Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/16674
young performers would go along with them. When it comes to education requirements, all children working under SAG contracts must have three hours of “on- set” schooling and prove they have fulfilled the requirements of their resident school dis- tricts in order to advance to the next grade. But additional education protections are state mandated — and that’s where your union comes in. Until the time comes when SAG can help get federal education requirements passed, the Guild has been working at the state level in young performers. While well- meaning, it was not ironclad. Aſter years of efforts by SAG and other advocates, major loopholes were closed with revised legislation in 2000 and subsequent legislation in 2004, which further strengthened the law. (See “Trust Accounts 101” for more on Coogan.) Credit for each of SAG’s milestones can be given to active committed Guild parents and the members of the SAG National Young Performers Committee. “As the industry evolves, the Young Performers Committee continues to advocate for legislation and plan events that will help achieve the best working conditions for young performers,” said Justin Shenkarow, chair of the committee and a former young performer, best remembered for his role as Matthew Brock on Picket Fences. “Being a young performer is places such as New York and Louisiana. In the last decade, for example, SAG worked with New York lawmakers to codify protections with Te Child Performers Education and Trust Act of 2003. Young performer RJ Mitte is grateful for the education he received while on the set of AMC’s Breaking Bad in New Mexico. “Acting is a business that can be here one minute and gone the next, so you always have to have a Plan B,” said Mitte. “Te knowledge that school gives you can help you create that Plan B.” With the assistance of a set teacher, Mitte just graduated from high school with a 3.9 grade point average and will be pursuing a college education. When it comes to earnings, the 1939 Coogan Law in California was designed to set aside and protect wages for a unique experience and oſten provides many wonderful opportunities, and the Guild is vigilant in pushing for protections and providing resources that help make this a positive experience for young performers and their families.” Five former SAG presidents got their start as young performers (Patty Duke, Melissa Gilbert, William Daniels, Kathleen Nolan and Barry Gordon), but it doesn’t take being a former child star to want to make sure that current and future generations of actors are safe. “Young performers of today benefit from those actors who came before, those who rallied against unsafe, abusive work conditions, those who stood together to form this union, and those who continue to take a stand to protect them,” said President Howard. SAG.org Trust Accounts 101 T he Coogan Law requires that a special “trust account” be set up at a bank, credit union or brokerage firm in order to set aside 15 percent of gross wages on the minor’s behalf. Te earnings are held in trust until the actor turns 18. Coogan was a major breakthrough for child actors in California when it was originally created in 1939, but it has only been in the past decade that the law has more fully protected young performers. Since then, other states have fashioned Coogan-inspired laws, but parents of young performers will tell you that making sure Coogan funds are correctly distributed continues to be a complicated, oſten time-consuming, process — something your union would like to see streamlined in the future. California Since minors cannot legally control their own money, California law governs their earnings and creates a fiduciary relationship between parent and child. California law also requires that 15 percent of all of a minor’s earnings must be set aside in a blocked trust account within the state of California. Parents are responsible for providing their child’s blocked trust account number to each employer. Employers are required to deposit 15 percent of the child’s pay into the blocked trust account within 15 days of employment. Parents must be vigilant to ensure that employers deposit these funds correctly. If the employer has an incorrect or invalid trust account number, they will send the 15 percent to Te Actors’ Fund for disbursement. Parents and former young performers should visit unclaimedcoogan.org to see if funds are due them. Continues on next page > FACTS ON BLOCKED TRUST ACCOUNTS • These funds are not available for withdrawal until the minor turns 18 (or is emancipated). • The parent or guardian, as trustee, is responsible for setting up and maintaining the account and notifying the minor’s employers of the bank routing and account number via a trustee statement and deposit instructions, provided by the financial institution. • Minors must have their Coogan Account Trustee Statement attached to the work permit at all times. Therefore it is a good idea to open a Coogan Account before applying for a work permit. • Various financial institutions offer Coogan or blocked trust accounts. The SAG Young Performers Committee can assist with locating one. Visit SAG.org/content/coogan-law for credit unions that may be able to help. Summer 2010 - SCREEN ACTOR 23 From left: Craig Sjodin, ABC; Jasin Boland, Columbia Pictures; Suzanne Hanover, Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment; Diyah Pera, Universal Pictures; Joe Lederer, 20th Century Fox