Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists

All of the Disney Channel television shows are under the jurisdiction of the performers union AFTRA - "American Federation of Television and Radio Artists". Your child can still work on an AFTRA show as an actor or extra, however they will be required to join AFTRA after 30 days from the date of first employment on an AFTRA show.

Joining AFTRA increases your child's chances of getting auditions, and could help them get into SAG - "Screen Actors Guild". That is how I got into SAG. After being a member of AFTRA for one year, and if you get a speaking part (even one word) on an AFTRA show, you become eligible to join SAG. It is one way to get into SAG.

You can just walk in to any AFTRA office and buy your membership.

The details are on this website:

http://www.aftra.org

AFTRA - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists

The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) is a national labor union representing over 70,000 performers. This was my first union. The first union that a person joins becomes your "Parent Union". Unlike the other performers' unions, anyone can walk in off the street and join AFTRA. This union is newcomers' and inexperienced actors best bet to become eligible to join the other unions. You still must obtain a speaking or "principal" role within AFTRA's jurisdiction at some point in order to join SAG or the other unions, but at least you can "buy" the membership without prior experience. AFTRA has jurisdiction over Soaps, many Sitcoms, news/sports/weather broadcasts, radio, sound recordings, talk shows, variety shows, documentaries, game shows, and various multimedia broadcasts. Once you obtain a principal role (speaking, stunts, dancing or singing), then you are "eligible" to join the other unions. But only after you have been a paid-up member of AFTRA for one year.

New members must complete an application and pay a one-time initiation fee and dues for the current dues period. The initiation fee is $1,300 and, as of September 1, 2008, minimum dues are $63.90.

SAG - Screen Actors Guild

Screen Actors Guild is the nation's largest labor union representing working actors. Established in 1933, SAG has a rich history in the American labor movement, from standing up to studios to break long-term engagement contracts in the 1940s to fighting for artists' rights amid the digital revolution sweeping the entertainment industry in the 21st century. With 20 branches nationwide, SAG represents nearly 120,000 working actors in film, television, industrials, commercials, video games, music videos and other new media. The Guild exists to enhance actors' working conditions, compensation and benefits and to be a powerful, unified voice on behalf of artists' rights. Headquartered in Los Angeles, SAG is a proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO. The Screen Actors Guild is associated with the Associated Actors and Artists of America (AAAA), which is the primary association of performer's unions in the United States. The AAAA is affiliated with the AFL-CIO. SAG claims exclusive jurisdiction over motion picture performances, and shares jurisdiction of radio, television, Internet, and other new media with its sister union AFTRA.

How To Join SAG

A performer becomes eligible for Screen Actors Guild membership under one of the following two conditions: proof of SAG employment or employment under an affiliated performers’ union.

1. Proof of Employment

a. Principal Performer Employment - Performers may join SAG upon proof of employment. Employment must be in a principal or speaking role in a SAG film, videotape, television program or commercial. Proof of such employment may be in the form of a signed contract, or original pay stubs. The document proving employment must provide the following information:
— applicant’s name
— applicant’s Social Security number
— name of the production or name of the commercial (product name)
— the salary paid (in dollar amount)
— the specific date(s) worked.

b. Background Actors may join SAG upon proof of employment as a SAG–covered background player at full SAG rates and conditions for a MINIMUM of three work days subsequent to March 25, 1990. Employment must be by a company signed to a SAG Agreement under which the Producer is required to cover background actors. Proof of employment must be in the form of original paystubs or a payroll printout faxed from the payroll house. Such documents must provide the same information (name, Social Security number, etc.) as listed above.

2. Employment Under an Affiliated Performers' Union

Performers may join SAG if the applicant is a paid-up member of an affiliated performers' union (ACTRA, AEA, AFTRA, AGMA or AGVA) for a period of one year and has worked and been paid for at least once as a principal performer in that union’s jurisdiction.

To join SAG, a performer must pay an initiation fee of $2,277, plus the first semi-annual basic dues payment of $58. Thus, the total fee to join is $2,335.