Financial Core (or Fi-Core). I wanted to put this in here because the point of this blog is to help actors get work, and sometimes the unions designed to protect actors actually prevent them from capitializing on opportunity. They do so in the name of the greater good, but it's important you know your options. Many of you know about Fi-Core, but if you don't... please read on.
Financial Core is a tricky thing, in short, if you are a union member (of any union) and you declare Financial Core, it enables you to do non-union work without leaving or violating the terms of your union agreement. The only catch is you give up some union rights (to the best of my knowledge, health care and pension are not one of them), and may fall victim to people who want to put you on a guilt trip for not being a team player. To be fair, if everyone went Fi-Core the unions would lose their leverage, so you can see how the issue of financial core can draw strong emotions from both sides of the fence.
Why Financial Core? I would probably avoid it if you can, but situations may occur where you need to give it hard look. For example, let's say you are offered a lead roll in a movie that will shoot in Thailand. Originally the producers were going to work with union talent, but realized to make it happen within their budget, non-union talent would have to be hired. They call you, or your manager up, what do you do? There are three options, 1. decline... 2. do it and hope no one finds out (I would not recommend this) or 3. declare financial core (if your union won't play ball with you or your producers). It's a personal choice, a choice you have to make based on your circumstances and where your career is at. That was a true story, and the actor actually turned down the work. I don't know him super well, but I remember his story haunted me. I'm not saying he should have gone fi-core, but to have to turn down that opportunity (when you are a struggling actor) is certainly a drag.
I think this logic also applies to what the union is doing (or isn't doing) to create a job friendly atmosphere. Threats of a strike (that drag on month after month), or long drawn out negotiations are things you have no control over. However, increasing your opportunities by enabling yourself to audition for non-union work is.
Google "Financial Core" and read up on it yourself. You'll notice there are very strong PRO and ANTI articles out there, along with the nueteral one's, so I would read several and ask around. Also, BEWARE, most articles issued by a union will try and scare the crap out of you. They put a nasty spin on it and imply you are committing career suicide. GET ALL THE FACTS, educate yourself, try and talk to a fi-core actor, consider your personal situation, and make the best decision for YOU.
To be clear, I'm not anti-union, or pro fi-core. I simply think all professionals need to be aware of their legal options, especially when opportunities come knocking on your door.
- Scott Young
Commercial Success/ Shoot a Scene. Edit Your Reel
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If every actor would go Fi-Core, maybe SAG would stop being such a difficult Union to deal with.
ReplyDeleteSAG, when originated by great actors like James Cagney and others many decades ago, became a great union that truly helped actors become free of the studios that ran and ruled actors lives. SAG had great value to actors at that time.
ReplyDeleteToday the table is reversed. The unions burden many more actors than they help. AFTRA and especially SAG are like a ball an chain. SAG tells actors what they cannot do much more than what they can do.
If you are struggling to get work and credits on your resume then train in acting class, learn the business side of acting as well as your craft, have good headshots, etc and strongly consider going Fi-core.
You are likely to work 4 or 5 times as much as a Fi-core actor than you would as a straight SAG actor. And when you do union work you get the same pay and benefits as any union actor. You still have to pay union dues to keep your union status like everyone else. So you deserve and receive all benefits when you work union jobs.
The only thing you will not be able to do is hold union office or board positions or attend union meetings or functions. You will no longer have a SAG or AFTRA card (You keep your number). Also, union hacks will resent you for going Fi-core. For most actors that is a small price to pay for launching a career.
In addition all unions, including the entertainment unions, use a portion of your dues to support political candidates and parties. In other words they exclusively support Democrats. The small percentage of SAG dues that goes to support political causes will not be collected when you pay your union dues. So Fi-core actors pay 3% or 4% lower dues than other actors.
If you don't want a union supporting state and federal political issues with your money, then you have another reason to go Financial Core.
Hello,yes this was a helpful summary.I went union four years ago and have barely worked.It seems like its more of a title that gives this illusion that we're 'someone' going somewhere in this business when in fact,we're barely working.When I was Non-Union for the many years I was,I was receiving 10-15 auditions a month on Actors Access and since going Union,none.I am an aspiring actor who does not have more than two credits or a reel from them due to the productions issues.Ive been told that a Union member with no credits w/reel doesn't stand much of a chance to be called in for auditions from a SAG production because they are too risky to gamble on.I was told if I had built up more credits while non-union,I would stand a better chance of getting an agent.My point is I cant find an agent because I don't have enough credits and reel and that's because Im SAG.Its almost cursed my chances for agent opportunity.So that's why Im considering going Fi-Core.
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