SeventyOne
Platinum Member
Came up on another thread, Reel Justice agreed it's probably worth its own thread, so putting it out there...
WDW is a union shop--as far as I know, you have to belong to Actors Equity (basically a union for stage actors) to perform in any show where you talk or sing. Hoop de Doo, Beauty & the Beast, Disney Channel Rocks!, even the toy soldiers in the DHS parade (because they are on microphone). In contrast, if you just dance, but aren't on mic, you needn't be Equity.
In a meet and greet, Cast Member Y plays a princess. She's in character. I'm sure she has some basic script that she riffs off of. She talks, obviously. Why isn't this considered "acting"?
Jungle Cruise skippers and GMR gangsters are even more glaring--why aren't they considered "actors"?
Not looking to start a debate about union shops or the quality of performances. I just really am curious to know what legal justification WDW gives for not requiring Equity actors at these positions?
WDW is a union shop--as far as I know, you have to belong to Actors Equity (basically a union for stage actors) to perform in any show where you talk or sing. Hoop de Doo, Beauty & the Beast, Disney Channel Rocks!, even the toy soldiers in the DHS parade (because they are on microphone). In contrast, if you just dance, but aren't on mic, you needn't be Equity.
In a meet and greet, Cast Member Y plays a princess. She's in character. I'm sure she has some basic script that she riffs off of. She talks, obviously. Why isn't this considered "acting"?
Jungle Cruise skippers and GMR gangsters are even more glaring--why aren't they considered "actors"?
Not looking to start a debate about union shops or the quality of performances. I just really am curious to know what legal justification WDW gives for not requiring Equity actors at these positions?