SAG-AFTRA says it protects young actors after open letter demanding more safeguards

SAG-AFTRA, the main union for actors in Hollywood, has responded to an open letter by former "Amanda Show" writer Jenny Kilgen demanding more protections for young actors in the wake of "Quiet on the Set," a documentary that alleges widespread abuse of underage performers at Nickelodeon.

The union responded by detailing the steps they have taken to protect child actors and ways they have increased those protections in recent years.

Chief contracts officer Ray Rodriguez wrote, “The Union takes young performer safety very seriously and devotes considerable time to advocating for important legislative protections for minors and administering contract requirements for young performers. We give priority to complaints involving minors, maintain a constituent committee of young performers and help to fund and administer programs like ‘Looking Ahead’ that educate young performers about life as a child actor.”

The statement continued, “In addition, SAG-AFTRA’s most recent agreement requires background checks for any ‘teacher or welfare worker (or other individual assigned to perform the same duties as a welfare worker, such as a child labor coordinator) who is engaged by the Producer to supervise or teach minors employed under the Agreement.’ Additionally, we have authorized Producers to demand background checks as a condition of employment ‘for any person working in close proximity to one or more minor(s), other than a minor who is that person’s child/ward.’”

Finally, Rodriguez said there is a Safer Set hotline available for reporting abuse.

Besides background checks, Kilgen had called for "appropriate training for adults, transparency of investigation, & reporting policies, and free access to mental health providers through the employment cycle (and when necessary, after),” as well as a task force to focus on the safety of child performers.