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No, TVI is not a casting facility. TVI’s mission is to educate the actor in the areas of business, while also helping talent refine their audition technique, while educating them on the ethics of the industry.

This is strictly a preferential and subjective choice.

Trade papers, your local library, the Internet.

After getting training, do theatre, theatre, and theatre! Just getting out and pounding the pavement provide some of the best experience, in learning about the business.

Check in your area, what agents handle children. Call them and ask what their submission policy is and take it from there.

The Screen Actors Guild was founded in 1929 for ensurement of professional standards for performers.

The Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) is an American labor union representing approximately 160,000 film and television actors, journalists, radio personalities, voice actors, and other media professionals worldwide. 

The organizations (SAG & AFTRA) was formed on March 30, 2012, following the merger of the Screen Actors Guild (founded in 1933) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (founded in 1937 as American Federation of Radio Artists, becoming AFTRA in 1952 after merger with Television Authority). The union, SAG-AFTRA is a member of the AFL–CIO, the largest federation of unions in the United States.

SAG-AFTRA has a diverse membership consisting of actors, voiceover artists and other media professionals.

Membership in SAG-AFTRA is considered a rite of passage for new performers and media professionals. It is often procured after getting hired for their first job in a studio that has a collective bargaining agreement with the union. 

SAG-AFTRA work is considered to be substantially more prestigious than non-union jobs. Due to the size and influence of the union, most major media firms have a collective bargaining agreement with SAG-AFTRA through the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers. 

SAG-AFTRA is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, with another national office in New York City and other local offices nationwide.

Yes.

There are two  unions: AEA (Actors Equity Association), SAG-AFTRA (The Screen Actors and American Federation of Radio and Television Artists) Actors Equity is the union of American Theatrical Actors and Stage Managers. You should only think of joining Equity if you plan on doing much theatre regionally or living in the New York area. Ways of joining: An actor can be signed to an Equity contract by a producer, or can be a member of one of our sister unions (the 4As), or you can enter the Membership Candidate Program. This program allows non-union actors and stage managers to credit their work toward eventual membership with Equity. After securing a position at an Equity-approved participating theatre, the performer registers as a membership candidate by completing an EMC Registration form and paying a fee. This fee will be credited against the initiation fee due when the candidate joins Equity. If an applicant is a current member of a sister union, a waiver must be requested from Equity. After 50 weeks of work at accredited theatres, the candidate is eligible for Equity membership. These weeks need not be consecutive, and may be accumulated over any period of time. After a maximum of 50 weeks of work as a candidate, however, the candidate must be signed to an Equity contract when subsequently employed at an Equity theatre. The program is in effect in Equity LORT, Stock, and Dinner theatres. SAG-AFTRA: The main goal of SAG is to provide competitive wages and safe, excellent working conditions for members. It’s vital to note that SAG-AFTRA does not function as some other labor unions in the sense that they do not have a hiring hall and do not directly provide employment for our members. Members, like all principal and background performers, must take their own steps towards developing their professional skills, and then getting agents, auditions, and roles. Through a variety of programs and activities and industry outreach, the union does everything possible to create an environment in which members will be hired and look after their welfare once they are hired. Generally, new members earn entrance into SAG-AFTRA by meeting one of the following eligibility requirements: 1) cast and hired to work in a principal or speaking role for a SAG-AFTRA signatory producer, 2) a minimum of one-years’ membership and principal work in an affiliated performers’ union, or 3) cast and hired to work in an extra role for a SAG-AFTRA signatory producer at full SAG-AFTRA rates and conditions for a minimum of three work days. In addition, at the time of joining, a performer must pay an initiation fee plus the first half of his/her annual dues for that year.

SAG-AFTRA represents actors and other professional performers, and broadcasters in television, radio, sound recordings, non-broadcast/industrial programming and new technologies such as interactive programming and CD ROMs, this is a union that is mainly for broadcasters. Any person who has performed or intends to perform in SAG-AFTRA’s jurisdiction is eligible for membership. Contact your Local office for specific information about SAG-AFTRA’s membership and its benefits. 

This again is a subjective experience in the process and definition. Some just dub themselves actors and others train for years before they feel ready to go form saying, “I’m studying to be an actor to I am an actor.”

No, the workshops are not a guarantee for work of any kind. Their purpose is to be instructional and educational.

TVl has been in business since 1986.

Yes, TVI is registered with the State of California and has been approved by the State of California to be an acting school.

Our teachers are Industry Professionals who provide students with hands on working experience that can benefit them in furthering their education.

Pilot season happens from January until about mid May.

As with any city, the cost of living varies. The best way to find an area that you like, and think that you can afford is to go there and see how it feels, and to see what is available. You can expect to pay anywhere from $600.00 for a studio to for a two bedroom $2000.00.

There really isn’t much of a difference. See the different kinds of work between the two coasts check out the TVI Actors Studio online Photographer’s gallery. Photographers from Los Angeles and New York are represented.


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