What
did I mean when I made the comment that "The Revolution is Coming" in
regards to Equity's ancient Showcase code? (Which AEA retweeted!) Whatever I meant, many of you literally 'liked it.' We want to work with Equity to
rewrite this archaic code, which still mandates the maximum charge of $18 for
admission. That is $3 more than it was in 1982 and still less than a
Manhattan movie ticket. (Social Media, Email, Blog reviewers, etc have
all changed the field since the "Showcase code" was created). ReGroup has
been working on this for years, and even have had a gracious,
thoughtful meeting with Equity President Nick Wyman in early 2013. While
the meeting was to be followed up with another, it yet has been, and
we've had radio silence.
Small companies are getting angry
and desperate, and for good reason! While Nick said, "You can't
expect to make money in the theatre," I told him, I'm not asking to MAKE
money, I'm asking for a tiny
chance not to lose our shirts so we
can continue bringing important theatre to NY, and republishing these
amazing Group plays for companies worldwide. (I've actually forked over
any 'spare money' and a lot of my credit to bring these works to life,
and I did so willingly. Our actors are volunteers. We have an Oscar
Winner, many Tony Winners, Multi-Obie winners in our shows, and they all
will work for free as they believe in the Theatre (Capital 'T') - not just in filling
their wallets. Fulfilling work, by considerate employers, is worth more
than gold. Certainly Equity had/has a reason to exist, but in this age
of social media, if a producer is an ass, it will be spread within
minutes. No one, from pizza parties to birthday cakes, treats their
actors better than we do. I try to right all the wrongs I experienced as an
actor in my 20's.
Some actors want to be stars, and that is
totally fine, but most want to make a difference. The Showcase code does not
allow for the latter. It's all about transaction. If a painter wants
to paint, or an actor wants to produce their own one woman show, (or a hater wants to hate) they
shouldn't have to seek Big Daddy Union's permission. We've heard that the
union is worried we will "exploit ourselves". While that is utterly
ridiculous, it's much better we do it than a pervert producer who can
pay the union salary. While it's most likely they're out to protect the big
money earning Broadway theatres from the little revolutionaries, it's
clearly and ridiculously out of date. (1982? Are we all still supposed
to be drinking TAB?) The ancient Showcase code is the main symptom
crippling the Fabulous Invalid. In the theatrical 'ecosystem', if the
little plankton can't take risks and flourish, the "BIG FISH" at the top
of the food chain will die miserably. It's Art!! (Or at least it should
be.) Equity's lack to keep the Showcase code relevant has majorly contributed to the 'schools' who charge $40 for a 3 minute 'class' with a Casting Director. This is now the main way talent gets seen. It's unethical and destructive to our theatre. AEA,why aren't you protecting talent from the vultures? A class-action lawsuit is going to happen eventually, and it will show how much strength our union has.