Over the course of nearly 100 years, Central Casting has come to dominate the TV and film industry as a major source of employment for thousands of actors across networks, studios, and streaming platforms. But current and former employees say that power has gone unchecked internally, creating what they say is a toxic workplace where complaints of racism, typecasting, and mistreatment are ignored and managers use intimidation and bullying to run the operation.

BuzzFeed News spoke to one current and 11 former employees about their experiences at Central Casting, all of whom wanted to remain anonymous for fear of retribution in the industry. Six employees said they sent a group email to company executives in June about how the company can improve the toxic work environment, took part in a subsequent internal HR investigation, and were then laid off in July and August.

The employees said they were told their jobs were being eliminated due to cuts because of the coronavirus’s impact on the company’s bottom line. But some of them were confused; prior to their email to executives, they said, they were in good standing and even praised for their performance. The layoffs felt targeted, six former employees said, which left people fearful of speaking up.

“Laying off those employees fuels the toxic work environment because it looks like a threat,” the current employee said.

Former employees said it was common for staffers to be yelled at and cry openly in the office at their desk. They also said the company buries complaints it receives from actors about work conditions on set, including sexually inappropriate behavior, as well as getting typecast into certain roles based on their race.

“Central Casting is responsible for the treatment, employment, and facilitation of careers for thousands of people, both in their own company and the people they represent,” one former employee said. “There are people who rely on them, and Central Casting couldn’t care less about what goes on there as long as they are getting their money.”

In a statement, Central Casting’s parent company, Entertainment Partners, said “we are already aware of some of these issues and are taking them seriously.”

“Our company maintains a workplace free of discrimination, harassment and retaliation and follows all applicable equal employment opportunity laws,” the agency said. “We investigate all employee complaints thoroughly, including those issues raised here, and review, evaluate and implement changes as appropriate to ensure a safe, diverse and inclusive workplace that is welcoming to all employees.”

With offices in Los Angeles, New York, Georgia, and Louisiana, the agency is the number one hub for background actors to book gigs. Its website and Instagram account boast credits on hundreds of hit shows, including Grace and Frankie, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Law & Order, Dead to Me, You, American Horror Story, Dear White People, The Morning Show, and This Is Us. The agency also lists Brad Pitt, Kristen Wiig, Eva Longoria, and Tiffany Haddish as some of its famed alumni on its website. As one former employee put it, “If you’re working background in LA, you’re working with Central Casting.”

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We live in extraordinary times. Across America, our people and institutions face unprecedented challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to ravage our communities. SAG-AFTRA is no different in this respect. Our leadership and staff have confronted decisions in the past six months that are necessary to ensure that our union emerges from this period well-positioned to protect and empower our membership for generations to come.

Operations
After discussions with our Finance and Executive Committees, and the National Board, we have made the difficult decision to reduce our staff in offices across the country. We take this step in response to the accelerating impact of the pandemic on the union’s current and future financial condition.

After many years of disciplined financial management, we were able to build up the reserves which allows our organization to be well positioned to endure a period such as this. However, as we are all painfully aware, the production shutdown over the last 7 months has shattered earnings across nearly all sectors of our membership.

This has had a significant effect on the union’s budget during this fiscal year, but will have its most acute impact on our revenue in the next fiscal year. That is because each dues period is based on the previous year’s earnings under our contracts. Therefore, next year’s revenue for the union will reflect diminished members earnings from this year due to the production shutdown. In other words, even as production ramps up again, our fiscal situation will continue to show the impact of the industrywide shut down next year, and possibly beyond.

This is why decisive action now is necessary. By anticipating the continued impact of COVID-19 on our industry and membership, we can protect and preserve the organization and its ability to support and serve members.

Even as we reduce expenses, we remain laser-focused on delivering essential services, protection and support to members as we return to work. We will also continue to prioritize expanding work opportunities and advocating for legislation that focuses on the needs of our membership and industry.

Member Dues Extension
We understand that our members continue to face serious financial distress during this period as well. Therefore, the Board has also approved a second COVID-19 dues extension which allows members to defer their dues payment. This extended program will once again provide a mechanism whereby members in financial distress can easily request – either online or by simply checking a box on the dues bill – an extension of the due date for payment of dues and an installment plan for those payments. All members, whether or not they request a dues extension, will benefit from a waiver of late fees for this dues period.

Stay safe,

Gabrielle Carteris
SAG-AFTRA President

David White
SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director

The below understandings shall be operative during the “Pandemic Period,” which shall end on April 30, 2021, unless extended by our unions by mutual agreement.

1. SAG-AFTRA hereby grants the necessary waiver permitting, during the Pandemic Period, AEA to enter into agreements with existing Equity bargaining partners to cover work that is produced to be exhibited on a digital platform, either as a replacement for specific live theater productions that cannot take place because of the pandemic, or for a partially virtual/digital audience that supplements a live audience during the Pandemic Period, provided that all of the following conditions are met:

• a. The work may include live readings, staged readings, live theater, and other performances in the
  general nature of theater;
• b. The performance is intended to be similar to those offered for live performance, and any editing of the recording is limited to only minor editing;
• c. The digital platform on which the work is to be exhibited must be a restricted platform that can be accessed only by ticket holders or subscribers of the existing Equity bargaining partner. Exhibition on streaming services that offer access to recorded programming is specifically prohibited, including but not limited to Netflix, Hulu, YouTube and its affiliates, HBO Max, Disney+, AppleTV+, CBS All Access, Peacock, etc.
• d. The Equity bargaining partner may only offer as many works simultaneously as it has separate theater spaces, replicating the live theater business model. For example, if a bargaining partner has two theaters, it may offer no more than two simultaneous productions, and must close one production before offering another. If the bargaining partner traditionally offers productions in repertory or other supplemental productions, the bargaining partner may offer no more than two simultaneous productions per performance space.
• e. The total audience permitted to view the performance does not exceed, in the aggregate, the following: the full, unrestricted seating capacity in the corresponding theater of the Equity bargaining partner, plus an additional amount equal to 100% of that capacity not to exceed 950 persons, all of the foregoing multiplied by the normal number of performances presented in that theater, not to exceed eight performances per week, multiplied by the number of weeks the performance is offered. AEA must secure the advance consent of SAG-AFTRA prior to authorizing any bargaining partner to exceed these limitations by more than 10%;
• f. The foregoing shall not include work that is more in the nature of a television show or movie, including work that is shot out of chronological order, or that is substantially edited prior to exhibition, or that includes visual effects or other elements that could not be replicated in a live manner.
• g. Any production that AEA has contracted for with a bargaining partner pursuant to this waiver may complete its scheduled run notwithstanding the expiration or termination of this waiver, provided that scheduled run does not extend more than six months past the expiration or termination date of this waiver.

2. The parties acknowledge and agree that work done for recorded or broadcast/livestreamed media falls within SAG-AFTRA’s exclusive jurisdiction. Actors’ Equity acknowledges that SAG-AFTRA’s position and the historical practice of the parties is that such jurisdiction includes the transmission of a live theater performance outside the theater itself, or the recording of a performance for such purpose. SAGA-FTRA acknowledges that live theatre performances generally fall within Actors’ Equity’s exclusive jurisdiction, but that provisions in some AEA collective bargaining agreements do involve limited recording and/or transmission of Equity productions by Equity employers. Actors’ Equity agrees that it will not use this Agreement or the fact of any Actors’ Equity coverage of work that is recorded for transmission to an outside audience during the Pandemic Period or thereafter as evidence of Actors’ Equity’s jurisdiction. These acknowledgements shall be binding and shall not expire with the end of the Pandemic Period.

3. During the Pandemic Period, SAG-AFTRA will refer back to AEA any existing AEA signatory employer that approaches SAG-AFTRA seeking to cover work described in Paragraph 1. SAG-AFTRA and AEA will continue their longstanding practice of referring back to the other union work that clearly falls within the other union’s traditional jurisdiction.

4. This Agreement may be terminated by either party upon sixty (60) days notice, provided, however, that the provisions of subparagraph 1(g) and paragraph 2 will remain in effect.

5. SAG-AFTRA and Actors’ Equity agree that a small senior staff working group will regularly meet to discuss work performed under paragraph 1 and any issues that arise. The working group may refer issues to leadership for further discussion and resolution

By Jacob Kirn  – Economic Development Editor, St. Louis Business Journal

Sep 29, 2020, 3:52pm EDT

Robin Smith worked 42 years in television news, notably as the longtime noon anchor for KMOV Channel 4.

One benefit of longevity, she said, was the promise that the health plan of SAG-AFTRA, the American union for broadcasters and film and television actors, would cover her health insurance in retirement.

But after paying dues for decades, Smith, now 66, said the union health plan announced this summer it would drop coverage for retirees Jan. 1, disallowing the use of residuals income to qualify for new income thresholds. Instead, Smith said she was, in effect, directed to the Affordable Care Act exchanges. Though SAG-AFTRA offered reduced Continuation of Health Coverage (COBRA) premiums for a period, Smith said that and the ACA plans would be inferior to her current insurance, for which she pays just $30 or $40 a month. The new plan is also giving seniors and their spouses up to $2,280 a year through a health reimbursement account.

“They’ve been taking my money for 42 years, and now they’re saying, ‘I lied to you. Guess what? I was just kidding,'” Smith said.

The change will affect other local broadcasters who are union members. That’s because the plan is also raising the floor for eligibility from those earning $18,040 a year to $25,950. Premiums will also increase.

The downturn in entertainment productions has worsened plan finances, since fewer dues are being paid, according to reports. Increased health costs have also been cited.

“The Trustees of the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan have taken a difficult but necessary action to address financial deficits facing the plan,” it said, adding that it made the changes after projecting deficits of $141 million this year and $83 million in 2021. The plan said without changes it could run out of reserves by 2024.

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