Welcome to the ask Mark Pirro page. We should change this to the SAG financial core page, since it seems that lately 80% of all questions are relating to union issues. Feel free to leave any question or comment you like, even if it's NOT about going SAG financial core ---------- Mark Pirro himself will respond. ---------- Or, if you'd rather not leave a message right now, just click here to go back to our Home Page. Messages are listed from the newest to the oldest. After you've left your message, check back soon. Mark usually replies within 24 hours.. There are now 333 messages in our guestbook. <<< 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 34 >>> Viewing messages 21 to 30. Your name (required) Your message (required) Where in the world? Sharon My agent wants me to go SAG fi-core. He thinks I'll book more work that way. If I do go fi-core, how difficult is it to rejoin SAG at a later date? ------------------------------------- MP: You have a smart agent. There's really no point in 'rejoining' once you've gone fi-core, but if you decide to, they'll most likely hit you up for a fine or penalty or whatever whim hits them. It probably won't be too severe since they DO want you back. 12 May 2010 - So Cal name removed by request Please remove my name. Thanks so much ----------------------------------- MP: uhh...okay. 1 May 2010 Rex M. Hi again, Mark! Thanks a lot for your earlier response. I just got back from going Fi-Core with SAG. Quick question for you, though: To what address should I mail a certified letter to AFTRA to go fi-core over there as well? Thanks a lot! ----------------------------------- MP: Just send it to their legal department. 22 April 2010 - NY Area matilda Hi! I'd like to know if you have any information on the current regulations as to going back to being a full SAG member once you've gone FiCo. I know that a couple of years ago you had to go in front of a committee and then they would decide whether you're let back into the union as a full member. But I keep reading different answers to this question and i also feel like SAG has been changing these regulations over the past couple of years back an forth. Any ideas on the current status? Thanks! ------------------------------------- MP: SAG is like the IRS: they can change the rules at any time. My understanding is that if you go fi core and then one day decide to relinquish that status, SAG will levy a fine on you. This fine could also be waived at their discretion. Understand, they would WANT you to give up your fi core status, so it behooves them to get you back. When you're fi core, you're holding all the cards, regardless what they would want you to think. 21 April 2010 - NY Rex M. Hi there, Mark! I've got two questions for you about SAG Fi-Core. I'm terribly sorry if you've already answered these. 1. Could you please tell me the full information I'd need to go SAG Fi-Core? IE, what address to send the Fi-Core request letter to, what the letter should say, what information it should include, etc. I'd just like to make sure I'm doing it right, so they can't pull anything on me. "Well, you didn't sign and DATE this, so it doesn't count! :P" 2. Let's say I've already worked on a non-union TV show as a SAG member, using an alias. If I go Fi-Core and then resume work on the same non-union show under my true name, can I get in trouble with SAG? Meaning, can they say, "Hey, wait! You did THESE episodes BEFORE going Fi-CORE and LIED about it by pretending to be someone else! You're out of the union, Jack!" Thank you so much for your time, Mark, it's greatly appreciated! ------------------------------------- MP: You should be able to find all the info you need regarding what to do here:http://pirromount.com.customers.tigertech.net/sag.html If you've already worked a non-union film as a SAG member, you could be found out, but it's pretty unlikely. Depending on how big the show is and how prominent you are in it, you're probably safe. I wouldn't worry about it. With all the independent productions going on, SAG's teeth aren't as sharp as they once were. 20 April 2010 - NY Area Jim C. Hey! Thinking about going Fi-core but have a couple 'O questions. I am sometimes asked to do SAG extra work here in Philly and when I'm called, the casting director asks for my SAG ID # ahead of time. Will they know from this that I am fi-core? I am assuming I will get paid a union wage either way, correct? Also, do you think it wise to join AFTRA after I go fi-core? Would AFTRA know I am fi-core by submitting my paperwork? Thanks. ------------------------------------ MP: Technically SAG wants you to surrender your card when you go financial core, but many members ignore that. Once you are fi core, you can work for any wage negotiated between you and the producer (which can be as much as possible to free). Whatever the pay offered for the job is what you are entitled to get (some SAG jobs now even go for $100 a day, so that's not much of an indication). Regarding joining AFTRA, my opinion is to avoid joining any union if you can help it. 20 April 2010 - Philadelphia area D Watson Hi again - and thanks so much for the info. This board is so helpful and informative. I have a couple other questions at the moment: 1. Is it possible to join a calling service if one is AFTRA Fi-Core? I mean, would they not take you on b/c they think you are a "scab" (which I'm not, I just made a dumb rookie mistake by joining too soon) or do you never even have to advise them of your Fi-Core status? I would think you would have to advise them, otherwise they would assume that you could NOT be booked for non-union background right? Which, in turn, presents the problem of possible discrimination/retaliation. 2. If you declare your Fi-Core intentions with the Legal Dept. of AFTRA, do you have to speak with them also or is the matter concluded with their Receipt of the Certified Letter? 3. May you begin non-union work the moment you have AFTRA's signed Return Receipt back? Thanks again so much! It's so nice to be able to ask someone who has some answers! I'm sure I'll have more questions! -------------------------------------- MP: #1) Yes you can join a calling service. Your financial core status shouldn't even be an issue with them. #2)The letter should be sufficient. There is no need to talk to anybody. It's possible that someone from the union may try to talk you out of it, but that's pretty rare. With all the actors going fi core, they'd have to hire a full time staff to try and contact everyone. #3) Technically, you can start working non-union as soon as you mail the letter. 18 April 2010 - LA D Watson I recently made the mistake of joining AFTRA too early. I don't have enough experience and now I can't even work non-union background. I may never work again. What is the process for going Fi-Core in AFTRA Los Angeles? Who do I address the letter to? Thanks for any info you may have! -------------------------------------- MP: You'll work again. Don't panic. Just send a certified letter to Aftra's Legal Department stating that you wish to enable your financial core status. That's it. Your opportunities to work are reinstated. 17 April 2010 - LA Michelle I know you may have already said this in a million different ways, but if I am fi-core, will I have any trouble getting hired on major network TV shows? These are the majority of part I audition for. Also - I plan on keeping SAG on my resume. How would the network even find out I was fi-core if I was cast in a part. ------------------------------------- MP: Whether or not you are Fi core will have little effect on your ability to work for major networks. Many actors put too much thought into this. It's really a simple issue. Most filmmakers only care if you as an actor can remember your lines and hit your marks. If someone wants to hire you, they'll hire you: SAG or Financial Core. I don't know one actor who has not gotten a job as a result of being financial core. Relax. 12 April 2010 - Los Angeles, CA Jamie B Did you know you can download a torrent of deathrow gameshow on monova . org ---------------------------------------- MP: Cool! 3 April 2010 - Dublin <<< 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 34 >>>