Well, I may be coming to a crossroads I have anticipated for some time. I may well be doing a gig in th ecoming weeks that will get me the opportunity to join the Screen Actor’s Guild (SAG).
For the unitiated, SAG is a union that an actor must belong to if he expects to do any on-camera work that will go beyond local videos, low budget films, or training movies. The catch-22 is that one must almost always belong to SAG to get work in these kinds of projects, but that one must be involved in these projects before they are eligible to join SAG.
Well, its my turn, I had a right-place-right-time moment, nailed an exclusive audition and I have the gig.. I will be SAG eligible.
In the long term, very good thing, but I have a lingering concern that I will now be “playing with the big boys” – i.e. I will be auditioning for less work against better people. In many ways, independent films have been my mainstay – and I have that distinct fear that once I can do many fewer indies, I may find myself like some in the DC area after joining SAG – with a dry well, so to speak.
Still, I also feel like its time. I’ve spent 5 years out of college, done 8 films, 4 TV commercials, 4 industrials, 2 Video games, and 5 or 6 training videos, not to mention extra and stand-in work on Major film and TV projects – and well, I know my around a set.. I can find the craft-services table.
If I do join, I will likely be afforded fewer opportunities – but those opportuinities will be to do things on a grander scale.. and that could be really cool.
Its a change, and we fear change – especially with the Baby on the way – and well, this seemed like the place to talk about it.
PS: If anyone wants, they can see me in Shakespeare’s “Comedy of Errors” the next 2 weekends in Manassas (info at www.vpstartcrow.com ) , and can email me if they are interested in seeing me as a killer in the June 3 Baltimore premiere of “Dead Hunt” (also did the music for that one).
With that kind of work under
With that kind of work under your belt, Justin, I’d say go for it. Time to step up to the major leagues and see what you’ve got. Best of luck!
Go For It…
Change is always going to be a scary thing. How often does this kind of thing come up? I know that In my life there have been moments that are the right-place right-time kind of thing, and I have always been happy to have done the things I’ve done, and have lived to regret the things i did not try.
I would approach this with the aspect that a good oportunity has presented itself. Will you regret not taking it?
Go For it!
In life…
I have found that, in life, I more often regret doing nothing when given the opportunity, than doing something and finding I made the wrong choice. I say do it!
—
Matthew P. Barnson