See our Monday post on this HERE to catch up.

No comment necessary… just read the email – posted below, verbatim – for the facts, directly from SAG:

Dear Editors:

We would like to discuss the possibility of clarifying your story which erroneously reports that the cast of the film "Beasts of the Southern Wild" is ineligible for SAG Awards consideration because they are non-members and/or non-professionals. In fact, the performances are ineligible because the producers did not sign a SAG agreement. That's it.  As stated in SAG Awards rules which are publicly available on www.sagawards.org, the production must be signatory to a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) or American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), or SAG-AFTRA collective bargaining agreement. Also, there is not prohibition regarding hiring non-members or non-professionals in a film. Please see the below quote from SAG-AFTRA ANED for Contracts, Ray Rodriguez as well as other quotes from SAG-AFTRA and SAG Awards executives..

"The idea that the picture is ineligible because the children were not professional performers is bizarre.  There is nothing in the contract that prohibits a producer from hiring a non-union member or non-professional performer. In fact, that's the main way in which performers qualify for membership. There's no limitation on who a producer can use. A signatory producer simply fills out a form." Ray Rodriguez, Assistant National Executive Director for Contracts SAG-AFTRA

"We're baffled at the fact that the producers of "Beasts of the Southern Wild" failed to sign a SAG-AFTRA agreement as every other important film released this year did and which they can do as well. We would love for the performers in this film to compete for SAG Awards. Celebrating such performances is what we're all about." Pamela Greenwalt, SAG-AFTRA spokesperson

"Beast of the Southern Wild" is currently ineligible for SAG Awards nominations consideration as it does not meet the requirements stated in Section One of our rules and regulations which states: 'Motion pictures and television or cable productions made within SAG-AFTRA’s jurisdiction must be signatory to a Screen Actors Guild (“SAG”) or American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (“AFTRA”), or a SAG-AFTRA collective bargaining agreement.' The producers have until October 25 to bring the film under compliance to make the actors eligible for consideration. It is their choice whether or not to do so. We hope they do."

Kathy Connell, Executive Producer, SAG Awards  

Please contact us if you have any other questions.

Best,

Pamela Greenwalt and Kristin Ranger

PAMELA GREENWALT| Asst. National Executive Director for Communications SAG-AFTRA

KRISTIN RANGER| Executive Administrative Assistant to Pamela Greenwalt SAG-AFTRA