Labor & Employment Law

SAG Launches Young Performers Website

By James Parks

Young performers like actress Nikki SooHoo are protected by SAG contracts.

The Screen Actors (SAG) launched its new Young Performers website over the weekend with an indoor carnival and informational fair at the union’s headquarters in Los Angeles.

Hundreds of SAG young performers attended the carnival, which featured games, raffles, information booths, an interactive tour of the new website, a Wii Lounge and more.

SAG spokesperson Pamela Greenwalt says the site, www.youngperformers.sag.org, will help young performers under the age of 18 years and their parents find out about the special protections and other issues unique to minors in SAG contracts. The site features video interviews, an interactive on-set feature, quizzes, frequently asked member questions, plus an online version of the SAG Young Performers Handbook.

Says Justin Shenkarow, chair of SAG’s Young Performers committee:

We wanted a place where kids and their parents could go to get information in a fun, cool way. With the new Young Performer’s website, we’ve definitely achieved that.

Greenwalt says SAG representatives are on the set of productions to protect all members, but they are especially vigilant about working children. When children are on set, she says, the SAG rep is keeping an eye out to see if children are being asked to work overtime or beyond the permitted work hours, if are they getting adequate meal and rest periods and being treated in a safe manner among many other considerations.

She adds that SAG also commits significant resources toward protecting young members and those who want to become professional actors by supporting appropriate legislation in many areas.

SAG’s last indoor carnival celebrated the launch of the updated SAG Young Performers Handbook in 2007.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on April 26, 2010 (boomark / email).