San Francisco - 15
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• Set up a global safety information network in support of all news media. • Provided safety training free of charge to almost 2,000 news media staff and freelancers in 21 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, Asia and other hot spots in a continuing program. • Conducted a global inquiry into the causes of journalist deaths around the world. • Secured the passage of UN Security Council Resolution 1738 in 2006 on the safety of journalists in conflict. • Set up a global kidnap/hostage help facility to aid organizations and individuals confronted with this crisis for the first time. • Sustained behind-the-scenes talks with militaries. Coordinated a safety information exchange for major news organizations with teams on the ground in dangerous situation. Excerpted from the INSI website
An interview with Louise La Muth, SAG-AFTRA member – 97 years young We received a call from a member asking what year the movie The Jazz Singer was produced and out of habit, the reply was “you can Google it” and “look on IMDB.” This caller, however, insisted she did not have access to a computer. As staff, we sometimes get a bit skeptical about responses like that – we are so busy dealing with claims and contracts, etc. But this particular caller was insistent and compelling and after further conversation, we learned that Louise is 97 years old, sight impaired, a SAG-AFTRA member and a lifelong San Francisco resident. What a treasure. Naturally, the first thing we did was schedule an interview with Louise. That was the start of the adventure. Louise’s home is not easy to find and, of course, Murphy’s law sprang to life and we left the camera in the taxi on the way to see her. Luckily, we had a video camera, but as it turned out, the tripod was not working properly. It was just one of those days. When we finally found Louise, or rather, her caregiver found us wandering the block, she graciously welcomed us into her home and was fully prepared for the interview. She’d found what paperwork she could
relating to her history with the union and the work she’d done. Her lovely pink sweater gave her a healthy glow, which matched her upbeat personality and lively mode of communication. I think we enjoyed ourselves more than Louise did. Louise came to her acting career later in life, after she retired from the Bank of America. It was a Lana Turner-like discovery. According to Louise she was walking down the street and was approached by someone casting for a commercial. She was a principal for several commercials and had a few bit parts in movies. She retired from acting due to health reasons, but continued to have a full life thereafter and still does. Louise is pictured below with a doll purchased for her in Paris when she was a small child. For a 90-year-old doll, it’s in really great shape, just like Louise. Interviewing Louise was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Ironically, when Louise was a young child, she had occasion to have a play date with a very famous actor of the time, never knowing that she too would one day be a union member. Louise wrote an autobiographical piece about her encounter. Please read and enjoy it.
My New Playmate By Louise La Muth It was about eight o’clock in the morning on a summer day. I had rolled up my bedroom window shade and looking out, as usual, all was quiet on the avenue. Parked in front of the house across the street was a black shiny chauffeured limousine with what looked like rattan on the side of it. In a moment, the uniformed chauffeur drove off and I could see a woman and a little blond-headed boy walking up the concrete path to the door of the house. The next morning, with my usual first daily activity of rolling up the window shade, I saw the little blond-headed boy sitting on the curb across the street. I knew he didn’t live on the avenue so he must be visiting someone. He looked so lost and lonely and I felt sorry for him. Continued on page 16