Issue: #9
April 29, 2013
IN THIS ISSUE Everything You Wanted to Know about Working on Low-Budget Films, Tues. April 30 National Board Approves Commercials Contracts Deals Improvisation on Scripted Material May Day Rally at Haymarket Square, Weds. May 1
SAG-AFTRA Chicago Radio Players present
The Thin Man, directed by Guy Barile 7 p.m. Thursday May 9, 2013 (doors open at 6 p.m.) Claudia Cassidy Theater, 77 E. Randolph (at Michigan Avenue) Admission is free; however seating is on a first-come, firstserved basis.
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, 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.
SAG-AFTRA National Board Approves Commercials Contracts Deals The SAG-AFTRA National Board of Directors met in Los Angeles April 20 and 21 and took action on several items, including approval of the recently negotiated commercials agreements, an operational restructuring plan, and multiple governance and administrative matters. The National Board unanimously approved the deal reached with the ad industry April 7 on new television and radio commercials contracts. The contracts will result in $238 million in wage increases and other payments for all categories of performers, improvements in cable use fees, increases in payments for work on the Internet and new media platforms, and an increase in the late payment fee. Summaries of the 2013 agreement provisions for the commercials contracts may be viewed at: Summary of New Provisions 2013 SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contract Summary of New Provisions 2013 SAG-AFTRA Radio Recorded Commercials Contract In connection with the first national contract referendum for SAG-AFTRA, the board approved a motion offering members the opportunity to vote online, as well as by traditional paper ballots if they prefer, to ratify the commercials agreements. All members in good standing as of April 1, 2013, will automatically receive a postcard with voting instructions. The postcard will be mailed on or about May 1, 2013. Tabulation of ratification votes received by the voting deadline of May 31, 2013, 3 p.m. CDT (electronically or by mail) will be completed that day. KMRC and SAG-AFTRA Conservatory Present: Improvisation on Scripted Material How, Where and When to Improvise in a Commercial Audition 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. 6 - 8:30 p.m. Monday, May 13 Kaufherr Members Resource Center (KMRC) 1 E. Erie, Suite 660 Chicago, IL 60611 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.
May Day Rally at Haymarket Square On Wednesday, May 1, the Chicago Federation of Labor will lead a rally to honor the significance of May Day to the labor movement. Taking place at Chicago's Haymarket Square, the CFL invites you to stand in solidarity with workers in the United States and around the world who seek a stronger voice in order to bring fairness, justice and safety to their workplace. More than 125 years ago, thousands of workers took to the streets in Chicago on May 1 to demand a basic right that many of us today take for granted: the eight-hour workday. Because of the actions that unfolded over the course of those next few days, May 1 is celebrated around the world as the true "Labor Day." 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, 2013 Haymarket Square (Des Plaines Ave. between Lake St. and Randolph St.) Chicago