I’m Curious– “The Producer shall…”
Right now I, if you hadn’t already figured out, am reading the Actor’s Equity Association Agreement and Rules Governing Employment Under the Off Broadway Agreement. You see, my last PSM on an Off Broadway show handed me this and basically suggests that for someone with a BFA in Stage Management I don’t know enough about the different contracts. To which my response is like, I know right. Need I say more about why I graduated college in 3 years?
Now I’m only on page 22 of reading this agreement and I find I have a lot of questions about these rules that I don’t really have someone to ask without feeling like a total clueless douchebag. So here goes internet lurkers, please take a shot at my questions if you feel so inclined to share your wealth of knowledge.
A.) When the agreement says, “the producer shall…” does this sometimes mean this is something the stage manager should put on their checklist to make sure it gets done? ex. contract signing? The question arises mostly because I know stage managers are always up to date with the fillers about cast changes and costume measuring scheduling… but even those rules say, “the producer shall…”
B.) Having just come off of a Broadway show as a PA with a big name, I vaguely recall hearing the company manager mention how they hadn’t received a contract from (un)said big name(haha). I have a feeling the Broadway and Off Broadway rulings about contracts are pretty equal. Must sign before rehearsing or performing. With large names could such a thing go uncaught? I mean, it’s more than very likely that a contract had been signed and it is was just not part of the paperwork the CM had received but I still wonder.
C.) Do secret ballet votes for the need of new dance shoes really happen? Really? Do they happen? Really. I should really just ask someone on Billy Elliot but, hey internet you are here right now at my fingertips.
Please answer my questions!
Lastly, I respect the wording of the Blacklisting section.
1) Producer Shall . . . you can follow up, but mostly that an issue between individual actor/stage manager, the producer and AEA.
2) The not signing of a contract is a power play by some actors. I have worked with actors who never signed a contract, and never cashed a paycheck so that if they wanted to walk away from the show, they could, without any chance of facing repercussions. Think about it . . . if you aren’t contracted you can easily just not show up to work one day, for example, if you get a big movie deal. I have seen actors sign the contract on the last day, submit and then cash their paychecks. The producer has very little to do to fight back other the force the actor to sign the contract, which if they refuse . . . what are they going to do – fire the big name? – they just realize that they are the actor’s whimsy.
3) Only when it gets to the point they need to vote.
You worked with my dear friend Samantha Soule.
Thanks for the helpful and always wise responses.
Samantha is such a sweetheart! I showed her this comment and she said very nice things about you and said to send an e-hello your way!