As founders of the Facebook page "NY ACTORS STANDING IN SOLIDARITY TO UPHOLD THE LA 99 SEAT PLAN," we're overwhelmed to have over 400 supporters in less than 12 hrs. As the 99 Seat (LA) or Showcase (NY) producers/actors/etc, now is the only time we have any clout. We don't have the fat wallets of the Broadway producers or tiered tour producers who can pay for a dozen exemptions. We make theatre TO MAKE THEATRE. No one gets rich- we do it out of love, to train, to make the world a better place, etc. Or as at my AEA Orientation, when asked about any concerns of being an Equity member, the moderator laughed and prodded everyone in the room to laugh at me, and wrote it on the dry erase board as 'artistic theater'. ISN'T THAT THE WHOLE POINT?
Maybe we need two theatre unions. The Disney theatre and the art theatre. (I'm not dismissing their work, it's just not what WE do.) What AEA is trying to do in LA is disgusting. It will KILL the struggling theatre scene there. In this day and age of social media, if a producer is a jerk, word will spread immediately. Besides, AEA requires producers to submit their final budgets, and I'd expect 99.9% of them are big losses. That's sadly the state of the theatre (and only partially AEA's fault -$18 top ticket price, really???). If a producer is making huge profits, then they need to investigate them, not punish all theatres and cause us to lose even more money. As an AEA member and a producer, I've lost money I cannot afford to lose to bring great theatre the stage. I have thousands on my credit card to cover the gaps in funding. I'm not asking for praise or thanks. I'm no martyr. I did it freely and without regret. I BELIEVE THE THEATRE IS BIGGER THAN ANY ONE OF US.
We've recently put out a survey asking LA and NY actors (separately) WHY they do these small theatre projects. Full stats will be available once we collect more info - but an overwhelming amount have already said that they've gotten other PAID work, great reviews, free training, signed with agents, etc from this rewarding work. There's not always big paying work out there, and to those of us who do the work for the right reasons, we'd likely do it even if it cost us. It means that much to us.
As the most widely produced code out there, the Showcase and 99 Seat Code have one rare trait, despite our lack of money, WE CAN CHANGE THE ELECTIONS SINGLEHANDEDLY. It's time for us to pressure the candidates, and the changes to the LA 99 seat plan is the first warning sign they DO NOT GET IT. As a painter, if I want to paint - I PAINT. I don't have to ask permission, and painting is not a hobby. I believe in a union but one that must understand the needs of its members.
We've posted on all 3 Presidential Candidate's Official "Facebook Pages" asking them for their stance on the code - The Awful 99 Seat Proposal AND the 33 year old NY Showcase.
This is a pivotal point for the theatre. How can we compete with digital media? Yet, there's never been a time when actual human connection is MORE needed. While NY AEA says the LA plan won't ever happen here, I don't believe it. The NY Showcase is 33 years out of date. (And we wonder what happened to the Golden Age of American Theatre!) This influences us all. Theatre isn't a money making business - but it can be rewarding beyond any monetary standards.
We are artists. That doesn't mean we don't want or deserve to be compensated, but look at history. What greats were?? Don't believe me, believe Brando: http://jamesgrissom.blogspot.com/2014/12/marlon-brando-art-and-money.html
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