Question for you "financial cores" out there...

Chris Camilleri · **Voice Talent** Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 19

Looking for a little guidance. I recently missed out on a union gig, I believe, because of the timing involved in getting union status (I know, probably deluding myself). Anyway, I've decided it can't hurt, except in the wallet, to go AFTRA financial core. My question is - is it better to just join, then later send the letters to establish Fi-core, or just to tell 'em that's what you want to do when you sign up? Is either approach preferred by the union? I want to do this right, in the hopes that, should my career merit, things are as smooth as possible if I later decide to go full union membership...

Thanks for any and all input!

Suzy Noel · **Voice Talent** Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 2

If you are planning to go fi-core, you might as well start out that way. I believe you have to pay an smaller portion of the initiation and the dues (but not by much), but it's best to check with them. I think there is a 2 year window, where you can rejoin as a full member, and after that should you wish to rejoin, you have to pay the full initiation fee again, but once again, check with them. I was able and thrilled to be able to join the union very early in my acting career - too early perhaps, because I didn't have an agent so I went from working all the time to having to take many part time jobs to make ends meet. After 6 years of waitressing and waiting for union only jobs, I finally decided to go fi-core. For me, it was the right decision, but if I knew then what I know now, I would have done it sooner. I talked to a lot of actor friends before I made my decision and there are more working professionals out there who are also fi-core than you would expect. Beware - fi-core is still an area, much like "what to charge" that talent is not comfortable talking about. I hope this helps.

Chris Camilleri · **Voice Talent** Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 19

Thanks for the reply, Suzy! I know fi-core is a touchy subject, and I can understand why. I wasn't aware of the 2 year window to go full member - I'll look into that. That would make the decision much easier. I figured that, if you joined and immediately resigned to go fi-core, they'd probably charge the initiation again, just to teach you a lesson. Wink

I'm in the same boat you were - can't afford to give up my non-union recurring work. And I still need some seasoning before I can look for the union jobs to be lining up for me...
Thanks again for your input!

Shelly Callahan · **Voice Talent** Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Posts: 2

I had the same question when I first joined and am glad that I did not go financial core. I later needed to join SAG for a gig and because I had been a dues paying member of AFTRA for more than a year and had booked an Aftra commercial, I was able to join SAG so I could take the video game job. Don't rush to go Financial core if you can help it. If nothing else, it could help you join SAG later on which is so much harder to join than AFTRA is. I don't believe there is a two year window to "rejoin". Once you go financial core, I believe you can not change your mind later on and start paying regular dues to join again. People would be declaring financial core and rejoining when they got a gig then declare financial core again.

Chris Camilleri · **Voice Talent** Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 19

Thanks for the input, Shelly. Wasn't aware you needed SAG to do VO for video games. I'm not in a position yet to turn down non-union work, so at this point, it's really fi-core or nothing - and right now it's nothing. I'm just outside NYC, so I can always join quickly if I need to. When I do join, I'd rather do it as a full member, but until I can count on a volume of union gigs, I can't do it. Don't want to join the union knowing I'm planning on violating rule one...

Connie Terwilliger · **Voice Talent** Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 409

Chris Camilleri · **Voice Talent** Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 19

Great - more details to keep track of. Wink

Thanks for the heads-up, Connie. I'm gonna have to copy that info to a note and keep it around. Not that I'm expecting to be swimming in union work anytime soon, but that wasn't an issue I was even aware of. So... union health benefits depend on a specified minimum amount of work, and not just staying current with whatever dues level?

Connie Terwilliger · **Voice Talent** Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 409

Chris Camilleri · **Voice Talent** Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 19

Wow - that's a scary position to be in...

Thanks again for the info!