Actors Equity Contracts

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 12/17/12 at 10:02pm

I hear that any contract ever used by AEA is now available online. If this is true where are they located? The site isn't the greatest. Also, why would they "release" them.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/17/12 at 10:25pm

You mean the Document Library?

http://www.actorsequity.org/library/library_home.asp

[CapnHook]

Posted: 12/17/12 at 10:26pm

I think you are confused or misinformed.

The AEA union has contracts (called Agreements or Codes) with different types of Presenters (Broadway, Disney Broadway shows tours, regional theatres, outdoor drama, etc.). Those are available online. They are the negotiated contracts between the Actor's Equity Association union and those Presenters.

When a producer has a show at any of the types of Presenting Houses, they engage an actor or stage manager according to that Agreement/Code.

The individual contracts between the producer and actor (or stage manager) are NOT available nor disclosed online. They are private.

Updated On: 12/17/12 at 10:26 PM

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 12/17/12 at 10:32pm

I think I was both but I appreciate the help Capn. So, when a new cast member is cast in a show, does the actor negotiate their contact, their agent or does Equity do it with the show itself?

[CapnHook]

Posted: 12/17/12 at 10:40pm

One of the major reasons why actors have agents, other than getting them work, is to negotiate the contract. If an actor does not have an agent, then the actor negotiates their own contract.

AEA is not involved with individual negotiations, although they do receive a copy of all executed individual contracts.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 12/17/12 at 10:43pm

Equity has negotiated the terms of the contract concerning work rules, minimum salaries, and other such items with the various producing organizations. They do not negotiate an individual actor's contract. Items such as salary requirements (if above minimum) and individual perks are negotiated individually either by the actor (if they don't have an agent) or by their agent and/or manager (and yes, an agent and a manager are different things).

That being said not all theaters (especially regional and other small companies) are really willing to negotiate anything beyond the minimum terms of the agreement they are operating under.

And if you want to see any of those agreements they are under the document library on the AEA website:
http://actorsequity.org/library/library_home.asp

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 12/17/12 at 10:54pm

What if the difference of a manager/agent?

Updated On: 12/17/12 at 10:54 PM

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 12/17/12 at 11:07pm

This link probably explains it better than I could

http://actingclassforfilm.com/agent-vs-manager.aspx

[CapnHook]

Posted: 12/17/12 at 11:09pm

An agent has more than one client, and a manager usually has one.

An agent gets you auditions/work. An agent negotiates your contract.

A manager could also get their client work and negotiate contracts, but in addition they may also:

- manage the client's finances
- coordinate arrangements (housing & travel)
- public relations (fan mail)
- publicity (promotions, events, image control (photos, video))

As you can see, Agents' responsibilities are pretty standard but Managers' responsibilities can vary.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 12/17/12 at 11:13pm

I'll also add that agents also work under an agreement with Equity to set certain rules about how they handle their clients.

All of that info is here:
http://www.actorsequity.org/benefits/agencyregulations.asp

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 12/17/12 at 11:22pm

That's cool that agents also deal with AEA.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 12/18/12 at 1:03am

"An agent has more than one client, and a manager usually has one."

That's totally incorrect. Except at the very very highest levels, managers have many clients. And at that level, some folks utilize lawyers instead of agents, although that is the exception.