As new Actors’ Equity rules go into effect today that require small theaters in Los Angeles to begin paying their union actors at least minimum wage, some small non-union venues, it turns out, aren’t paying their actors anything at all.
Last week, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by for SAG president Ed Asner that would have prevented Actors’ Equity from requiring small Los Angeles-based theater companies that sign its contract to pay their actors at least minimum wage.
Deadline has found numerous casting notices posted on a popular employment referral website that are looking for professional actors who are willing to work for free. Producers of a non-union project called Reservoir Bitches has a notice posted on the Casting Frontier site seeking a male actor of any ethnicity, age 25-65, to play the role of The Cop, a “poor guy (who) is about to have the worst day of his life.” The pay rate is listed as “none.”
See more at Deadline.
