under-five
{{Short description|TV or film actor whose character has fewer than five lines of dialogue}}
An under-five,{{cite web|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20A13FE3C590C768EDDAE0894DC404482 |title=HOME FRONT; Bit Parts on Screen, and a Salary to Match |first=Betsy |last=Cummings |date=July 25, 2004 |work=The New York Times |access-date=2012-01-04}} also known as an under-5 or a U/5,{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/speakingofsoapop00alle |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/speakingofsoapop00alle/page/53 53] |quote=under-5 soap opera. |title=Speaking of Soap Operas |publisher=UNC Press Books |first=Robert Clyde |last=Allen |date=April 30, 1985 |access-date=2012-01-04}} is a television or film actor whose character has fewer than five lines of dialogue.{{cite web |url=http://www.double19productions.com/notes/Resume_Billing |title=Resume Billing Double 19 Productions |publisher=Double 19 Productions |date=May 19, 2009 |access-date=2012-01-04}} The term is used in SAG-AFTRA contracts and has been used when referring to performers in a daytime soap opera.
SAG-AFTRA rules
An under-five role falls between an extra (a nonspeaking role) and a day player (a full part). Per SAG-AFTRA, for an under-five the total number of words in the five lines or less must be below 50. Exceeding this reclassifies the role as a full part, which constitutes a substantial rise in pay. An extra may be upgraded to under-five status if they interact with principals or are given direction in a way that furthers the plot.{{cite web |url=http://soapoperadigest.com/features/as-the-world-turns/interviews/patrickstephenson |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130041407/http://soapoperadigest.com/features/as-the-world-turns/interviews/patrickstephenson |url-status=dead |first=Jennifer |last=Lenhart |title=As The World Turns Interview: Patrick Stephenson |work=Soap Opera Digest |archive-date=January 30, 2009 |access-date=April 30, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://generalhospital.about.com/od/actorinterviews/a/OntheScene.htm |title=On the Scene at General Hospital |first=Maria |last=Ciaccia |publisher=Generalhospital.about.com |date=January 30, 2009 |access-date=April 30, 2016}}
Prior to the 2012 merger of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), actors performing as under-fives as members of AFTRA became eligible for SAG membership after one year.{{cite web|url=http://www.actorschecklist.com/union.html |title=When An Actor Should Join A Union |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213041958/http://www.actorschecklist.com/index.php/2014-01-24-05-35-43/item/83-when-an-actor-should-join-a-union |date=December 1, 2007 |archive-date=February 13, 2015 |publisher=Actorschecklist.com |url-status=dead |access-date=April 30, 2016}} Post merger, actors performing with an under-five contract operate as members of the consolidated union.
Through November 16, 2016, the minimum pay rate for an under-five actor on a soap opera is $451 for a one-hour show, and $369 for a {{frac|1|2}}-hour show. By comparison, the minimum pay rate for a principal on a soap opera is $1,038 for a one-hour show, and $778 for a {{frac|1|2}}-hour show. The pay rate for a background actor on a soap opera is $150 for a 1-hour show, and $115 for a {{frac|1|2}}-hour show.{{cite web |url=http://www.sagaftra.org/files/sag/rate_sheet_network_tv_code_sag_aftra_8_18.pdf |title=SAG-AFTRA Network TV Code |publisher=SAG-AFTRA |access-date=April 30, 2016}}
Under-five work
An under-five role can be a stepping stone to bigger roles.{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LScAAAAAMBAJ&q=%22under-5%22+soap+opera&pg=PA20 |title=SOAP STAR FOR A DAY |work=New York |first=Bernice |last=Kanner |date=August 16, 1993 |access-date=April 30, 2016}} However, 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.