Actor's_Bill_of

Performer's Bill of Rights
(sent by Houston Film Groups)
by Gary Chason

1. You Are Entitled To Unquestioned Respect

Because actors must be in touch with their emotions they are often
considered to be "childlike." As a result, they do not always receive the respect
that they are   due. You, the actor, are the one who has to get out in front of that
camera and   spill your guts out. It is physically, emotionally, intellectually and
spiritually   demanding. The camera sees everything - you have no safety net.
Therefore you   are due unquestioned respect from everyone involved in the production.
You can compromise that respect, of course, by behaving like an idiot, but you
should receive it nonetheless.

2. You Are Entitled To Compensation

You should receive some kind of compensation for your work, no matter
what. Millions of dollars would be nice, of course, but often that is not
possible. Compensation can be something as simple as credit. Credits begin to
add up on a resume; they have tangible value. Or maybe you receive deferred
compensation. Or a piece of the action. Or simply a video copy of the movie.
Something! And remember: A release is not really legal unless some monetary exchange
has taken place, even if it is only a penny. The principle endures: You
deserve to be compensated for your work in some way, no matter how small.

3. You Are Entitled To Food

Even if it is a no-budget project you deserve to be fed. It doesn't
have to be a fancy, catered meal delivered to the set hot and steamy. But you
should not be expected to do The Work without being fed properly. And that includes
liquids. There should always be an adequate supply of water to keep you hydrated.

6. You Are Entitled To Safety

You deserve a safe working environment at all times. You should never
be asked to do something that would put you at undue physical risk.

7. You Do Not Have To Do Something You Did Not Agree To Do

If the Director springs something on you... that you
did not agree to originally, you do not have to do it. Anything potentially
objectionable should have been clearly articulated at the very beginning. Otherwise,
it is not your problem. Do not compromise yourself just because somebody else
has been incompetent.

8. You Do Not Have To Discuss Contract Issues On The Set

Your agent, if you have one, should have taken care of all the details
of your deal before you reported to the set. If you do not have an agent, all
negotiations need to have achieved closure before you started work. Once you are on the
set, getting in front of the camera and performing is not enough to be
concerned about. The last thing you want to have to do is to bicker about money.

9. You Are Entitled To Specific Explanations Regarding Your Acting
Assignment

The cliché of the actor asking, "What is my motivation?" and the
Director responding, "Because I told you to!" is, or should be, a myth. It is a
Director's professional responsibility to explain the character's motivation.
Actors should never feel self-conscious about asking questions regarding the
character. Directors under schedule pressure are often impatient with talent. But it is far
more time-efficient to answer actors' questions when they come up. It can
prevent many time-wasting problems later.

10. You Are Entitled To An Invitation To The Premiere

You - and a guest for that matter - should be invited to the Premiere
screening of the movie. Some festivals, and most film markets, do not give the
Producer many passes, so do not expect invitations in those circumstances. But there
almost surely will be a screening of some sort for the people involved in
making the movie. No movie - aside from animated ones, of course - can be made
without actors. So cast members are due invitations as honored guests.

11. You Are Entitled To Honesty In Business Dealings With Producers

If the Producer agreed to pay you X amount, then he should... pay
you that amount. No muss no fuss. Agents and Unions will go to battle for
you if unscrupulous individuals attempt to cheat you out of your rightful
compensation. Otherwise, you will have to fend for yourself. Just remember: They
cannot legally profit from the movie without a valid release from you. Sure, you don't
want to sue them, but a more important principle is at work in this situation.
Distribution Companies require, as a part of their standard Delivery Schedule,
releases from all the talent and all the locations. Distribution will not proceed,
money will not change hands, until all the legal paperwork is in order.

12. You Are Entitled To Accurate And Timely Instructions

When, where, how to get there? What scenes are we doing? The Production
Department is responsible for informing you as to when and where you are
required to be. And which scenes you will be doing. If there are any
changes to the script, it is their job to get those new pages into your hands ASAP.

13. You Are Entitled To An Interview Within One Hour Of Signing-In At An Audition

It is a SAG [Screen Actors Guild] rule that all Casting Directors are
aware of. Keeping a SAG member waiting for more than an hour can lead to a fine
being assessed against the Production Company, although I have never heard of
such a thing actually happening. It is a good rule so it should extend to all
actors, not just SAG members. After all, you have better things to do with your time
than spend it waiting endlessly to get an interview. The Casting Director
simply has to devise a realistic schedule and then make a point to keep to it. There
are circumstances, of course, in which it is not possible. An Open Casting
Call is one such instance because there is no way to knowing how many people are
going to show up or when the big rush will be. Audition crashers, some of whom
have been sent by agents, can also wreak havoc with the schedule.

14. You Are Entitled To Dignity During The Casting Process

You should never be made to feel awkward or embarrassed at an audition.
You should not have to deal with putdowns, come-ons, insults or any other form of disrespect.
Producers, Directors and Casting Directors would be out of business without Actors.
Your fellow actors may try to mess with your head in the Waiting Room,
but you'll have to deal with that on your own. If a Casting Director, or other representative
of the Producer, treats you improperly in the professional environment - don't keep it a secret!
Tell your agent, tell your friends, even report it to the local Film Commissioner.
If the treatment is abusive, or might constitute sexual harassment,
do not hesitate to seek legal counsel and go after the perpetrator.

Gary Chason, who moved to Austin from Houston, Texas in the spring of
2002, is a Director, Casting Director, Acting coach, Screenwriter and Author with
a lot of experience as a Casting Director for major Hollywood movies out in LA.
During the seventies and eighties he split time between casting major motion
pictures... and directing experimental theater in Houston. The first Casting Director in
the State of Texas, he was one of the earliest innovators in the use of
videotape to teach acting techniques. He is also a filmmaker....
NOTES ON ACTING FOR THE CAMERA will be published later this year.

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