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How to get your SAG AFTRA card

The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA)

AFTRA contracts cover work in daytime drama, game shows, reality shows, radio, and cable.

The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) is not an open union. Like many labor unions you have to get a job to get your union card and you can’t get your union card without a job. 

So, if you are hired for a speaking role (a principal) in a SAG project (film, video, TV program, or commercial) you’re SAG eligible (SAGe). Now, you can work for 30 days until you have to join or decline. That’s the Taft-Hartley Act that you’ve heard so much about. You’ll have to take your contract with you to the SAG office when you apply. You can also bring a paystub but it has to have your Name, SSN#, name of production, salary, and dates worked printed on it. 

Next, if you work as a background player, for three days, at full SAG rates, for a production company that has a SAG contract, you can present your paystub at the SAG office for eligibility. Since paystubs almost never have all the required information you can have the payroll company fax a payroll printout to the SAG offices. They’ve done it before, it’s not scary. 

Finally, if you’re a member in good standing for one year with one of the sister unions (AFTRA, EQUITY, AGMA, AGVA, ACTRA) and have gotten at least one job under their jurisdiction, you’re SAG.

Now, take your contract, paystub, payroll printout, or proof of AFTRA, EQUITY, AGMA, AGVA, ACTRA membership (and paystub from one job under their contracts) and call the SAG office to make an appointment to review your documentation and fill out the application. Again, it’s not scary. 

The Michelle Danner Acting Studio

AFTRA

CONTACT ACTING SCHOOL

LOS ANGELES ACTING SCHOOL

Learn the best acting techniques for film and TV. Book your next role. 

Schedule a one on one interview with Michelle Danner to be considered for enrollment and to learn about all the acting classes and acting courses we offer in Los Angeles. *Learn how to stand out in the audition room.

The Michelle Danner Acting Studio’s philosophy is that artists can draw upon all different acting techniques and form an individual toolbox, their own Golden Box. We will help you to develop your own “Golden Box” of techniques and tools that you can use when approaching a role or a scene, whether it be for film, television, or theater. The Acting School’s acting techniques are based on Meisner, Strasberg, Adler, Hagen, Chekhov, & the Stanislavsky Technique.

Michelle Danner is an international film director & acting coach. Her student list include James Franco, Seth MacFarlane, Salma Hayek, Henry Cavill, Zooey Deschanel, Gerard Butler, Chris Rock, Chris Martin, Penelope Cruz, Michael Pena, Michelle Rodriguez,  Kate Del Castillo and many others.

Check out the best acting classes in Los Angeles and the best acting teachers

Our acting school offers the following acting techniques in our acting classes: 

Stella Adler Technique| Meisner Acting Technique| The Stanislavski Method| Uta Hagen Technique.

Below is a list of some of our acting classes:

Acting Classes for Beginners

Acting Workshops: Breaking into Hollywood and Golden Box

Scene Study Class

Voice & Speech Class

Script analysis

Musical theatre classes Los Angeles

Accent Reduction Classes

Private coaching for film and tv auditions

Summer Camps Los Angeles| Acting classes for kids

Summer Camps Los Angeles | Acting Classes for teens

Auditioning for film and TV | Teen and kids

Online classes for teens

Learn Acting at one of the Best Acting Schools in Los Angeles
Phone: 310.392.0815 

Contact us

IN-PERSON ACTING CLASSES

We offer acting classes in Los Angeles to help you hone your craft & jumpstart your career. Our acting school teaches every acting technique: Meisner technique, Lee Strasberg’s method, Stella Adler, Stanislavski’s method, Uta Hagen, and the Chekhov technique.

ONLINE ACTING CLASSES

Best training in the world no matter where you live!​

KIDS AND TEEN ACTING CLASSES

Learn to develop a solid acting technique and foundation. We focus on fun improvisational games, auditioning techniques, and working on scenes and monologues across comedy and drama. ​

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Study Acting or Filmmaking in Hollywood. F1 Student visa and M1 visa USA for applicants wishing to study the conservatory program

Short term acting classes

We offer customizable short-term Acting Programs that can be tailored to fit your budget and the length of your stay in Los Angeles.

Acting workshops

Join LA's Best Acting Workshop, Golden box and Breaking into Hollywood the roadmap to working. Film and television workshops for adults, children and teen

Our Mission

The Michelle Danner Acting School’s philosophy is that artists can draw upon all different acting techniques & form an individual “Golden toolbox” to use when approaching a role or a scene, whether it be for film, television, or theater. The acting school’s acting techniques are based on Meisner, Strasberg, Stella Adler, Uta Hagen & the Stanislavsky acting Technique.

Michelle Danner’s alumni include Penelope Cruz, Seth MacFarlane, Salma Hayek, Henry Cavill, Zooey Deschanel, Gerard Butler, Chris Rock, Chris Martin, Michael Peña, Michelle Rodriguez, Kate Del Castillo and many others.  

The acting school offers classes for all levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced.

• Classes include:

• Acting for Film

• Scene Study

• Cold Reading

• Musical Theater

• Movement

• Voice and Speech

We are one of the elite acting schools in California, known for training successful actors.

A variety of acting classes are offered in Los Angeles to help students hone their craft and jumpstart their careers.

What makes us different

Our acting program differs from other acting schools in Los Angeles, since we teach every acting technique & method, including the Meisner technique, Lee Strasberg’s method, Stella Adler, Stanislavski’s method & Uta Hagen technique.

Online Acting Classes

Scene Study & Monologues | Meisner acting technique | Cold Read Auditioning | Improvisation
- Develop a strong acting foundation.

- Learn to make powerful acting choices

Acting Techniques

• The Actor’s Golden Box (acting technique) | Meisner Acting Technique | Stella Adler Acting Technique | Uta Hagen Acting Technique | Stanislavski Acting Technique | Training & Workshops: | Audition Training Classes & Workshops (Film & Television) | Scene Study Classes & Script Analysis | Improvisation | Performance & Preparation: | Acting Demo Reels | Voice & Speech | General American Accent & Dialects | Industry & Career Guidance: | Breaking into Hollywood: The Business of Acting | Coaching Options: | Private Coaching (Audition Coaching, Dialogue Coaching, On-Set Coaching) | Online Coaching & Private Acting Classes

Contact us

Call us to find out about the best acting classes in Los Angeles and to learn more about our best acting teachers in Los Angeles, 310-392-0815 or email us at [email protected]

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Unlock your full potential as an actor—enroll today  and take the first step toward mastering your craft with world-class training and personalized coaching

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