Author Topic: AEA ASM & EMC  (Read 5858 times)

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RuthNY

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AEA ASM & EMC
« on: Apr 17, 2014, 03:07 pm »
Such as...?

<snip>

I'm simply a young-ish SM thinking about the future. I am part of the EMC program, although that has proved to have it's own challenges.
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Michelle R. Wood

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Re: AEA ASM & EMC
« Reply #1 on: Apr 18, 2014, 10:45 am »
I'll second Ruth's question: I've just joined the EMC program in the last year and would like to know what challenges are ahead.
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SGU312

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Re: AEA ASM & EMC
« Reply #2 on: Apr 18, 2014, 11:21 am »
I'm simply a young-ish SM thinking about the future. I am part of the EMC program, although that has proved to have it's own challenges.

Also remember - there is a lot of good non-union work out there (Vegas, Cirque-style shows, Corporate work, etc.).  This isn't even remotely intended as a slight to AEA or what the union and its sisters have accomplished, but be sure to consider many paths when thinking about the future.

At the risk of sounding curmudgeonly - "When I was your age..."  my plan was so wildly different than what's actually played out in my career.  Not even remotely close.  I wouldn't change any of it, but keep an open mind.  Now get off my lawn.  ;)


hahaha *Backs away slowly* Thank you KMC! Yes, I agree. Joining AEA is down the road. For now, I'm focusing on non-union work.

Such as...?

<snip>

I'm simply a young-ish SM thinking about the future. I am part of the EMC program, although that has proved to have it's own challenges.

As an SM intern, getting my weeks was easy and not a problem. My current position is one made up by the theatre I work at. I am a Floor Manager in one of their spaces, and I join each production the last week in the rehearsal room. In the space I work in, there is an AEA-PSM, a PA, and usually an SM Intern. There is no AEA-ASM. The PA's last day is the last day in the rehearsal room, so essentially I overlap with them for a week and then take over. During tech, previews, shows, etc I oversee everything backstage.
Anyways, back in September I went to a EMC info meeting sponsored by AEA. I asked the membership person if she thought I could get EMC weeks for my position, and she said she would check with the business rep. I got the ok and have since submitted my forms for three different productions. The other day I got a letter in the mail saying my EMC credit for the most recent show cannot be given due to LORT Rule 39(C)(6)--there was no ASM on contract for that production. I emailed her for clarification and she said the other shows listed an AEA-ASM on contract, this specific one which I got a letter about did not.

loebtmc

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Re: AEA ASM & EMC
« Reply #3 on: Apr 18, 2014, 12:05 pm »
I assume you are working at a LORT level C or D (or LOA), where an AEA ASM is not required, and you are being their non-AEA ASM, right? My understanding is, if they are not required to have an AEA ASM your weeks should count.

But this whole situation seems odd. The theater is saving money by taking advantage of/abusing the system. The SM intern or the PA who was in the room for rehearsals should have been the person transitioning to the show, as they are acting as a de facto non-AEA ASM to that point, whereas you are acting as the deck manager once the run starts.




SGU312

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Re: AEA ASM & EMC
« Reply #4 on: Apr 18, 2014, 12:25 pm »
I believe this theatre is a LORT B, but they have two spaces (a larger 850 seat proscenium theatre and a smaller 250-400 seat flexible space). I work in the smaller space, and I don't know if they use a different LORT contract for it. I just know there is one AEA-PSM, a non-AEA PA, and an SM intern. There has never been an AEA-ASM as far as I know, unless maybe one of the actors was given that title? The show my weeks were rejected on had three actors, only one of which was AEA.

As far as this floor manager position, this theatre has been doing it this way for years. The bigger space has a PSM and SM, and during tech the SM is backstage with the floor manager. But once the show opens, the SM learns to call the show so that they can switch off with the PSM. In the smaller space, I guess they used to have an ASM and the same system was in place. But I overheard the PSM say something about there was no funding and that position was cut. It is a very weird position, and I still have a hard time explaining to people what it is. I am deck manager, but I also in a way become a non-AEA ASM.

[Mods: Sorry if this is drifting away from the original topic]

RuthNY

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Re: AEA ASM & EMC
« Reply #5 on: Apr 18, 2014, 12:30 pm »
Not correct, Pat, at least at this time.  In C and D theatres, unless the producer has hired an AEA ASM voluntarily, in addition to the AEA SM, no EMC weeks can be accrued for PAs.

I have proposed to the Entry to Equity Committee that this system be changed. So, we will see what happens!

I assume you are working at a LORT level C or D (or LOA), where an AEA ASM is not required, and you are being their non-AEA ASM, right? My understanding is, if they are not required to have an AEA ASM your weeks should count.

But this whole situation seems odd. The theater is saving money by taking advantage of/abusing the system. The SM intern or the PA who was in the room for rehearsals should have been the person transitioning to the show, as they are acting as a de facto non-AEA ASM to that point, whereas you are acting as the deck manager once the run starts.
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XanderQCall

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Re: AEA ASM & EMC
« Reply #6 on: Apr 18, 2014, 12:42 pm »
I experienced the exact same situation with EMC and LORT. The theatre I worked at has two stages--one is LORT C and the other is LORT D, so neither one require an Equity ASM. After looking through the LORT rulebook and calling Equity, it was confirmed for me that the ruling is that if there is NOT an Equity ASM on contract for the production, NO EMC points can be earned. Just to outline the rule in its entirety:

Rule 39 (C)(6) When there is a separate Stage Manager and Assistant Stage Manager for
the production, one production assistant may earn EMC credit assisting the
Stage Manager and one production assistant may earn EMC credit assisting the
Assistant Stage Manager. Credit shall be earned only in those weeks in which
the production assistant is at all times either directly assisting or assigned by the
Stage Manager or Assistant Stage Manager in the performance of his stage
managerial functions. This provision does not apply where the Stage Managers
cross over in accordance with Rule 64(B)(6).


The tricky thing is in the wording separate Stage Manager AND Assistant Stage Manager. The funny thing is this theatre confirmed for me that I would be able to earn the points but sure enough, my EMC paperwork for both shows got returned. 

Keep in mind that there is also a limit with this rule. When an AEA ASM is contracted on the production, even if there are four production assistants on the show, ONLY TWO of them get the weeks--1 for assisting the SM, and 1 for assisting the ASM. Now a couple of summers ago, I was a Production Assistant for a LORT D theatre that did two shows in rotating rep and had to have an AEA ASM. I was one of four PA's---two of us were already enrolled in EMC and the other two wanted to use those shows to enroll in EMC. Me and my friend got the EMC weeks  but the other two had their EMC paperwork and their $100 returned.

I hope this clears things up if only a little.


SGU312

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Re: AEA ASM & EMC
« Reply #7 on: Apr 18, 2014, 12:48 pm »
I experienced the exact same situation with EMC and LORT. The theatre I worked at has two stages--one is LORT C and the other is LORT D, so neither one require an Equity ASM. After looking through the LORT rulebook and calling Equity, it was confirmed for me that the ruling is that if there is NOT an Equity ASM on contract for the production, NO EMC points can be earned.

I understand that (now), but the thing that is confusing me is, as far as I know, there were no AEA-ASMs on the other two shows I worked on. So either Equity has the wrong information, or I'm missing something.

VilleSM

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Re: AEA ASM & EMC
« Reply #8 on: Apr 18, 2014, 02:59 pm »
I assume you are working at a LORT level C or D (or LOA), where an AEA ASM is not required, and you are being their non-AEA ASM, right? My understanding is, if they are not required to have an AEA ASM your weeks should count.

This is what I thought when I accepted my position at a LORT D theatre, but the Philadelphia reps seem to think differently and that I am not eligible. My SM and Business Manager have tried fighting for me to earn EMC credit, but they have not been able to.
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RuthNY

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Re: AEA ASM & EMC
« Reply #9 on: Apr 18, 2014, 05:40 pm »
Depends on the contract. I was referring to the LORT contract. What contract was the theatre affiliated with, at the time?



I understand that (now), but the thing that is confusing me is, as far as I know, there were no AEA-ASMs on the other two shows I worked on. So either Equity has the wrong information, or I'm missing something.

EDIT: Formatting - PSMK
« Last Edit: Apr 18, 2014, 05:50 pm by PSMKay »
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hbelden

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Re: AEA ASM & EMC
« Reply #10 on: Apr 20, 2014, 02:27 pm »
Maybe there was an ASM-of-Record on your first two shows, and not on the third?  An AEA ASM on staff who theoretically could back up your AEA SM should it be needed?  If it's not needed, that person is often invisible to you.  Just speculating.
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loebtmc

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Re: AEA ASM & EMC
« Reply #11 on: Apr 20, 2014, 02:35 pm »
hmm - interesting - RuthNY, I have proposed the same to Entry to Equity - and hopefully we will have a meeting soon, since there seems to be confusion about whether or not someone in an ASM position is entitled to earn EMC points in the first place.

But I used to work a lot in an LOA/LORT D space where the nonAEA ASM got those points. Apologies if I gave misinformation, as I was not a part of the discussion w AEA determining why/how that nonEq person got them. I know getting those points happens in SPT all the time.

BARussell

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Re: AEA ASM & EMC
« Reply #12 on: Apr 25, 2014, 10:31 am »
I had the same thing earlier this year. Worked LORT B then D then D at the same company in two different spaces. The first B show I got points, the first D show I got points because it was a chorus show and there was an ASM, the second I did not. Anyway none of that mattered because I was offered my contract at the end of the year because of a mix up when I was subbing on another show, and then that didn't matter cause I stopped stage managing and didn't even want it anymore, lol.
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