Todayโs #MMD is a practical explanation to a question we get frequently:โ
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If I book a co-star role, can I bump up my billing to guest star without asking for a pay increase?โ
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The simple answer is: ๐ป๐ผโ
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According to SAG rules for TV, billing and pay MUST be tied. โ
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Any bump in credit will need to result in the appropriate bump in pay. โ
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For a co-star role that works 2 days, for example, this would be asking for an increase in credit + an increase from $2,060 to $9,064 (TOS). โ
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That is over $7k in โbumpโ money and one that our production/studio will not be prepared for. โ
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This is why communication and a mutual understanding with your reps is ๐ด๐ฐ important. โ
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If they donโt want you working for co-star credit, they either wonโt submit you for co-star roles, or (hopefully), they will be very clear on the expectations when submitting you (i.e. they will only come in for this role if itโs bumped up properly to a guest star). โ
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Sometimes we can do this! But it needs to be made perfectly clear (on BOTH sides) what the expectations are BEFORE an offer comes in. โ
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Is there ๐ข๐ฏ๐บ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ that can be done for a credit bump?โ
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Yes. โ
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Sometimes casting offices will be OK with you crediting yourself as a guest star on your ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ด๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฆ if you or your rep feel itโs an important step.โ
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There is a respectful way to do this. โ
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Please donโt start listing your one-line co-star roles as guest stars. โ
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๐ฑ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐.โ
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Booking a role that is โon the cuspโ of a guest star or one that has a sizable amount of scenes/dialogue/or emotional requirement, is a viable favor to ASK about listing a credit bump on your resume alone. โ
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Talk to your repsโhave your reps talk to us. Weโre usually happy to give you our thoughts or blessing on the matter. โ
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