My Acting Debut - Where's the Royalty Money?

[Joe Pelonio]

I just discovered something interesting. About 8-10 years ago
my two youngest kids & I took parts in a dog training video with
two of our dogs (A Bernese and a Cavalier both now deseased).
I think it was about 1997. Anyway, I discovered that there are
clips from the video on the trainer's website, and I am in one
of the clips. Hmmm, seems like I should be getting royalties
for that. My acting debut, and all I was paid for it was a
copy of the tape. The trainer did the video from the point
of view of her dog Fraser, who she named after the TV show
(she trained a dog in LA for Kelsey Grammer.) Anyway, if
you go to the website:

http://www.spokesdog.com/Clips.html

Then click on the center clip, "Fraser's Friends Help You Train".
When the dogs stop wagging their heads and the narrator starts
talking about the dog owner's angry look, that's me!

[Ray Bersch]

....um, and why is it Joe that you have not received your royalties yet??

[Joe Pelonio]

Unfortunately at the time I signed an agreement that I would not get paid, and really just did it for fun.

[Andy Hoyt]

Joe - You need representation. Have your people contact my people.:eek:

[Doug Shepard]

Unfortunately at the time I signed an agreement that I would not get paid, and really just did it for fun.

So did your dogs sign anything? Human extras are a dime-a-dozen so your royalties probably wouldn't amount to a pile of dog-doo anyway. Those trained animal actors of your's are another story though. As the inheritor of their estate, I'd definitely get some legal representation to go after the real money.:D

[Dave Richards]

Good angry posture there. You're a natural. Whose your agent? They should be able to get you all kinds of great roles. :D