Thread by @SAGActors

We have officially started our 2021 SAGA roundup!

We would like to welcome our new SAGA exco member @HunganiNdlovu

@AshleyDowds :
Thanks to funding, we were able to create workshops throughout this year.
Have a look at this on our Skills portal on our website where you can access each of these workshops for free!
saguildofactors.org.za

One of my highlights was the 6 part series that Camilla did with us.
Have a look here:
saguildofactors.org.za/enrol/index.ph…

@AshleyDowds @AshleyDowds
"There were some very real discussions on being an actor with diverse abilities."
This is a much-needed discussion around the industry that we need to take more time to look at.
Watch it here:
saguildofactors.org.za/course/view.ph…

@NAMBITHA :
"As we know, the Eastern Cape is an emerging market at the moment... there is however an issue of actor exploitation."

@NAMBITHA :
We have made an arrangement with @ecdc_developec to be able to get feedback on productions happening in the EC and be sure that we do not have this exploitation continuing.

#Actorvism.

@JackD157 :
Working with @UASA_the_Union we were able to take discussions around labour laws further with @deptoflabour.

@JackD157 We are now at the point where we can draft a set of protections that are meant for full-time employees but keep our freelance status under a sectoral determination.

#actorvism

@DanielJanks
An example of a sectoral determination is how underage individuals are allowed to work on set, but not in any other sector.

@DanielJanks
We are busy drafting up two points under this sectoral determination:
1- A minimum wage for all actors.
2- A standardized and fair contract.

#actorvism

@JackD157
We have actively been making contact with other organizations to stand together when we talk to the department about the changes we want to make within the industry.

From April 2019 SAGA has been able to be in active discussion around Television contracts to find a standardized contract.

One major touchpoint is the actor's working hours.
When an actor works a standard 12 hour day on set, they still have to go home and learn their dialogue.
This is unfortunately not sustainable on a longer-term contract.

We have been able to start categorizing shows that will correlate with a maximum amount of working hours on set per day.

@CarlynndeW :
"for the first time, we are sitting around a table with the decision-makers."

#actorvism

@ACGalley
"although @SAGActors is here to change the industry, we are not here to do this at the industry's expense..."

#actorvism
#ppab
#cab

@JackD157
Being paid residuals is important to be able to create a sustainable industry.
Being paid only a performance fee does not allow South African actors to build a sustainable career.

#ppab
#cab

This year @tad_alliance has been launched with the help of @standfsa.
They are focussing on an "open theatres safely campaign" in support of vaccinations to ensure Covid safety for actors and audience members.

#westerncape
@MotlatjiD
"The general difference between the #Gauteng industry and the #westerncape industry is the level of international productions that happen within the WC."

"the live performance theatre has been hard hit by the pandemic, such as @TheFugard that had to close down."

@tad_alliance

@MotlatjiD
"Productions are slowly starting to open up with Covid restrictions still in place"

@standfsa
@tad_alliance

#KZN
"A few years ago SAGA did not have a footprint in the KZN. We are starting to make some progress within the actor's industry within the province."

We have been doing regular workshops within the province, empowering actors with the correct jargon when it comes to auditions so that cases of actor exploitation become fewer.

The two main questions coming from the province are:
1- Questions around the difference between casting AGENTS and casting DIRECTORS.
2 - Sexual harassment on set.

#actorvism

Last year we were able to host a workshop on Sexual harassment within the province.
This year we had talks about professional agents within the province and how to make sure you ask the right questions in the room.

#actorvism
#kzn

EXCITING NEWS:
There is now a professional designation for South African Actors!
SAGA has created a professional designation for actors.
@DanielJanks

What this means:
As an actor, you can now get a professional certification to be a professional actor.
Once you become a professionally designated actor you will have to continually train to keep this designation throughout a year.

The aim of this will be to create a professional culture around this professional designation, that South African Actors will be able to leverage for better contracts and working conditions in the future.

#actorvism

@JackD157
SAGA's activism has to do with creating interest with people within the sector, to get people actively involved with the work we are doing.
We keep the bumper stickers and T-shirts out of our activism.

@JackD157
We have got to adapt our game continuously when it comes to activism so that we use the right tool for the job when a process is at a certain sensitive point.
We always need to coordinate our responses with the process.
#actorvism

That rounds up our round-up.
Thank you to all who attended.

#ppad
#CAB
#actorvism