About half of the big strikes in the U.S. this year have taken place in California, with the most consequential centered in Los Angeles — now including the strike announced by SAG-AFTRA.Unless it’s a contract for a long show, an actor seldom gets an opportunity to work numerous times in a row. Even if they do, if they’re new to the industry they often start off nonunion, have to work in low-budget productions and get paid little.
Actors have long been conditioned to feel grateful that they are being included and paid for it. We learn very early on to settle for little if it means getting to do our art. We tell ourselves that the job may come with a small paycheck, but the exposure may lead to bigger and better opportunities.hasn’t helped; in today’s market, commercial and critical success often fails to translate into fair pay.
When I took a lengthy break from acting to go back to school, I had a revelation. I’d spent all that time trying to make myself seem exceptional and essential because I was in an industry trying to make me and so many others like me feel small.