AFTRA

  AFTRA

     My first, and only AFTRA shoot, was for the comedy show, “Mad TV.” AFTRA was “The American Federation, of Television, and Radio Artists.” They were not part of the Screen Actors Guild, when I worked, as an extra, but since then, SAG, and AFTRA, have merged, into one union. At the time, many people, who worked in show business, belonged to both unions.  AFTRA covered TV, and radio personalities, soap operas, radio shows, some commercials, and other TV shows, etc., as well as Mad TV. 

   On Mad TV, we played inbred, redneck hillbillies, on a dating game show. Almost everyone stayed in “hillbilly” character, for the whole shoot. This was the cast, of the first season, of the show, so we had a lot of laughs. I wore jeans, and a plaid shirt, with a piece of rope, tied around my waist, to keep my pants up. The hair, and make-up department, put fake dirt on my hands, face, and clothing. Fake dirt is basically colored baby powder. Next, they  painted my teeth, to make them look nasty. Production also gave my character the name, “Sugs.” I kept a single piece of hay, in my mouth, for something to “chaw” on. We all looked pretty good. We rehearsed, for about 4 hours, and then production sent us, to lunch, with instructions, to return, later in the evening, for the actual show. I stuck around the studio all day, and ate lunch, with the crew. They served me prawns, as big as my fist. Like mini-lobsters. The biggest I’ve ever seen. Not my first experience, with gluttony.

     When everyone returned, to do the show, we rehearsed quite a few more times, still remaining in “hillbilly” character. One of my colleagues said, “Hey y’all! Thars something a-crawlin, on me!” I hollered back, “ “Wall you kin speak to it, but don’t ya go a-playin with it, or everybody else’ll want one!” Laughter ensued. I cannot claim credit for that remark. I stole it from a John Wayne movie. It just popped into my head, when my colleague mentioned creepy-crawlies. It was still good, for a laugh.  Eventually, production brought in the audience, and we shot the episode. The winner of the game show, won a date, with his sister. 

     After the shoot, was over, I went to the production office, to sign out. The production guy asked me if I wanted to apply, any of my earnings, to the AFTRA initiation fee. I politely declined. Then he informed me that I would be getting a pay “bump,” for using my own wardrobe, and I was getting another bump, for the piece of rope, I had wore. “It was part of my clothes.” I said. “A piece of rope is not an article of clothing,” he replied, “It is a prop. We are bumping you, for bringing your own prop.” I quit, while I was ahead. “Thank you very much, for the work. If you ever need me again, please call.” They did not call.

     The following week, I received 2 checks, in the mail. Both were for the same amount, and both were for my work on Mad TV. I was sure a mistake, had been made. I did not know, what to do, so I phoned a friend of mine, who suggested I get my paperwork, from the show, and call AFTRA directly. So I did. The person, I spoke with, asked me for my name, the date, and time, of the shoot, and the name of the show. I also provided him with the check numbers, of the 2 checks, I had received. He put me on hold, for a few minutes. When he came back, he said, “Go ahead, and cash, both checks.” I could not believe it. “Are you sure?” “Yes,” he told me, “You worked from 7:00 AM, until 11:00 AM. That is your first check. Then you worked from 7:00 PM, until midnight. That is your second check.” “Production sent us, to lunch,” I protested. “You can’t be out to lunch, for 8 hours,” he replied sarcastically. “It’s ridiculous. When they sent you to lunch, your day ended. When you came back, you started, a new day, so production was required, to pay you, your base rate, twice.” I cashed both checks. In addition, to being, so much fun, Mad TV was my second highest single payday. Casting, and production, were angry that I cashed both checks. I told them AFTRA gave me permission, to do so, and nothing more was ever said, to me, about it. I never worked on an AFTRA job again. Coincidence? Maybe.