SAG Says Actors’ Earnings From Union Jobs Fell 5% in ’00

The Screen Actors Guild said its members’ earnings from union acting jobs fell 5% to $1.59 billion last year, as income from commercials fell because of a strike against the ad industry.

The income includes payments for the performers’ work in new films, television shows, commercials and interactive media as well as appearances as nonspeaking extras. The income also includes so-called residuals, or payments made when a film, TV show or other production is shown again after its initial run.

The SAG report comes as the threat of strikes by writers and actors is becoming more likely. The Writers Guild of America contract expires May 1, and the actors’ contract expires July 1.

Actors’ income from commercial work fell 16% to $529.8 million last year from $630.3 million in 1999, the guild said. A strike against advertisers last year by SAG and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists lasted almost six months.

SAG income from theatrical movies fell 1.8% to $417.3 million, while income for television work rose 3.7% to $624.1 million. Television residuals, an area for which SAG is seeking an increase in its next contract, fell 5.7% to $144.3 million.