Actors’ Equity Association
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| Founded | May 26, 1913 |
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| Members | 43,648 (2015) |
| Affiliation | AAAA, AFL-CIO, FIA |
| Key people | Kate Shindle (president) |
| Office location | New York, New York |
| Country | United States |
| Website | www |
The Actors' Equity Association (AEA), commonly referred to as Actors' Equity or simply Equity, is an American labor union representing the world of live theatrical performance, as opposed to film and television performance (which is represented by SAG-AFTRA). However, performers appearing on live stage productions without a book or through-storyline (vaudeville, cabarets, circuses) may be represented by the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA). As of 2010, Equity represented over 49,000 theatre artists and stage managers.
Actor’s Equity Association is currently under the direction of President Kate Shindle. AEA represents more than 50,000 actors and stage managers nationwide. The AEA works to negotiate and provide performers and stage managers quality living conditions, livable wages, and benefits. In order to become a member of Equity, the performer must generate a number of Equity Membership Candidacy Points (EMC). They do this by securing a position at an Equity theatre and then registering as a candidate for Equity. Performers are required to maintain a minimum of 50 weeks of EMC work along with a $400 initial payment in order to become an official Equity member. A person may also become a member of Equity if they have been offered a position under an AEA contract, regardless of EMC status.
Leading up to the Actors and Producers strike of 1929, Hollywood, and California in general, had a series of workers equality battles that directly influenced the film industry. Hollywood was producing what was considered the 3 most important IWA/WIR films in the post-Kruse era. The films The Passaic Textile Strike (IWA 1926), The Miners’ Strike (1928) and The Gastonia Textile Strike (1929), gave audience and producers insight into the effect and accomplishments of labor unions and striking. These films were set apart by being current documentaries and not melodramas produced for glamour.
In 1896 the first Actors Union Charter was recognized by the American Federation of Labor as an attempt to create a minimum wage for actors being exploited. It wasn't until January 13, 1913 that the Union Charter failed. It later re-emerged as the Actors Equity Association with more than 111 actors with Frances Wilson as its founding board president.
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