South Park is a non-union show

[AmericanErrorist]

The Comedy Central animated TV series South Park is engaged in re-casting. SAG members are instructed—in accordance with previous National Board directives—not to audition or accept employment on this series.

South Park is not covered by any SAG agreement, and its producers are not providing SAG wages, benefits and conditions of employment. Please do not accept any employment or renew any contract unless you have confirmed with SAG that the show’s status has changed.

Because it is vital that you stay in good standing with your union, please be advised that employment on South Park would currently subject a SAG member to a RULE ONE VIOLATION.

Full Text

[truhavoc]

1. Beyond Matt and Trey

How many people actually work on the show? I'd guess twenty max.

[Kamika]

3. can't exactly imagine alot of animators

are they talking about all the producers etc?

[DoctorBombay]

4. Can't be..

SAG is the Screen Actors Guild.
So I don't think this covers animators or technical laborers of any kind, they have their own guilds.

Stange, I thought the creators did all the voices themselves.

[truhavoc]

8. I'm almost sure they do most of the voices themselves

Maybe this is the problem, the SAG wants them to hire more people to do voices other than the creators. I'd like to hear their side on this.

[CanuckAmok]

12. It's an old loophole...

The project can be completely union, meaning the technicians can be IATSE, the Teamsters do all the legwork, and everything, and the cast are *supposed* to be union (SAG). However, if the cast are also executive producers on the show, they technically don't 'work' there. Matt and Trey are supposed to be governed by SAG rules while voicing the show, based on the principle that they are 'displacing' SAG members by recording the dialogue themselves. They probably don't get separate cheques for their voice work; that sum is probably lumped into their producer cheques.

However, if push came to shove, Matt and Trey would win, because in the event of a SAG action, they could just shut the show down, or move it out of SAG jurisdiction (there's nothing significant stopping an animated series from shooting in another nation, for example) therefore unemploying everyone currently associated with the project. SAG certainly wouldn't want that kind of publicity, so all they can do is advise their membership to no take employment on the show.

And, off the top of my head, I'd bet there are somewhere closer to 100 full-time people working on South Park. You can't get a bagel buttered in TV with less than 20 people working on it.

[NightTrain]

6. What difference does it make how many people they employ?

If the show is non-union, it's non-union. Simple as that.

Actually, that revelation gives me one more reason not to watch "South Park" anymore.

[truhavoc]

7. Non-union whatever, I'm sure they are all well taken care of.

I fully know the benefits for having a union, but I really don't think it is necessary for a show like this. I doubt people that work for this show are hurting for money, it makes a ton and has very little cost to make it.

If you don't like the show that is fine, but don't let it skew your opinion in other matters. Personally it strikes me as coincidental that although I am a democrat and fairly liberal, most of the conservative issues they satire in the show are ones that I agree with.

[Lefty48197]

2. Southpark is non-union?

YOU BASTARDS!

[AmericanErrorist]

5. Apparently, they don't

[tinrobot]

9. I know the situation fairly well...

...at least from the animation side of it. It's a fun show to watch but not a very fun show to make.

I know they're not SAG, but that's just for the voice talent. Many animated productions are not SAG, and the voice actors put in a few hours for a week's worth of pay. They're paid just fine, but I doubt they get residuals. The people who really get the short end of the stick are the animators. As of a year or so ago, here's the way they ran that side of things.

They hire animators for 6 weeks, and sign them to contract stating they have to work a minimum 70 hour week. No overtime. After the 70 hour/week 'crunch' is over, they lay off the staff for 4 weeks without pay (they can collect unemployment) and the cycle starts anew. They underpay their animators by probably 20-30% of what other productions pay, and hire kids straight out of college who don't know better. It is one of the worst places to work in animation.

I also know someone who tried to unionize the animation staff shortly before the feature started. He was promptly fired.

Welcome to Hollywood.

(on edit - spelling)

[NightTrain]

10. This is why we need unions, baby!

n/t

[Character Assassin]

11. You think so?

Sure.