An Under-Five,^[1] also known as, an under-5, or a (U/5):^[2] is an AFTRA-only contract term for an American soap opera actor whose character has under five lines of dialogue in an episode.^[3]

Under-Five work [edit]

Under-Five work is regarded as both desirable and undesirable. Getting an Under-Five can be a stepping stone to bigger roles.^[4] Some however, see it as mere grunt work or beneath their standing as an actor.^[5] One year after performing Under-Fives in the capacity of a recurring character, as a member of AFTRA, the actor becomes eligible for Screen Actors Guild (SAG) membership.^[6] This is a backdoor for getting the difficult-to-obtain SAG card.

AFTRA pay rate rules [edit]

According to AFTRA union rules a speaking part exceeding five lines in a day triggers a substantial rise in pay. To remain an Under-Five the total number of words in the five lines or less must be below 50. Under-Five roles have therefore been an integral consideration in script development, especially in regards to episodic budgeting.

As of 11/16/2009: The minimum pay rate for a day player on a soap opera was $913.00 for a 1-hour show, and $683.00 for a 1/2 hour show. The minimum pay rate for an under-5 actor on a soap opera was $397.00 for a 1-hour show, and $324.00 for a 1/2 hour show. The minimum pay rate for a background actor on a soap opera was $144.00 for a 1-hour show, and $111.00 for a 1/2 hour show.^[7]

Decline [edit]

With the general decline of American soap operas, the number of under-fives, extras, and even day players employed has declined, due to reductions of production budgets.^[8]

References [edit]