Long Term Effects of Being a Non-Union Actor Essay

Long Term Effects of Being a Non-Union Actor - Essay Example The thesis of this paper is: When an actor is non-union long-term, self-esteem is often low because he or she rarely makes more than a union actor’s minimum wage.   Furthermore, opportunities to audition are limited, and non-union workers do not receive the respect or benefits provided to those who are in unions. "Ever since the first Hollywood director yelled, 'Action!' on the set of a motion picture, the anonymous corps of performers known as 'extras' formed an integral element of the film capital's working society". This powerful opening leads directly to the crux of this paper. Actors who work as walk-ons, diner patrons, soldiers, and the like are called extras. These are the actors that do not have a spoken part in the production; they are there to provide the full ambiance of the scene. If the production is to convey a busy street scene, that scene requires a host of extras to make the scene believable, therefore, the presence of each and every extra constitutes a comp leted realistic scene that the viewer finds credible. Yet, many extras are not paid in a manner consistent with their important function within the industry. In fact, if the extra happens to lack union status, that extra's pay is decimated by as much as 50% of what a union member would be paid for the same work. Non-union extras should be paid for the work they perform as handsomely as union workers. There are two reasons why the researcher postulate this idea: 1) non-union members who do not receive pay on par with their union counterparts fall into a situation of low self-esteem, and if continued over an extended period of time leads directly to 2) non-union members becoming disenchanted with the industry and performing at lower standards which is not good for the individual extra, nor for the industry as a whole. The author will use the rest of this paper to prove his thesis which will rest upon three foundational points: 1. an extra's pay level denotes their value to the product ion company; 2. challenges in obtaining union membership and, 3. "ordinariness", and the fear of it. In 1995-1996, there were a series of articles that dealt with the issue of union versus non-union pay rates for extras. In one such article, it was stated that a union extra earned $99 a day, or $128 a day for a soap opera job, yet a non-union extra only earned between $30-70 a day for doing the same work. Not only do non-union extra receive lesser pay than union members, the non-union extras also receive lesser amenities, if given any at all. The Horwitz article states, "a SAG extra in The Associate recalls '300 extras in a basement with one bathroom'[and another] 'extra in Sylvester Stallone's Daylight describes several hundred extras in a dimly lit, cold warehouse with winds gusting in off the Hudson. "There were two Portosans". Not as glamorous as one would suppose. In a recent journal article, pay level and self-esteem were studied and it was found that 'consistent with reinforc ement and expectancy theories, most of this research concludes that when high performance results in high pay increases, performance is reinforced and more likely to be repeated in the future'. This study states what most people intuitively expect - you earn based on how well you perform. Yet, in the world of the extra, this almost truism does not exist. In their world, you earn based on union membership.

Medical School Personal Statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Medical School Personal Statement - Essay Example The doctors who cared for my mother willingly spent their breaks with me, a frightened and confused seven-year-old. They sat with me and allowed me to share with them my thoughts. They patiently explained to me what my mother was going through. It is this communication and interaction that I remember vividly. It was then that I knew my world would eventually evolve around this higher calling of service. As I look ahead to the next step in my intellectual and professional development, I am certain that Notre Dame’s program aligns perfectly with my outlook and skills because of your mission of producing excellent clinicians who also possess a strong desire to serve God and Humanity. I am eager to attend a medical school that would prepare me for service. Notre Dame does not only teach theory and practice but goes a step further in ensuring the holistic development of its doctors. Further training to hone skills not only in clinical science, technical skills, and research but also in ethics, humanities and philosophy. Thus molding doctors to be compassionate and knowledgeable of his social, moral and ethical obligations to the larger Christian community. This is the learning and training that I desire. It would be the utmost privilege to be under the tutelage of this institution. An institution that shares my vision of what a doctor should be. At the present time, my goal is to prepare myself to use my God-given talents, training and intelligence to make a positive impact on the lives of those in need. Working in different healthcare settings has reaffirmed my belief that I possess the qualities of honesty, dedication, intelligence and willingness to serve that will make me excel as a medical student at Notre Dame and, ultimately, as a doctor. Medicine involves service. Service is making a sacrifice, denying oneself in