Welcome to the ask Mark Pirro page. We should change this to the SAG financial core page, since it seems that lately 80% of all questions are relating to union issues. Feel free to leave any question or comment you like, even if it's NOT about going SAG financial core ---------- Mark Pirro himself will respond. ---------- Or, if you'd rather not leave a message right now, just click here to go back to our Home Page. Messages are listed from the newest to the oldest. After you've left your message, check back soon. Mark usually replies within 24 hours.. There are now 333 messages in our guestbook. <<< 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 34 >>> Viewing messages 31 to 40. Your name (required) Your message (required) Where in the world? Nicky L Hi there! I was thinking of coring it.I was wondering if a sag member is able to rejoin sag if they choose to in the future. ----------------------------------------- MP: I don't see why not. Although they may try to hit you with some fines, fees, and whatever other forms of extortion they can muster up. 1 April 2010 - Ct Brian I have heard that you need a letter to send SAG requesting o go Fi-Co. Is there any links you can point me to this form letter so that i can use it? I don't want to skimp on sending the appropriate information. Thanks!! ------------------------------------ MP: There used to be some sample letters online, but I can't seem to find any right now. However, it's really simple to do. Just say in your letter that you wish to enable your financial core status immediately. Date it and sign it, and that's really all there is to it. 18 March 2010 - LA Ken C. Wondering if there is any way to contact Bobbi Dorsch - she is an old friend with whom I have lost touch. any e-mail address?? --------------------------------------- MP: Her name is now Bobbi Fagone. I believe she has a facebook account http://www.facebook.com/bobbi.fagone 9 March 2010 - Indiana Brian Hello, Wanted to ask a question about Fi-Core. If you go FiCo do you still get your pension credits? --------------------------------------- MP: Yes. Nothing changes other than you can't run for sag offices and you get more work opportunities. 4 March 2010 - LA Gaby Can a TV reporter who needed to become aftra to be able to work at the station, decides to go Financial Core, can he? Does he need to let the station know? Or this is something private between aftar and the talent? Once your aftra, and go go from full member to Core does it affect the reporters status at the station? being Financial core still mean being Aftra? Thank you ------------------------------------ MP: You can go Fi-core at any time. My understanding is that your employer should be made aware of it. It shouldn't affect your status at the station, unless you have some big hairy knuckled flag waving union-for-life fella running the station, but even then, he can't legally harass you for going fi-core, or he could have a nice lawsuit on his hands. Once you go fi-core, you are considered a 'dues paying non-member,' but are still entitled to the same position. 3 March 2010 - New York Rebecca I joined SAG three years ago. Now considering fi-core, but don't have agent yet. If I fi-core first, what do I tell potential agencies when I contact them for representation? SAG or SAG-eligible or Fi-Core? Thanks very much! --------------------------------------- MP: Just say you're SAG Fi Core. This would make you more appealing to an agency, since they can submit you for more jobs than if you were not fi core. 18 February 2010 - San Francisco Alex C. Hi, I have been doing some extra work and am now SAG eligible. My extra agency is pressuring me to join SAG so I can continue to work. The problem is that I have just signed with a major modeling agency in which most jobs will not be SAG jobs. Someone told me about FI-Core, so that I can continue to do both extra work and modeling work. Is this what you would recommend? Thank you for your time and info! Alex --------------------------------------- MP: Personally, I would avoid joining SAG for as long as you can, since all you're technically doing is wasting money. If your extra agency is pressuring you to join SAG, I'd leave that agency. The only time it pays to join SAG is if you are offered a role in a major film, with major stars. However, if you feel it necessary to join the union, go ahead, wait about a week or two and then go financial core. 31 January 2010 - LA Jacob W. A friend of mine and I were talking the other day and made mention of "Buford's Beach Bunnies." So I went looking for full length, un-cut copies and couldn't find any anywhere. I came to your website and notice you make mention of it, but don't sell it. What gives? If it all possible I'd like to purchase two copies of the full length, un-cut movie for my friend and I. Thanks. ------------------------------------ MP: Techinically we're not authorized to advertise it, but we can get it to you. Send us an email at pirromount@hotmail.com and we'll take care of you. 19 January 2010 - Two Rivers, WI Logan Best holiday present I received was "The God Complex" on dvd --------------------------------------- MP: I'm very happy to hear that. Tell a friend. 25 December 2009 - Santa Rosa , CA Jeremy Mr Pirro, thank you for your time. I am an Indie Filmmaker from AZ. I was writer/producer of an 1800 dollar farce comedy that we have recently distributed through a small distributor with mostly online outlets. Tell me sir about effective indie self distribution. I have had friends who have been distributed through major houses and have waited years to see any money, though their film is now everywhere. I have also seen smaller distributors who who sell by way of online stores like amazon and dvd universe, barnes and noble etc. I call these "no relationship" outlets because it seems like they are completely accessible to the new filmmaker. If you were brand new, wanted to maintain an indie, no permission system of values and have complete control, would you sell on amazon, dvd universe/planet, barnes and noble? Any others? How would you promote the film without spening a lot of potentially wasteful time and money on festivals? How have you managed to make money off of your small budget films. I would like very much to emulate you. Any advice from a man of your experience would be greatly appreciated. Go indie. Jeremy ------------------------------------ MP: Going with a distribution company might get your films in more places, but you won't get your fair share of money - if any. Self-distribution may not get your film wide coverage, but you will retain control. The internet has made it easier for independents. Any online outlet you can get your film into is worth looking in to. Amazon, Ebay, Movies Unlimited, DVD Universe, etc. are all good places for the indie filmmaker. Many of my earlier films were handled by distributors and I have gotten ripped off and/or short changed every time. A couple of times even involved my taking legal action to get earned money that the distributors refused to part with. With our newest film, "The God Complex," we are self-distributing and doing quite well. Now, how to promote? What is working for us are video websites like Youtube, Google Video, Funny or Die, etc. We run trailers, interviews, clips, etc. and generate sales that way. We upload content and put a link to our website at the bottom.' In fact, we posted the first eight minutes of The God Complex on youtube, and that too has helped generate sales. How I make money on these films? Well, it's not too difficult to make money on one's films when the budgets hover around $1000. I keep the manufacturing in house and whenever a movie of ours is ordered, we burn, package, shrink wrap, label and post without involving any middlemen. So for every film of ours that sells for $20, we receive $20. If we sell any of our films to retailers for $10-$12, we receive $10-$12. It's just that simple. You won't get that kind of return with any distributor out there. Best of luck and I'm flattered that you find me one worth emulating. 18 December 2009 - USA AZ <<< 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 34 >>>