Issue: #8 IN THIS ISSUE JPC and SAG-AFTRA Reach Tentative Deal New Member Orientation
April 12, 2013
Don't Miss the
Hillman Health Fair at the KMRC
Hillman Health Fair at KMRC Diversity on the Move
3 - 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 24
Working on Low-Budget Films Improvisation on Scripted Material SAG Foundation Chicago Events Union Plus Discounts An Evening of Music and Laughs April 22 to Benefit the KMRC
Blood pressure checks Glucose testing Flu vaccines Dental hygiene information Light refreshments Details below.
Joint Policy Committee and SAG-AFTRA Reach Tentative Deal on Successor Commercials Agreement SAG-AFTRA and the Joint Policy Committee have reached a tentative agreement on terms for successor agreements to the television and radio commercials contracts, subject to approval by the SAG-AFTRA National Board of Directors later this month. Formal negotiations between the 34-member SAG-AFTRA Negotiating Committee and the Industry began Feb. 14 and concluded April 6, at 1:49 a.m. EDT, in New York. SAG-AFTRA Chicago Co-President Ilyssa Fradin served as one of the negotiating committee vice chairs. The tentative agreements will be submitted to the SAG-AFTRA National Board of Directors for approval at its April 20-21 meeting. No details of the package will be released in advance of the board's review. Upon approval by the board, the package will be sent to the membership for ratification thereafter. For more information, please visit sagaftra.org. New Member Orientation, Noon, Wednesday, April 17 New members represent the future for SAG-AFTRA. The stronger they are, the stronger our union and all members are. The goal of the New Members Subcommittee of SAG-AFTRA Chicago's Community Outreach, Community Organizing (COCO) committee is to educate, engage and empower professional actors from the moment they become union members. The new member orientation event is only one part of that process. Topics covered include every step involved in the union experience - from initiation fees and the dues structure to the correct way to execute member reports and contracts. Other areas include agents and commissions, casting directors, resolving claims, health coverage, set demeanor, committees, staff and a variety of other member benefits.
New member orientations are not just for new members! Whether you joined yesterday or 20 years ago, all members in good standing are welcome. Plan now to attend the next new membership orientation and stay informed. The next orientation is at noon Wednesday, April 17. Please call the SAG-AFTRA Chicago office, (312) 573-8081, or email Natasha Beals at natasha.beals@sagaftra.org to reserve your spot. Park for $10 at 10 East Ontario. Enter on the north side of Ontario between Wabash and State, and then take a ticket. When you sign in, you may purchase a four-hour ticket for $10. You will need both tickets to exit the parking structure. Cash only. Don't Miss the Hillman Health Fair at the KMRC April 24 Spring will be arriving soon. Get ready for the season with a health tuneup at the Hillman Health Fair. You've been hearing about the Sydney Hillman Health Centre for almost a year. Many of your fellow SAG-AFTRA members have signed up and are benefiting from the services available at SHHC. Here's your chance to get a first-hand introduction to the talented and caring staff of the SHHC while doing something good for yourself. You'll also be able to meet and ask question of SAG-AFTRA members who have already signed up and are using the services at SHHC. The fair features free: Blood pressure checks Glucose testing Flu vaccines Dental hygiene information Light refreshments Hillman Health Fair at the KMRC 3 - 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 24 1 East Erie Suite 660, Chicago, IL RSVP appreciated, but not required. Please call (312) 573-8081 or email Latisha Wagner, latisha.wagner@sagaftra.org. Park for $10 at 10 East Ontario. Enter on the north side of Ontario between Wabash and State, then take a ticket. When you sign in, you may purchase a four-hour ticket for $10. You will need both tickets to exit the parking structure. Cash only. SAG-AFTRA National Equal Employment Opportunity Committee and your Chicago Local present Diversity on the Move Spend a couple of hours with a panel of your fellow local actors as they share their experiences and successes in changing the mindset of our industry toward more diverse casting. See what it means for you and your future, and how you can use their revelations to support your career. Moderated by Tony Castillo, anticipated guests include Sandra Marquez and Sandra Delgado, with others yet to be named. We look forward to you joining us on April 28 at the KMRC for dinner and lively conversation. Monday, April 29 5:30 p.m.: Buffet 6:30 - 9 p.m.: Panel Discussion KMRC, 1 East Erie, Suite 660 RSVP to Latisha Wagner at latisha.wagner@sagaftra.org. Park for $10 at 10 East Ontario. Enter on the north side of Ontario between Wabash and State, then take a ticket. When you sign in, you may purchase a four-hour ticket for $10. You will need both tickets to exit the parking structure. Cash only.
Everything You Wanted to Know about Working on Low-Budget Films, but Were Afraid to Ask 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 30 Kaufherr Members Resource Center (KMRC) 1 E. Erie, Suite 660 Chicago, IL 60611 Are you and a bunch of your friends getting together and making short films? Webisodes? Spec TV pilots? Didn't think you needed to worry about being under contract? Well... This is your chance to ask all of your questions about working in low-budget films. And, you'll probably get the answers to some questions you haven't even thought of yet. Remember: As a SAG-AFTRA member, you need to be under contract for all work that you do. This includes student films, your best friend's pet project, and your self-produced short film and "no-budget" features. Find out what to expect on set and how these films differ from the studio features and episodic television shows that you are used to. Learn where to find out about these auditions and how to flip a non-union film to a SAG-AFTRA-covered project! Ever wonder how to properly fill out a time sheet; how, where and when to sign your employment contract; or how to negotiate on your behalf? This is the workshop for you! Space is limited. RSVP to Kathy Byrne at kathy.byrne@sagaftra.org. Park for $10 at 10 East Ontario. Enter on the north side of Ontario between Wabash and State, then take a ticket. When you sign in, you may purchase a four-hour ticket for $10. You will need both tickets to exit the parking structure. Cash only.
KMRC and SAG-AFTRA Conservatory Present: Improvisation on Scripted Material How, Where and When to Improvise in a Commercial Audition 6 - 8:30 p.m. Monday, May 13 Kaufherr Members Resource Center, 1 East Erie, Suite 660 Special Guest: David Murphy, freelance casting director and improv teacher David Murphy is the co-founder of The Green Room: An Actor's Studio. David brings multiple areas of expertise to his teaching. He worked for years as a full-time casting director before joining the staff at O'Connor Casting Company in early 2001. He still occasionally does freelance work for O'Connor Casting and at various advertising agencies, and also teaches in Chicago-area colleges. Murphy has conducted more than 30,000 auditions. As these events are free, reservations fill up fast. A waiting list will be used. If you can't make it, please cancel your reservation with as much notice as possible - minimum 24 hours - so another member may benefit by attending this event. Failure to do so may result in your being denied a reservation slot in upcoming events. Call the SAG-AFTRA office to sign up, (312) 573-8081, or email Latisha Wagner at latisha.wagner@sagaftra.org. Park for $10 in the parking structure at 10 East Ontario. Enter on the north side of Ontario between Wabash and State, then take a ticket. When you sign in, you may purchase a four-hour ticket for $10. You will need both tickets to exit the parking structure. Cash only. Work the perk! Improvisation on Scripted Material - like all SAG-AFTRA Conservatory and KMRC programming - is a benefit of your union membership and offered to all SAG-AFTRA members in good standing. Please bring your paid-up membership card.
SAG Foundation Presents Chicago Events Don't miss these great events coming to Chicago soon! Make sure you are logged in to the SAG Foundation website before registering. LifeRaft Event Rock the Audition: How to Prepare For and Get Cast in Rock Musicals Date: Monday, April 15 Time: 7 - 9 p.m. Location: Actors' Equity Building 557 West Randolph Street - 1st Floor Chicago, IL 60661 Register at sagfoundation.org. Rock music is dominating the Broadway stage and screen. Cyndi Lauper wrote a musical. Sting is writing one too, as are Regina Spektor, the Barenaked Ladies, Melissa Etheridge and Sheryl Crow ... not to mention the jukebox musicals with Motown music and the music of Tupak Shakur. These musicals, and The Voice, American Idol, Glee, and The Glee Project all want you to sing a hit from the radio for their auditions. But all you know how to sing are show tunes. Now what? Join master teacher Sheri Sanders for an evening dedicated to the pop/rock audition. Sheri will teach you everything you need to learn about what it takes to master auditioning for a genre of music and musical theatre which has no formal training ... until now. A small number of attendees will have an opportunity to showcase and receive feedback on a 1632 bar cut of a pop or rock song during the second half of the seminar. A raffle will be held midseminar and we will select singers. Please bring sheet music in the correct key if you would like to be considered for the singing portion. An accompanist will be provided. Please warm up ahead of time. LifeRaft Event Beyond Branding: The Why Behind the Buzzword with Bonnie Gillespie You can't throw a rock these days without hitting someone who's talking about "brand." Find out what it means to go beyond that term and then some. Casting director and producer Bonnie Gillespie will break it all down: How to generate buzz before anything major is happening, how to get things happening on your own, and how to ensure that all of your marketing tools are teaching the buyers how to cast you before they even meet you. Already have a fan-base of buyers? Awesome! Let's elevate your game by going beyond the brand. 2.30 p.m. Saturday, April 20, 2013 Kaufherr Members Resource Center, 1 East Erie, Suite 660, Chicago, IL 60611 Register at sagfoundation.org. Casting Access Project CAP with Bonnie Gillespie - NON-Frequency Restricted Bonnie casts SAG-AFTRA indie feature films and series. Saturday April 20, 2013 Check-in begins at 5.15 p.m., workshop begins at 5.30.p.m. Kaufherr Members Resource Center, 1 East Erie, Suite 660, Chicago, IL 60611 The Casting Access Project provides master prep sessions with casting professionals at no cost to SAG-AFTRA members. Register at sagfoundation.org.
Tickets: $35 in advance, $50 at the door. Tickets available at kmrc.eventbrite.com or by check to SAG-AFTRA, 1 E. Erie, Suite 650, Chicago, IL 60611, payable to KMRC.
For additional information about the performers, click on their names. Linda Clifford, classic R&B and a legendary disco Diva. The Famous Brothers, clever and witty with splendid harmonies. Suzanne Petri and Bob Moreen, incomparable cabaret singers. Michael Issac, comedian. Greta Pope performs all styles from Country to Opera, and R&B to Broadway. The Eleven Divas, Chicago's top female vocalists! In response to members' requests to stay informed, The Activator may include notice of rallies, pickets and other actions by unions and the labor movement that have not been sanctioned by the National or Chicago Board of Directors of SAG-AFTRA. This information is provided as a convenience. The information contained herein regarding workshops, vendors, special offers and the like is provided for informational purposes and is not intended to imply endorsement by SAG-AFTRA of them or the information, material, products or services provided. SAG-AFTRA makes no warranties or representations regarding the use of the material or the quality of the services or service providers. SAG-AFTRA Chicago: (312) 573-8081 Hotline: (312) 867-3710 Email: chicago@sagaftra.org WEBSITE SAGAFTRA.org.