Dear Jackie:
Now that casting directors will be part of a union, will they still be able to cast nonunion projects? So many now do.
And are commercial casting directors also going to be joining the union? They cast so many nonunion jobs, as well.
I must say, I am glad for the casting directors. I am very pro-union and am hoping once they're unionized they, too, will work only union jobs.
Charles via the Internet
Dear Charles:
Members of the new casting directors union will not be restricted to working only union jobs. Unlike SAG members, they will be free to work outside of union parameters whenever they please. As far as I can tell, no Teamster is restricted from taking any job. According to Teamsters Local 399 business representative Steve Dayan, the union is not willing to tell any members they can't work to feed their families. There's one exception: Teamsters are prohibited from crossing picket lines. However, if a union casting director were to accept work on a nonunion show, the Teamsters may attempt to unionize the project. This could add to the pressure exerted by SAG and other performers unions on nonunion productions, perhaps leading to more work for union actors.
As for commercial casting directors, there is no current plan for them to organize. These casting professionals are not a part of CSA but have their own organization: the Commercial Casting Directors Association. CCDA President Jeff Girard told me, "CCDA is doing everything in its power to support CSA in its organization, and we hope that if and when the time comes for CCDA members to unionize, CSA will do the same for us."
You voiced your pro-union sentiment, and it looks like CSA members join you in that. In "Casters To Hold Fall Talks," an article by Roger Armbrust that ran in the Aug. 11 issue of our sister paper, Back Stage, we get a peek into their enthusiasm. Here is an excerpt:
Obviously excited to be taking the first step leading to contract negotiations, the steering committee again stressed in its Monday email the solidarity that has led to the upcoming talks. Throughout its organizing efforts, the committee's emails have concentrated on the need for unity.
"We are incredibly excited to have gotten to this point," Monday's email stated. "This has only happened because we have stood together. Many thought we could not get this far. The Teamsters knew that together we could. And we have. Together we can make things better for ourselves. Take a moment. Enjoy. We are actually really and truly doing this."