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« on: Jun 23, 2005, 01:06 pm »
I'm working in an LOA company off the LORT contract, and I'm not sure how to approach this topic.
We have more non-AEA actors than AEA actors, but of course, we have to work under AEA rules. A couple of the non-AEA actors have brought cameras to rehearsal and are taking "souvenir" shots. One guy only did it one day, but the other guy has brought his camera to a couple of rehearsals. Neither of them used flashes, and neither of the cameras beeped, and as far as I can tell, neither were a distraction to anybody working (except me, of course).
It seems wrong to me, but I don't know exactly why. It just seems unprofessional. My plan is that the next time a camera shows up in rehearsal, I'll take the guy aside and say something like, "I'd really rather not have you taking photos in rehearsal any more. How do you feel about that?"
If we were working in costume, or under lights, or doing run-throughs, I'd put my foot down about it. And if the producer were coming around with a camera all the time, I'd remind her of the 24-hour notice; but it doesn't seem to me that the intent of the AEA rules was to keep memories out of the scrapbooks of people who probably won't be making a professional career out of acting and just want to remember the summer they did Shakespeare.
Advice?