ACTORS' PIX ON EBAY MAY THREATEN SAFETY.

Byline: Greg Hernandez Staff Writer

Citing safety concerns, the Screen Actors Guild is seeking to curb the practice of people selling actors' head shots on eBay, the union said Tuesday.

The head shots, routinely distributed by actors during the audition process, typically contain personal contact information attached to the back. While it's not a problem for bigger stars who have layers of agents and publicists, the rank-and-file members of SAG often list a home phone number, address and Social Security number.

``There's a lot of concern not only over personal safety but identity theft,'' SAG Spokeswoman Ilyanne Kichaven said Tuesday. ``We're not saying everyone on eBay is a criminal. We're just concerned for the safety of our members.''

SAG has been in ``amicable discussions'' with eBay and and is working closely with the Casting Society of America, the largest organization for theatrical casting directors, on the issue.

``This is a sort of gross misuse of what those pictures are for,'' said CSA President Gary Zuckerbrod. ``They are there for us to use and also there for our reference. They are not there to be given out or sold in any capacity.''

Last month, buyers on the eBay site could buy a lot of 100 agency photos with resumes attached of various actors with a range of experience including some who were touted as possible ``stars of tomorrow.''

``A great concern is that young performers might have performances listed at their high school or junior high school so the buyer would know where the kid goes to school,'' Kichaven said.

EBay records showed that a Warner Bros. casting assistant on ``The West Wing'' had made more than 1,000 sales of head shot submissions from agents, managers and actors over a two-year period. The assistant shut down the auctions after they were brought to the attention of Warner Bros.

EBay spokesman Kevin Pursglove said there are no specific rules against the head shots being sold on the online auction site.

``As I understand it, these are widely distributed and often times they end up in hands of employees of the companies that receive them,'' Pursglove said. ``Some people collect them and at one point they will list them on eBay.''

Pursglove said the online auction site, which receives an average of 2 million new listings each day, would take very seriously any complaints connected to the sale of head shots.

``If any personal information is contained in the photo or if the seller is advertising that personal information as being available, we would remedy it,'' he said. ``It all depends on the substance of the complaint. If they are simply suggesting that a head shot of an actor should not be sold on eBay, we would generally allow it.''

SAG has announced on its Web site that it is forming a task force to investigate and try to halt the practice. Kichaven said one of the union's concerns is what happens with the photos after casting directors are finished with them. She said two suggestions are shredding the photos or returning them to the actors.

The CSA has tips for actors to avoid having their personal information getting into the wrong hands.

``For someone who doesn't have representation, they've got to protect themselves as best they can,'' Zuckerbrod said. ``The best way is to not put any personal contact information on your resume with a home address or phone number. Use a P.O. box and a dedicated cell phone or voice mail to receive messages that doesn't trace back to home information.''

Greg Hernandez, [phone]

greg.hernandez(at)dailynews.com