Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/377629
SAGAFTRA.org | Summer 2014 | SAG-AFTRA 23 Field reps visit sets like Castle. Here, Nathan Fillion and Jon Huertas rehearse a scene. SAGAFTRA.org | Summer 2014 | SAG-AFTRA 23 It's a warm overcast summer day in Van Nuys, California, somewhat smoggy, but in Southern California they like to call it a "marine layer." SAG-AFTRA Business Rep, Field Services Cedric Jackson is making his rounds, ensuring compliance with the contracts that the union negotiates on behalf of its members. Jackson starts his day off on the set of Legends, a new TNT spy thriller, as part of the routine visits he does to keep the lines of communication open between the union and its members. The first person he runs into is star Sean Bean, who's heading to the set in a bloodied shirt, his face dotted with artificial wounds. Jackson introduces himself and makes his way to the background actors' holding area, leaving the actor to his work. Jackson knows his stuff; he fields a flurry of questions about the contract and listens to members' concerns. He offers contact information for each of the union's departments, and reminds the performers that if they have any issues while on set, they need to call the union right away. A couple of SAG-AFTRA- eligible pre-union actors, excited at the prospect of becoming members, approach him and inquire about payment plans for their joining fee. He never knows what to expect, so he has to be ready for anything. It's one of the things he loves about his job. "A set is like a living thing — it can be very mundane or it can be over the top," Jackson said. Reps like Jackson are on the union's front lines, and his visit is a routine part of checking on members' welfare, solving problems around the clock, whenever and wherever they arise, and preventing issues from cropping up in the first place — after all, the drama should be in front of the camera, not behind it. They are also an important resource for keeping members informed. "People have questions about what's going ANYTHING THE SET on with their union and field reps deliver the news," said Jim Damis, SAG-AFTRA's director of National Field Services. Damis, who is based in the union's New York office, said business reps — informally known as field reps — have a large number of duties and responsibilities. They need to be experts in the contracts — and how those rules and regulations are applied when they meet real-world situations on set. Those could include transportation issues, wardrobe allowances, making sure a performer receives an upgrade they are due or checking that contractually mandated rest periods are being given. Safety is a top priority, and that's particularly important on shoots that involve potentially hazardous work. That means ensuring a medic is on the set, if required, and that stunts are being performed by trained stunt professionals. And it means being available when these kinds of shoots are happening, whether they are on nights, weekends or holidays. Read more on page 25 about safety on the set and what members should do if they have questions or don't feel comfortable with something they've been asked to do. When minors are on set, there are additional considerations. SAG-AFTRA's youngest members are its most vulnerable, so reps take extra care to monitor working hours, check for the presence of a parent or guardian and a teacher — whether or not school is in session — and ensure that the working environment is appropriate for a minor. What makes it all work is relationships: open lines of communication with members and fair and honest dealings with employers. When a problem arises, reps, in conjunction with other SAG-AFTRA staff, seek to resolve the situation quickly and fairly. The purpose isn't to create animosity or punish, it's to clear the way so that actors can get back to "Knowing that help is just a phone call away allows me to feel comfortable enough to focus on my work as a performer." — Jon Huertas, SAG-AFTRA National Board Member