By Roger Armbrust
The Screen Actors Guild/New York--unhappy with treatment of background players on film sets, particularly inferior food and lack of water--has specified its concerns in a letter to producers.
John H. Sucke, executive director of SAG/NY, has written to "All Screen Actors Guild Employers," reviewing the mandatory rules for food and beverages, but also cautioning production personnel to "treat Extra Performers with dignity and respect."
Both Sucke and an extra who worked on a recent shoot said the letter has proved effective.
Calling special attention to SAG's 1995 basic agreement, Sucke's June 9 missive quoted the section reading, "Whenever Producer supplies meals or other food or beverages to the cast or crew, the same shall be furnished to all extra performers."
Sucke then told the employers, "Several unfortunate disputes have arisen on sets recently due to abuse of this rule. Please note that it is NEVER appropriate to deny any performer (Principal or Extra) water at any time. Some production personnel have tried to argue that because water is available in the holding area, it is not necessary to have it on the set. It is always necessary to provide clean, fresh drinking water to all performers in all work areas."
Supplying extras with "different quality or types of food and beverages" than that given to the cast and crew violates the SAG contract, Sucke said. "For instance, if the employer supplies hot, made-to-order breakfast for the crew, the Extra Performers on the set at that time must also be given the same, not simply bagels and doughnuts."
Sucke then took direct aim at on-set production staff: " particularly assistant directors, less experienced production assistants, and those who monitor the craft services tables, should be cautioned to treat Extra Performers with dignity and respect. Yelling, vulgar language, and abusive, dictatorial behavior cannot be tolerated."
Letter Brings Results
Contacted in Los Angeles where he was attending national SAG board and staff meetings, Sucke told Back Stage, "This was solely a New York issue. It's a situation that has grown more abusive over several years. But there are three or four productions currently shooting that simply made me say, 'Well, this is too much.' And conditions have been altered since the letter." He chose not to name specific productions.
Sucke said he wrote the producers in response to complaints both from SAG representatives on New York sets "and individual phone calls from guild members" involving "petty and outrageous treatment situations which simply showed that the matter had gotten out of hand."
Noting he particularly wanted to raise the awareness of production assistants and assistant directors, Sucke said, "There seems to have been a kind of caste system informally applied on sets, and Extra Players have received the brunt of it. The guild is taking actions like this to make sure we restore the proper partnership among the entire cast and crew of a film, which of course includes Extra Players.
Sucke said the situation had no connection with negotiations over a new three-year film-TV contract between SAG-AFTRA (the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) and producers.
"This is a first step," he added, of his letter. "It won't do just in and of itself; but it's a milestone to point to as we take further action to make sure actors are treated fairly and humanely." He didn't state what further actions might be planned.
One extra on the set of the feature film "The Yards," wishing to remain anonymous. who contacted Back Stage agreed that Sucke's letter has had an effect.
"We're required to be fed six hours after we start, but if it's a nondeductible breakfast, the clock doesn't start until after we finish."
The production company, Yardage Inc., called the meal nondeductible, but the SAG extras didn't agree.
"The crew had made-to-order omlets and made-to-order sandwiches, and a whole array of condiments," the actor said, "but the cast got something nondescript, kind of rolled up in a burrito."
A few hours later, the SAG rep, whom the actor knew only as "Bart," arrived on the set. "A number of us complained to him. We had the letter and showed him, saying we weren't fed as required. He investigated. He made the determination that we weren't fed the same as the crew, therefore the nondeductible breakfast didn't count."
The rep made a "public announcement" of his finding, the extra said, including the fact that the production company would be subject to meal penalties.
The penalties mount for every half hour the cast isn't fed, running from $7.50 for the first half hour, to $10 for the second, and $12.50 for the third and each following half hour.
The extra hasn't received the check yet for that pay period, but said the penalty money is "welcome news with pay under the new raise coming to only $102 [for an eight-hour shoot under the new contract]."
The actor added, "Being an extra, we're on the bottom of the food chain. We have to wait for the rep to show up. If you confront the production company directly, word gets out that you're a wise guy, and it could end your career. I think John Sucke deserves credit for issuing the letter.''
It's a very strong, clear letter."