SAG short film — $200/day, 3 days, now it's playing festivals

SAG ultra-low short film, $200/day for 3 days. The director found me through Actors Access. Small crew, simple story — basically a two-hander set in one apartment. 9-hour days, meals from a local restaurant, very chill energy. The film just got into Tribeca. TRIBECA. For a 3-day $200/day shoot. I'm now using this credit on every submission. It's opened more doors than any $800/day micro drama ever has. Casting directors actually respond to my emails now. I hate the "exposure" argument because 99% of the time it's BS. But occasionally — OCCASIONALLY — a small project hits and it actually changes your trajectory. The lesson isn't "work cheap." The lesson is "pick the right cheap projects." Know the difference between a talented director with no budget and a lazy director with no budget.