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Actors Protect Your Online Privacy
Of course we know that your headshot and resume is going to be all
over the place as an actor. It's an essential part of getting to an
audition is that you have to send out your information.
Your headshot and resume is your calling card.
But in today's world, you should use caution. There are alot of bad
people in the world and they can gain access to your image and
information and digitally alter or sell them without your knowledge.
SAG has an active initiative underway to work with EBay on people
trying to sell actor's headshots on ebay.
But here are some helpful tips from SAG on how to not get into
trouble:
1. Do not give your Social Security Number (SSN) to anyone unless
you have been hired, even if it's being requested. When signing in
at an audition or filling out a size card, use your SAG member ID
number.
2. Never put your SSN on your picture or resume.
3. Wherever possible, use your agent or manager’s phone number
and address rather than your personal information. If you cannot use
an agent or manager's contact information, consider getting a
cellular phone or pager. If you want to include a mailing address, a
personal mailbox will work.
4. To help prevent your photograph and resume from being used
inappropriately, include a disclaimer such as the following: “Property
of [your name]. For casting purposes only. Not intended for sale or
commercial use."
5. When having headshots taken, ask the photographer to include
language in the contract stating that it is a “work for hire.”
Otherwise, you do not own the copyright to your photographs (even if
the photographer gives you the negative).
6. Before you submit a picture or resume for any project, you may
want to contact the Guild to determine if the project is signatory
to the appropriate SAG agreement. You can also check this
information online. Go to www.sag.org, log into the members’ only
area and click on “Get Work.” Here SAG members can enter a
production name and check its signatory status. If it is not a SAG
signatory project, the risk of your personal information remaining
confidential may be compromised. *Remember, any member accepting
employment in a non-signatory project is in violation of SAG’s
Rule 1. It is every member’s responsibility to verify signatory
status before accepting work. Make no assumptions.
7. To safeguard against your image or personal information being
displayed or sold on the Internet, periodically run a search for you
name on eBay and conduct a general search of the Internet using
one of the major search engines, such as Yahoo! or Google.
8. If you choose to promote and market yourself online through
the creation of a web site, do not use your personal contact
information when registering your domain name. We suggest you
follow guideline number three above when deciding what contact
information to use.
9. Like most people these days, you probably use email. We
suggest you maintain multiple email addresses for different
purposes. For instance, it may be useful to maintain a private
email address; a professional email address for agents, casting
directors, and managers; a registration email address for
registering on a web site that requires your email or at which you
can receive general email; and a separate fan email address for fans
or the general public.
10. Always assume your online communications are not private.
Do not provide sensitive personal information (phone number,
password, address, credit card number, Social Security number,
health information, date of birth, vacation dates, etc.) in chat
rooms, forums, emails, or in your online biography.
11. Above all, remember to use common sense and trust your
instincts. If you are asked to provide information that you are
uncomfortable with, or that seems inappropriate to the situation,
think twice before you provide it. If there is doubt, confirm
whether it’s necessary with someone in a position of authority.
And here are some helpful links to online privacy organizations:
California Department
of Consumer Affairs
Federal Trade Commission
Privacy Initiative
Privacy.org
The
Electronic Privacy Information Center Online Guide to Online Privacy
Resources
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