Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1954)

TV FILM EMPLOYMENT ITS GOING UP FROM COAST TO COAST, SCREEN ACTORS REPORT By Leo Kovner FROM HOLLYWOOD, where on a clear day a trend can be spotted at quite a distance, comes an indication of tv film's growing importance to the acting industry. The Screen Actors Guild, representing all film actors, has completed its first survey among members to determine how much work tv film provides them, as contrasted to theatrical pictures. Results show conclusively both a major increase in tv film production and the growing part it plays in the income of the acting profession. They also show a notable increase in all motion picture production, both tv and theatrical. Questionnaires covering the past 18 months were sent to SAG members last June, with actors requested to break down their days of employment into theatrical feature, tv entertainment film, tv film commercial and other ( religious, educational, industrial) motion picture production categories. The survey was confined to film work only, Guild spokesmen emphasize. Although membership throughout the nation was queried, with most motion picture production concentrated in Southern California, the tabulated replies of the Hollywood SAG branch gain special significance. In short, these show that a steady increase in tv film production now provides those Hollywood SAG members earning to $7,500 annually — a group which comprises 70% of total Guild membership — with 46% of their professional employment, when a year ago only 38% of their working hours were spent in video film. Of 3,910 Class A (senior) members, earning to $7,500 yearly, 1,192 returned the questionnaires. Of these, 156 members stated they had not worked in any picture during the 18-month period. However, the remaining 1,036 actors reported a total of 4,036 days spent in tv entertainment film production and 380 days employment on tv commercials during the first half of 1954, compared with 3,094 days of tv entertainment film and 226 days of tv commercial work during the identical 1953 period. At the same time, theatrical film employment rose from 5,096 days during the first six months of 1953 to 5,570 days in the same 1954 period, while educational and other film employment fell from 437 days during July-December 1953 to 395 days in January-June 1954. Over the 18-month period, these 1,036 Hollywood actors totaled 28,214 days of employment in all fields, averaging a little over 27 days of work per actor. However, 78 respondents actually worked only one day during that time. With a smaller membership in New York, 331 replies, or 24%, were received by SAG headquarters from 1,376 questionnaires mailed to senior members. Of these, 56 reported no picture work during the 18 months. However, the remaining 275 actors worked 858 days in tv entertainment films and 464 days on tv commercials during the first six months of 1954 compared with 343 days of theatrical picture employment. Fig Tv Entertainment Tv Commercials THE DAYS ACTORS WORK IN FILM PRODUCTION Income to $7,500 annually [70% of Class A (Senior) membership] TELEVISION NON-TV Days Worked During Days Worked During Jan. Jan. July Jan. Jan. July1 June June Dec. June June Dec. 1954 1953 1953 1954 1953 1 953 i HOLLYWOOD (3,910 Questionnaires Mailed — 1,192 Replies — 156 No Picture Work) 5,570 5,096 4,306 380 3,094 226 3,119 293 Total 4,686 3,320 Theatrical Film Other (Educational, Industrial, Religious) 395 Total 5,965 3,412 NEW YORK (1,376 Questionnaires Mailed — 331 Replies — 56 No Picture Work) Tv Entertainment Tv Commercials Total 858 464 1,322 397 289 686 954 365 1,319 Theatrical Film Other Total 343 429 772 Tv Entertainment Tv Commercials Total Tv Entertainment Tv Commercials Total OTHER CITIES* (599 Questionnaires Mailed — 115 Replies — 34 No Picture Work) 39 42 33 Theatrical Film 6 181 188 192 Other 373 220 230 225 Total 379 For SAG Members Earning $7,500 $15,000 Annually HOLLYWOOD (133 Replies— 22 No Picture Work) 774 918 725 Theatrical Film 70 96 79 Other 844 1,014 804 Total (Other city returns not statistically important) 307 5,403 196 291 487 91 244 335 1,144 2,667 79 62 1,223 2,729 4,990 Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh, San Francisco Page 44 • December 13, 1954 Broadcasting • Telecasting