Posted in: Movies, streaming, TV | Tagged: amptp, comic con, conventions, DGA, SAG-AFTRA, sdcc, sdcc 2023, wga

SAG-AFTRA FAQ Addresses Cons/Fan Expos/Personal Appearances Concerns

SAG-AFTRA has addressed a number of questions/concerns members have had about personal appearances, conventions, fan expos & more.

With San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) kicking off in a little more than 24 hours – and a very active convention schedule still in play for the remainder of the year – a lot of folks who are members of SAG-AFTRA have had questions about what they can & can't do during their personal appearances, convention signings, fan expos, etc., while the union continues its labor strike against the AMPTP to force them back to the negotiating table to forge a new contract. Well, SAG-AFTRA has compiled some of the biggest questions & concerns and set up an FAQ to cut through the confusion and misinformation – and we have all of that waiting for you below. And one more thing that the site emphasizes is that if you have any questions or concerns or need further clarification, you should email the SAG-AFTRA strike headquarters: sagaftrastrike@sagaftra.org. Here's a look at what the SAG-AFTRA FAQ had to offer when it comes to answers…

Can I participate in personal appearances, conventions, and fan expos?

It depends. You cannot participate in conventions on behalf of or to promote companies we are striking against. This includes appearances, panels, fan meet and greets, etc. involving projects produced by struck companies, whether current or past, and current and past independent projects that are not signed to an interim agreement.

You may participate in a convention in ways that are wholly independent of your work on struck projects and that are not sponsored by or connected to struck companies. Additionally, you may participate in appearances, conventions, and fan expos for work under contracts other than the TV and Theatrical Agreements, such as TV or New Media animation or video games. (Theatrical animation is struck work and you cannot participate in events relating to animated theatrical content during the strike.)

How do I know if a project I worked on is one that is being struck?

You can determine which contract a production is signed to on our website through our Signatory Search tool, available HERE. If you click on the production, a "Contract Note" will indicate the contract type. If the contract type is a Television, Theatrical, Agnostic, or New Media Agreement, you should check our interim agreement list, which will be available shortly. If the production appears on the Interim Agreement list, you can appear at a Convention on behalf of that specific production.

How do I know if the convention or fan expo I am asked to attend is independent or is sponsored by or connected to a struck company?

In many cases, it will be obvious. They might have "official" or similar designation in the title or description. Often, but not always, these appearances will be at the request of the company that produced and/or distributed the project and might be part of your contractual obligations to the company. For example, programming related to a struck project or a struck company's booth at San Diego Comic-Con is clearly related to those companies. An event like D23, is organized and run by Disney.

Other conventions and expos are wholly independent of the struck companies. These are often, but not always, multi-fandom events you have been invited to based on your body of work, not as a contractual obligation to the producer or distributor of a project. They are typically run by small companies, or sometimes a group of fans, who work directly with you or your representative to host you. In most cases, you will be directly paid an appearance fee or a percentage of what the fan pays for the autograph signing, meet and greet, or other interaction with you.

Can I participate in conventions related to a specific fandom?

It depends. If the event is wholly independent of and unaffiliated with the struck companies or is in support of a production on the Interim Agreements list, you can participate, subject to the limitations and guidelines in this FAQ regarding appearances, autographs, panels, etc. In particular, during your participation, you should not promote struck work or struck companies.

What can I do at an independent personal appearance, convention, or fan expo?

Appearances, panels, fan meet & greets, etc. are all okay as long as they do not promote struck work or struck companies. You and/or your representative should work with the event organizers ahead of time to ensure that they understand the guidelines and that you can participate comfortably.

Following are some general guidelines:

Autographs: You should plan to sign headshots or similar photos of you during your autograph signing. The photos should not depict you as a character from struck work.

Panels / Q&As: You and/or your representative should speak to the event organizer and/or panel moderators ahead of time regarding what kinds of questions are okay during the strike. The event organizer and panel moderators should strictly enforce a policy that they will not ask or allow questions about struck work. General topics are fine, such as about your process, why you wanted to be an actor, what you like/dislike about working in the industry, and the like are fine. But avoid discussing characters you played on struck work or your work for struck companies.

Non-struck work: The guidelines above relate to struck work. If you worked on projects that are not struck, such as video games or television animation, you can freely discuss those projects and sign autographs relating to those characters.

What if a fan asks me to sign a poster/photo/collectible/etc. from a struck project?

This is fine, as long as you did not provide it.

I don't want to disappoint my fans by refusing their requests. What should I do?

You and/or your representatives should work with the event organizers ahead of time so the "handler" they provide can intervene in these situations. Your representatives can also step in if a handler is not provided.

Can I speak in support of the strike during my panel at an appearance, convention, or fan expo?

Of course, you are always free to share your personal stories about why the issues involved in these negotiations are important to you. If you do share your stories, please be sure it is clear that you are speaking from your own perspective and not on behalf of the union or the membership, generally.

Can I do online "virtual" meet & greets and autograph signings?

The same guidelines would apply to virtual appearances. You cannot participate on behalf of or to promote companies we are striking against. Independent virtual events are okay. Please review the guidelines for independent appearances, conventions, and fan expos above.

I am also a member of another union and worked on a project under that union's jurisdiction. Can I discuss those shows/characters and sign photos of me as that character?

It depends. Please reach out to SAGAFTRAstrike@sagaftra.org, and we will look into it for you.

Can I participate in appearances, conventions, and fan expos related to my work on TV or New Media animation or video game projects, even if it is affiliated with a struck company?

Generally, yes, unless it is connected to struck work. See our Member FAQs and "What You Can Work" infographic for more information on the types of projects that are not being struck.

I have a banner that highlights my whole body of work, including characters that might be from struck work. Can I still use this when I do autograph signings?

If the primary images are of you, and the character(s) from struck work are just incidental as part of a collage, this is okay. The focus should be on you, not on the character(s).

How does this apply to me if I'm not (yet) a member of SAG-AFTRA?

Any non-member seeking future membership in SAG-AFTRA who performs covered work or services for a struck company during the strike will not be admitted into membership in SAG-AFTRA. See the Strike Notice and Order.

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