Unit Production Managers, Associate Directors, Stage Managers and Production Associates are also included.
Just like the afore mentioned union, this one negotiates wages, benefits and working conditions for Directors of Film, Television, Stage, Media, Broadcasting and any other form of production.
Founded in 1934 with only 100 Directors at the time, it has evolved into a large worldwide union.
SAG
Founded in 1933, SAG or the Screen Actors Guild was designed to protect actors and their rights. It was formed when Directors controlled the contracts of actors in order to release the actors from these unbearably long contracts that did not truly benefit them along with making sure the actors were treated fairly while under contract.
This union was founded because at the time, actors worked incredibly long hours with no restrictions. Studios themselves and producers held contracts on these actors which basically controlled the actors entire life, including their personal.
In order to make their working life bearable, 21 actors started this union to improve their careers. It's one of the only unions that has stood the test of time and has always done their best for their members.
The requirements for joining this union include filling out an application as well as having had at least one speaking role.
WGA/WGC
Writers Guild of America and the Writers Guild of Canada, promote writers in the film and television industry, media, CD-ROM, movies and news broadcasts.
The unions purpose is to negotiate contracts for its members and then enforce them with producers and directors. They also ensure their members receive medical and dental benefits in their contracts as well as residual pay for all screenwriters.
Members are offered training programs and resources and novel authors and screenwriters can register their work with the union in order to protect it from theft and plagiarism.
Many unions are also available for those in theatre, projectionists, camera operators and post production. The best way to ensure you are choosing the right union for you is to do some thorough research.
About the Author:
An independent filmmaker and reputable writer, Marcy Burlock loves to share her knowledge with others. You can find her articles about Jobs in Filmmaking and Casting a Movie on Clivir.com.
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