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How to Become a Member of the Screen Actors Guild

The Screen Actors Guild is the world's largest and most widely recognized labor union for actors who work in movies, television, video games, commercials and other media outlets. In addition to ensuring fair working conditions and compensation for its members, the guild offers a variety of membership benefits such as casting workshops, pensions and health care credits. To become a member of the Screen Actors Guild, an applicant must be a working actor with verifiable credentials.

Instructions

    • 1

      Determine whether you are eligible for membership in the Screen Actors Guild. Applicants must have been a principal actor in a SAG production, a background actor in a SAG production or a member of an affiliated performers union.

      SAG applicants who have experience as a principal or background actor must provide documented proof of the role in the form of a contract or a pay stub. The document must contain the actor's full name and Social Security number, the name of the production, the salary paid and the dates of employment. Applicants who are members of an affiliated union must have been members of the union for a year and be current with their membership dues.

    • 2

      Submit proof of your eligibility to the following address: Screen Actors Guild, Membership Services Department–Proof of Eligibility, 5757 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036. The guild requires original documents, so applicants should make copies for their records before submitting them to the membership department. Enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope and a piece of paper with your complete name, birth date, address and phone number in the envelope. Your records will be returned to you in this envelope.

    • 3

      Wait for the membership department to return your documents. You can check on the status of your application by calling the guild at 323-549-6769.

    • 4

      Call the Screen Actors Guild toll-free phone number at 1-800-SAG-0767 to make an appointment to join the union at the guild branch nearest to your home. The guild recommends that all applicants call their local office to review the application procedure and determine the amount of the membership dues. These dues must be paid before joining the guild.

Screen Acting

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