For Parents | Screen Actors Guild

Overview

Young Performers
Screen Actors Guild is distinctive in that we offer all minors the opportunity to be full-fledged members of a labor union.

Paid-up SAG members, regardless of age, may vote in all elections and referendums, serve on committees and avail themselves of all Guild services.

Young Performers Committee

Established in 1975, the SAG National Young Performers Committee makes it possible for Young Performers and their parents to have their voices heard at the Guild. Since its inception, the committee has dealt with major issues relating to minors.

The Young Performers Committee has provided invaluable services for actors including the revision of the California Labor Code as it applies to work by minors in entertainment. Recent changes include expanding the protections of the Coogan Law, updating and streamlining the work permit process, instituting orientation and mentoring programs especially for young performers as well as producing four editions of the “SAG Young Performers Handbook,” the ultimate guide to professionalism for young actors.

Actors and Students

Like their adult counterparts who sometimes hold non-actor jobs, young performers also have two jobs: being an actor, and being a student. A major goal of the Young Performers Committee is to safeguard the young actor’s education. The committee consistently seeks opportunities to make a young actor’s career and education a compatible partnership. Careers for young performers can be fleeting. Young actors need to plan for their futures whether as actors or in other careers both in and out of the entertainment field.

SAG on Set

Talking to the SAG Representative on set

Screen Actors Guild Representatives are on set to protect all members, but especially working children. It is their job to ensure that all SAG rules, including work hours and safety rules, are being followed.

When children are on set, your SAG rep is keeping an eye out for the following:

Are children being asked to work overtime or beyond the permitted work hours?
Are children getting adequate meal and rest periods?
Are they being tutored in a safe and effective manner?
Have they been asked to do hazardous work?
Are they permitting the parent to be within sight and sound of the child at all times?
Have they been provided an appropriate dressing room area?

So when a SAG rep says hello to you and asks you how things are going, don’t hesitate to speak up. They cannot be in all places at all times and count on the help of the child’s primary guardian to inform them of any problems or concerns. Our representatives are on set to help you, so don’t hesitate to take advantage of their expertise and authority.

If you need to get in touch with a SAG Field Representative, please call the Guild at (323) 549-1600. SAG Field reps are available 24 hours a day.