AIP038 | The Return to Work: The Coronavirus, SAG-AFTRA, and Some Uncommon Sense about Actors’ Rights and Safety
The Acting Income Podcast with Ben Hauck
Release Date: 06/03/2020
The Acting Income Podcast with Ben Hauck
In this long-form episode and sonic journey, host questions the logic that actors cannot always wear personal protective equipment (PPE) while they do their jobs during the coronavirus pandemic. Ben explains how the "common sense" SAG-AFTRA's president Gabrielle Carteris and others hold that actors can't always wear PPE runs counter to data and safety, two values that SAG-AFTRA expressly exalts in the creation of safety protocols for the return to entertainment-industry work. Ben points out the danger to actors such a belief is, because it necessarily means that actors won't...
info_outline AIP037 | The Split-Earnings Problem: SAG-AFTRA's Elephant in the RoomThe Acting Income Podcast with Ben Hauck
Show Notes: In this long-form episode, host dives into the ongoing problem of "split earnings" that continues to plague many actors interested in qualifying for a union pension. Ben explains how the merger of SAG's and AFTRA's health plans did not solve the split-earnings problem, putting members in the awkward situation of turning down union work and large paychecks in the pursuit of a pension credit. Ben also outlines how SAG-AFTRA repeatedly ignores and fails to provide public comment on the resolution of the split-earnings problem -- a hot-button...
info_outline AIP036 | SAG-AFTRA, Stand-Ins, and the Photo-Double Rate, or The Scandal of the Missing “Upfront Increase of Nearly 17%”The Acting Income Podcast with Ben Hauck
Show Notes: In this extended episode, host narrates his saga of trying to learn from the rate for stand-ins when they photo double in New York. In the process of researching that rate, Ben reveals how he uncovered not just SAG-AFTRA's misrepresentation of the increases photo doubles would make under the 2017 Television/Theatrical Agreement, but also SAG-AFTRA's illogical interpretation of just how much stand-ins in New York should be paid when they photo doubled. Ben also adds that a key person at SAG-AFTRA, responsible for interpreting the rates for stand-ins who photo double, has not...
info_outline AIP035 | 5 Reasons Casting Directors Should Be Happy to See Workshops Go - with Anne DeAcetisThe Acting Income Podcast with Ben Hauck
Show Notes: http://actingincome.com/episode35...
info_outline AIP034 | Why You Should Vote No for the SAG-AFTRA Commercials ContractThe Acting Income Podcast with Ben Hauck
Show notes: ...
info_outline AIP033 | How Podcasting Is Affecting My Acting CareerThe Acting Income Podcast with Ben Hauck
Host explains the responsibility that comes with producing a weekly podcast, and how that responsibility overlaps with his acting career. The episode includes details on the goals he took on in starting the podcast, the kind of work involved in producing it, plus an important announcement on the next stage of .
info_outline AIP032 | How to Act in New York City with No Income - with Mandy May CheethamThe Acting Income Podcast with Ben Hauck
Actor speaks with host on how to act in New York City -- with little to no income. ...
info_outline AIP031 | What I've Learned about Fame - with Victoria LibertoreThe Acting Income Podcast with Ben Hauck
Actress talks with host about fame, and what she has learned about fame after years of pursuing it as an actor in New York City. In the interview, Victoria talks about her recent solo show My Last Attempt at Fame, as well as what fame was to her when she moved to NYC and why she believes she wanted it as an actor. She also speaks to the choices she has made in her life in the pursuit of fame, and how her age and experiences have influenced that pursuit. ...
info_outline AIP030 | My Recap of Episodes 21 through 29The Acting Income Podcast with Ben Hauck
Host recaps Episodes 21 through 29 of . In this episode, in addition to summarizing the past nine episodes, Ben adds anecdotes about the episodes and explains what he's learned in the process of producing them. Ben concludes with comments on what these episodes reflect about his own acting career to date. Quick links to Episodes 21 through 29:
info_outline AIP029 | How to Navigate Diversity Issues in Improv Communities to Increase Your Acting Opportunities - with Keisha ZollarThe Acting Income Podcast with Ben Hauck
Actor-comedienne talks with host about diversity issues at the and in the improv world in general, and what actors can do to increase the population of diverse voices in performance. ...
info_outlineIn this long-form episode and sonic journey, host Ben Hauck questions the logic that actors cannot always wear personal protective equipment (PPE) while they do their jobs during the coronavirus pandemic.
Ben explains how the "common sense" SAG-AFTRA's president Gabrielle Carteris and others hold that actors can't always wear PPE runs counter to data and safety, two values that SAG-AFTRA expressly exalts in the creation of safety protocols for the return to entertainment-industry work. Ben points out the danger to actors such a belief is, because it necessarily means that actors won't always be wearing PPE when they work, putting themselves and crew members at risk.
Ben argues that the pandemic has turned "common sense" upside down, as evidenced by the continued production of late-night variety shows like Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and Saturday Night Live, despite obvious creative constraints brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. The late-night variety shows have also provided data to help gauge the economic successes of their new low-tech productions, which may indicate what other compromises productions might make in order to successfully produce a show -- while also protecting actors from coming down with COVID-19.
While Ben provides ideas on how to move forward safely with actors, he also lays down reasonable skepticism that SAG-AFTRA can help the individual actor during the pandemic, citing the union's furlough of many of its representatives, as well as that SAG-AFTRA reps are actually Teamsters. Ben ponders whether the Teamsters might fight against SAG-AFTRA as employer, should SAG-AFTRA try to unilaterally enact policies that the Teamsters would rather negotiate. Ben wonders if this might spell trouble for contract administration and grievance adjustment for actors.
Given this skepticism about SAG-AFTRA's ability to protect actors amid the pandemic, Ben provides tips for actors to help themselves upon the return to work. Ben also provides a rundown of important rights actors have as employees under the National Labor Relations Act, touching on Section 7 rights, Weingarten rights, and retaliation by employers or unions. These tips and rights will help actors should they encounter safety issues at work in light of the coronavirus pandemic.