ACTRESSES SELL SEX FOR SAG CARD
by Thomas M. Sipos,
managing editor [November 6, 2017]
 [HollywoodInvestigator.com]
Everyone in Hollywood is suddenly
discussing sexual harassment in Hollywood. The practice is
apparently widespread and widely known. Which begs the question, if
sexual harassment is so widespread and widely known, why did
everyone wait until now to discuss it?
I can attest to its being widespread and
widely known. Even casually accepted as the norm. That's been my
experience.
Back in the 1990s, I used to work as a
nonunion extra (aka
background actor), because that's one route into SAG, the primary
actors union. (Since merged into SAG-AFTRA.)
Extras get a voucher per day worked. SAG
extras get SAG vouchers. Nonunion extras get nonunion vouchers
after the daily quota of SAG vouchers is filled. If there are not
enough SAG actors available, the remaining SAG vouchers go to nonunion
actors before any nonunion vouchers are used. The union quota must be
filled.
Once a nonunion actor collects three SAG
vouchers, he or she can join SAG. Because of this, SAG vouchers are
highly prized. And whenever there is a low supply of a highly prized
item, the system of distribution is vulnerable to abuse.
Per union rules, vouchers (and the acting
jobs they represent) are supposed to be distributed on a
nondiscriminatory basis, provided the actor meets the casting
requirement (e.g., bearded blue collar types, clean shaven military,
posh executives, etc.)
But SAG vouchers have been sold for money or
sex.
I often heard that rumor on film sets in the
1990s. I remember a fellow extra complaining about a Second A.D.
(assistant director) who was widely known to distribute remaining SAG
vouchers to young actresses, provided they slipped into a trailer with
him for a quickie. The A.D. and actress were pointed out to me. Other
extras confirmed it and thought me naive for not knowing about it.
They also complained of other "sex for vouchers" instances they
claimed to know about.
I also heard tales of casting directors who
sold SAG vouchers for money. One actor allegedly paid a thousand
dollars for the required three vouchers. Favoritism and nepotism also
abounded. I saw one elderly lady cast as an audience member at a rock
concert. The casting requirement was for young rocker types, but this
senior citizen was related to a stagehand, who asked the A.D. to hire
her as a favor. Like sex and money, blood ties carry weight in
Hollywood.
I even heard rumors of truly pathetic
actresses who sold sex for nonunion vouchers. Usually, these
were newcomers to Hollywood, who thought that being cast as an extra
-- even nonunion -- was a really big deal.
Selling sex for union membership (which
is what SAG vouchers entail) was a thing in the 1990s. I'm sure it's
still a thing today. Actresses (and actors too, I'm sure), sell sex
for acting roles, so why not for union membership, which is seen as a
stepping stone to acting roles?
Much has been made of the abuse suffered
by actresses pressured to sell sex for favors. But they're not the
only victims. Nonunion actors and actresses work long hours, for low
pay (minimum wage), hoping to luck out with a SAG voucher. When
another actor or actress buys a voucher, for sex or money, they are
essentially cutting ahead of the line, hurting those who won't outbid them.
Buying vouchers is against union rules.
But while rumors of abuse were rife, I've never known an extra to
report a violation. Extras, especially nonunion, are at the bottom of
the pecking order. None wants to be known as a snitch or a trouble
maker. None wants to offend the casting directors and assistant
directors who decide which extras get hired tomorrow, and which get
the union vouchers.
Thomas M. Sipos's experiences as an film extra provide
the backround for his novel,
Hollywood Witches. |
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