I'm an Equity member. I want the 99 seat Equity plan to remain in place.
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Nick Neidorf
11 years ago
As a producer of small theater in Los Angeles, the proposed changes are infuriating. I have never made a dime off of the work, and probably never will. I am motivated by passion for the theater, same as the actors, directors, and stage managers who have worked with us. We're all in the same boat, and we're all speaking with one voice, and that voice is saying, "Don't do this."
J
Jennifer Smith
11 years ago
We work hard every year to bring bigger and better productions to our little theater. I would hate for actors to lose the opportunity to work on their craft because the theaters can't afford to hire them. I don't do theater with the expectation of pay, I get paid to do costumes, I act because I love it. Theatre in LA has been making some serious strides in the time I'v been here and I want to see it get even better! I am all about a union protecting its members, especially when it comes to getting paid, but I fear that this proposal will limit small theaters to the point of the art suffering or to the point of closing.
A
Ann Hearn
11 years ago
AEA member continuously since 1982. I believe the unintended consequences of the AEA proposed changes are disastrous for professional actors and stage managers and their collaborative artists of writers and directors.
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Robynn Rodriguez
11 years ago
"...members were clear that any changes to the Plan must preserve the cherished opportunities it provides for actors to collaborate and develop artistically. Many members told us they think of 99-seat productions as their “gym” – a valuable space to strengthen their artistic muscles, hone their craft…" Enough said.
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Crystal Keith
11 years ago
I got my Equity card working on a show that originated under the Los Angeles 99-seat plan. Most of the best work I have done has been under this plan. While I agree it could be improved, I vehemently oppose any proposal to dismantle it. Union actors must be permitted to aspire to both a living wage AND artistic fulfillment - and to make their own choices about how to reconcile those desires. To force us into a false choice between one or the other is to attack the very concept of art as a profession. Our need to remain creatively challenged and to exercise our core skills will never be filled by the sporadic jobs which offer a living wage and benefits. Even those of us fortunate enough to work all the time aren't actually working ALL THE TIME. Artists in every other medium must create daily - regardless of whether anyone's paying them to. To exempt actors from this fundamental need is to say we are not artists but machines - capable of performing optimally without maintenance and devoid of any need for creative expression which does not result in an immediate paycheck. The Los Angeles 99 seat plan generates professional employment. It offers actors at all career levels the chance to grow by working with others, often on better material that we'd ever get in a class. It allows us to be seen at our best. It makes us into a community of collaborators. Without it, the life of a Los Angeles actor will be a series of traffic jams interrupted by auditions, at which we will have little to talk about.
C
Courtney Williams
11 years ago
Truly upsetting! This is not something that better serves artists in the community! There are already so few legitimate opportunities in LA to work in theatre, this is certainly not beneficial to the situation
Courtney Oliviér Williams
C
Courtney Williams
11 years ago
Truly upsetting! This is not something that better serves artists in the community! There are already so few legitimate opportunities in LA to work in theatre, this is certainly not beneficial to the situation
Courtney Oliviér Williams
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Paul Eiding
11 years ago
37 years a member of AEA, and truly upset. Because it seems like 'our' union has already decided what they think is best for us. I'd love for someone to find out how long ago this plan was conceived...really. Something doesn't smell right.
J
Jaime Andrews
11 years ago
AEA member for 12+ years...but I will leave if this passes.
K
Kyle Puccia AEA member
11 years ago
Eliminating the 99 seat plan will destroy the theatre scene in LA.
C
Colin Thomas Jennings
11 years ago
I am a member of Actors Equity
L
Leon Acord
11 years ago
Theatre is already on life support. Why in the world would you do something to make the situation even worse?
L
Lisa Barnes
11 years ago
AEA member
C
Christopher Chase
11 years ago
Featured
run theTRIBE, an intimate theatre company that's produced over ten shows in LA County the past five years. We now pay our actors (Equity and Non Equity alike) for 99-seat shows. We would never have gotten our start without 99-waivers.
E
Elizabeth Kemery
11 years ago
For the ladies who lunch....
M
Meaghan Boeing
11 years ago
I am an Equity member, and plan to vote against this in the referendum. The 99-seat plan needs to change, but this is not the way. According to the new plan, we either forfeit any union protection (and a theatre's name recognition), or make a huge financial investment that is unrealistic for many small productions. Why not tie actor pay to production budget and not seats? Why freeze membership companies and make it impossible to start new ones? We need change, but this is NOT the way. AEA, please reconsider and rewrite the contract again!
A
Albert Dayan
11 years ago
Equity member
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Libby Boone
11 years ago
AEA member
D
Devon Sorvari
11 years ago
I’ve been a proud AEA member since 1987, and since moving to LA 10 years ago, have derived great value and satisfaction from working under the 99-seat plan – despite not thinking it’s a perfect model. This new plan is not - either in letter or spirit - what members have been asking for. Back to the drawing board, please. This will not do.
I'm an Equity member. I want the 99 seat Equity plan to remain in place.
As a producer of small theater in Los Angeles, the proposed changes are infuriating. I have never made a dime off of the work, and probably never will. I am motivated by passion for the theater, same as the actors, directors, and stage managers who have worked with us. We're all in the same boat, and we're all speaking with one voice, and that voice is saying, "Don't do this."
We work hard every year to bring bigger and better productions to our little theater. I would hate for actors to lose the opportunity to work on their craft because the theaters can't afford to hire them. I don't do theater with the expectation of pay, I get paid to do costumes, I act because I love it. Theatre in LA has been making some serious strides in the time I'v been here and I want to see it get even better! I am all about a union protecting its members, especially when it comes to getting paid, but I fear that this proposal will limit small theaters to the point of the art suffering or to the point of closing.
AEA member continuously since 1982. I believe the unintended consequences of the AEA proposed changes are disastrous for professional actors and stage managers and their collaborative artists of writers and directors.
"...members were clear that any changes to the Plan must preserve the cherished opportunities it provides for actors to collaborate and develop artistically. Many members told us they think of 99-seat productions as their “gym” – a valuable space to strengthen their artistic muscles, hone their craft…" Enough said.
I got my Equity card working on a show that originated under the Los Angeles 99-seat plan. Most of the best work I have done has been under this plan. While I agree it could be improved, I vehemently oppose any proposal to dismantle it. Union actors must be permitted to aspire to both a living wage AND artistic fulfillment - and to make their own choices about how to reconcile those desires. To force us into a false choice between one or the other is to attack the very concept of art as a profession. Our need to remain creatively challenged and to exercise our core skills will never be filled by the sporadic jobs which offer a living wage and benefits. Even those of us fortunate enough to work all the time aren't actually working ALL THE TIME. Artists in every other medium must create daily - regardless of whether anyone's paying them to. To exempt actors from this fundamental need is to say we are not artists but machines - capable of performing optimally without maintenance and devoid of any need for creative expression which does not result in an immediate paycheck. The Los Angeles 99 seat plan generates professional employment. It offers actors at all career levels the chance to grow by working with others, often on better material that we'd ever get in a class. It allows us to be seen at our best. It makes us into a community of collaborators. Without it, the life of a Los Angeles actor will be a series of traffic jams interrupted by auditions, at which we will have little to talk about.
Truly upsetting! This is not something that better serves artists in the community! There are already so few legitimate opportunities in LA to work in theatre, this is certainly not beneficial to the situation Courtney Oliviér Williams
Truly upsetting! This is not something that better serves artists in the community! There are already so few legitimate opportunities in LA to work in theatre, this is certainly not beneficial to the situation Courtney Oliviér Williams
37 years a member of AEA, and truly upset. Because it seems like 'our' union has already decided what they think is best for us. I'd love for someone to find out how long ago this plan was conceived...really. Something doesn't smell right.
AEA member for 12+ years...but I will leave if this passes.
Eliminating the 99 seat plan will destroy the theatre scene in LA.
I am a member of Actors Equity
Theatre is already on life support. Why in the world would you do something to make the situation even worse?
AEA member
run theTRIBE, an intimate theatre company that's produced over ten shows in LA County the past five years. We now pay our actors (Equity and Non Equity alike) for 99-seat shows. We would never have gotten our start without 99-waivers.
For the ladies who lunch....
I am an Equity member, and plan to vote against this in the referendum. The 99-seat plan needs to change, but this is not the way. According to the new plan, we either forfeit any union protection (and a theatre's name recognition), or make a huge financial investment that is unrealistic for many small productions. Why not tie actor pay to production budget and not seats? Why freeze membership companies and make it impossible to start new ones? We need change, but this is NOT the way. AEA, please reconsider and rewrite the contract again!
Equity member
AEA member
I’ve been a proud AEA member since 1987, and since moving to LA 10 years ago, have derived great value and satisfaction from working under the 99-seat plan – despite not thinking it’s a perfect model. This new plan is not - either in letter or spirit - what members have been asking for. Back to the drawing board, please. This will not do.