The Chicago Activator - Sept. 22, 2014

Official E-Newsletter of the SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local

September 22, 2014

IN THIS ISSUE Agent Access New Rates

SAG-AFTRA Senior Radio Players present

Walk to End Alzheimer's Senior Radio Players Oct. 8

The Great McGinty

Seize the Day New Equipment in KMRC

and

Singers: Marketing Events Charlie's Talent Agency Deals and Discounts KPCC Negotiates First Contract

The Great Gildersleeve

Freelance Tidbit Blood Drive Musicians Dental Clinic

Wednesday, Oct. 8

SAG Awards Voting Holiday Hours

Details below

Agent Access with Gill Hayes Talent Agency Gill Hayes Talent Agency, Chicago's newest franchised agency, will interview SAG-AFTRA members for the purpose of representation the week of Sept. 29.

Deadline for submission of headshot and resume -- mail or drop off only, no email submissions -- is noon, Sept. 24. If selected for an interview, you will be notified by Monday, Sept. 29.

Please, do not submit directly to the agent for this event. Mail or drop off your submission, including headshot, resume and your SAG-AFTRA member number, to Kathy Byrne at SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local, 1 East Erie, Suite 650, Chicago, IL 60611. If you have any questions, please call Kathy at (312) 573-8081, ext. 5508.

SAG-AFTRA Chicago's Casting Access/Agent Access program is an ongoing, cooperative venture for the mutual benefit of Chicago talent agents, casting professionals and SAG-AFTRA members in good standing. It is not a workshop, training or "feedback" program or a guarantee of work or future audition or employment opportunities. It is an opportunity for casting professionals and talent agents to hold "generals" and become better acquainted with the wide variety of talent in Chicago's SAG-AFTRA membership.

New Rates for TV/Theatrical With the ratification of the TV/Theatrical contract on Aug. 22 comes the possibility of additional pay. If you worked on a film or television show between the dates of July 1 and Aug. 22 and were paid the old session fee, you should receive a paycheck for the difference in the next six weeks.

If you do not receive your additional paycheck by Oct. 31 please contact Kathy Byrne at kathy.byrne@sagaftra.org. If you received the new rate in your original paycheck, you are all set.

Join the Actors & Artists Unite Team at the Chicago Walk to End Alzheimer's When: Sunday, Sept. 28 Registration at 8 a.m., Ceremony at 9:15 a.m., Walk at 10 a.m.

Where: Montrose Harbor Montrose Avenue and Simonds Drive, Chicago, IL 60613 Join your fellow SAG-AFTRA members at the Chicago Walk to End Alzheimer's. Members are invited to join the Actors & Artists Unite Team to End Alzheimer's, founded in 2011 by SAG-AFTRA member Nancy Daly. This team of performing artists and their friends and families has raised more than $90,000 for the fight against Alzheimer's and will have a presence in 29 cities around the country this fall. To find out more about the team and for contact information, visit alz.org/AAUnite.

Register today by clicking here.

Walk with the hundreds of actors and artists around the country who have walked for a world without Alzheimer's. All are welcome!

The products and services noted herein are provided as an informational service to SAG-AFTRA members and are administered by entities independent of SAG-AFTRA. Any questions must be handled by the provider.

Next Performance of the SAG-AFTRA Senior Radio Players On Wednesday, Oct. 8, the Senior Radio Players are presenting two shows: The Great McGinty and The Great Gildersleeve.

7 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.) Wednesday, Oct. 8 Claudia Cassidy Theater at the Chicago Cultural Center 77 E. Randolph (at Michigan) Admission is free, however seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local's Diversity Committee Presents Seize the Day: Brand & Market Yourself To be successful in today's workplace, it is critical that everyone learn to brand and market themselves. A famous quote supports this: "Luck is where preparation meets opportunity." Branding and marketing yourself creates luck.

Give yourself some leverage. Get educated in all the things relating to branding and marketing yourself. This event is open to SAG-AFTRA and AEA members in good standing.

8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11 Scheduled Presenters: Tony Castillo, Cedric Young and Craig Harris Continental breakfast and a cold lunch are included.

RSVP to Kathy Byrne at kathy.byrne@sagaftra.org.

Park for $14 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 12-hour ticket for $14. You will need both tickets to exit the parking structure. Cash only.

New Equipment in the KMRC Video Suite The KMRC has brand-new mics and a new Canon CIXIA HF R500 Digital Camcorder. If you'd like to use this equipment, training is offered from 5 - 9 p.m. every Wednesday.

Attention Singers: Marketing Training Designed for You Do you feel like your career is suffering the doldrums? Are you just spinning your wheels? Does your brand message need to be revamped? Need to learn the tricks to successful marketing using social media?

We have the answer!

The SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local Singers Committee is proud to present two seminars to help take your career to the next level.

Branding and Marketing Yourself for Success as a Singer in Chicago and Beyond!

6 - 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13 Guest Presenters: Cindy Kurman Barrie and Lee Barrie of Kurman Communications, Inc. Snap, Crackle, Pop! Learn to Create Your Own Graphic Materials 6 - 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3 Guest Presenter: Jeremiah Miles, graphic artist Both seminars are open to SAG-AFTRA members in good standing and will be held at the KMRC, 1 E. Erie, Suite 660, Chicago, IL 60611.

RSVP to Jolene Jones at jolene.jones@safaftra.org. Light refreshments will be served.

Park for $11 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 $11. You will need both tickets to exit the parking structure. Cash only.

Surrender of Union Franchise for Charlie's Talent Agency Please note that SAG-AFTRA has been advised that Charlie's Talent Agency has, effective Sept. 4, 2014, ceased operating as a franchise agency, under both legacy SAG's jurisdiction and legacy AFTRA's jurisdiction. The effect of the surrender is as follows: - No member of SAG-AFTRA may hereafter engage, use, or deal through this agency.

- All contracts in force between this agency and the members of SAG-AFTRA are ipso facto and without further notice terminated except that the agency may retain and collect any commissions earned under said contracts prior to the surrender of franchise.

- Members shall not be under any obligation to pay commissions to the agent on any moneys earned by members after the termination of the agency contracts, even though such moneys are earned by members on employment contracts in existence at the date of termination of the agency contracts.

Please do not hesitate to contact SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local TV/Theatrical Director Kathy Byrne at (312) 867-5508 or the SAG-AFTRA Professional Representatives Department at (323) 549-6745, if you have any outstanding questions.

Deals and Discounts SAG-AFTRA members are eligible for outstanding deals on entertainment, car rentals, insurance, medical visits, prescriptions, real estate, legal services and more. Visit SAGAFTRA.org, log in as a member and click on Deals & Discounts under Member Services. There are discounts on AT&T Wireless, IMDBPro, Backstage, Zipcar, Hertz, Avis, Budget, UPS Stores and more.

From time to time, offers specific to Chicago are included in The Activator.

All Deals & Discounts are administered by entities independent of SAG-AFTRA. Questions about each offer must be handled by the providers. SAG-AFTRA does not endorse any of these services.

SAG-AFTRA-Represented Staff at KPCC Negotiate First-Ever Contract KPCC news staff represented by SAG-AFTRA have agreed to terms of a first-ever union contract with management at Southern California Public Radio.

The new three-year contract includes guaranteed wage increases per year for the term of the contract, minimum scales for each job title and accompanying job descriptions, improvements in matters affecting the newsroom and company benefits on the same basis as non-bargaining unit members.

SAG-AFTRA National Director of News & Broadcast for Southern California Anna Calder贸n served as chief negotiator for the union.

The new contract covers more than 70 reporters, newscasters, correspondents, producers, videographers/photographers, data journalists, show hosts, news anchors and apprentice news clerks who work on the air and online.

More details about the contract are available online.

Freelance Tidbit If you ever find yourself at a session and your contract doesn't look quite right -- special provisions, platform/usage is different than what your agent told you -- take a moment to ask the producer to send the contract to your agent to "proofread" before you sign.

Tenth Annual Blood Drive with Free Flu Shots Every two seconds, someone in America needs blood. Those of us blessed with good health can share it through donating blood -- to enable a premature baby to live, a burn victim to recover, a cancer patient to be treated, an accident victim to survive or a transplant candidate to have a life-saving surgery.

If you have avoided donating blood because you don't like needles, try this: With your thumb and forefinger, pinch the skin on the inside of your elbow joint. Regular blood donors say that's a pretty good simulation of what it feels like when you give blood. Won't you just give it a try -- and then if you think somebody's life is worth putting up with a little pinch, we'd love to sign you up for the SAG-AFTRA Blood Drive.

On Monday, Oct. 20, the Kaufherr Members Resource Center will host the 10th annual SAG-AFTRA Chicago Blood Drive. The drive is open to SAG-AFTRA and AEA members, family and friends, agents and other industry pros, our labor brothers and sisters, and our neighbors in the building.

The need is constant and your contribution is important for a healthy and reliable blood supply. And you'll feel good knowing you've helped change a life.

You must be 17 years old or older and weigh at least 110 pounds to donate blood. There is no upper age limit and most medications do not disqualify you from donating. Other restrictions may apply. If you have questions, please call the LifeSource Medical Help Desk at (877) 543-3768 or check out their website.

Noon to 6 p.m., Monday, Oct. 20 KMRC, 1 East Erie Suite 660 Chicago, IL 60611 Free Flu Shots Again this year, thanks to The Actors Fund, the event also includes free seasonal flu shots. Shots will be available from 9:30 a.m. - noon on a first come, first shot basis.

Please contact Kathy Byrne (312) 867-5508 or email kathy.byrne@sagaftra.org to register.

KMRC will be closed to other uses on Monday, Oct. 20.

Park for $11 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 $11. You will need both tickets to exit the parking structure. Cash only.

Note: The FDA imposes a number of donor registration restrictions. These restrictions, followed by LifeSource, are solely the responsibility of the FDA and are not endorsed by SAG-AFTRA. The products and services noted herein are provided as an informational service to SAG-AFTRA members and are administered by entities independent of SAG-AFTRA. Any questions must be handled by the provider. This information is not intended to serve as an endorsement by the union nor is any warranty or guarantee implied.

Musicians Dental Clinic in Chicago 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Oct. 8, 2014 Chicago AFM, 656 W. Randolph, Suite 2W, Chicago, IL 60661 MusiCares, in collaboration with Chicago AFM and Smiles Programs ... the mobile dentists, will host a free dental clinic for music professionals. Eligible patients will receive a complete dental exam, bitewing X-rays and a dental cleaning free of charge. All appointments must be scheduled in advance. To qualify, participants must document at least five years professional music career history and qualify through MusiCares.

Please call MusiCares at (877) 303-6962 for more information and to obtain an application.

This event is administered by entities independent of SAG-AFTRA. SAG Awards Voting Privileges Only active, paid-up union members are given the opportunity to vote for the recipients of the Screen Actors Guild Awards' coveted bronze Actor statuette. Also, "For Your Consideration" and nomination screenings are only available to active, paid-up SAG-AFTRA members. November 2014 dues must be paid by Dec. 1 in order to be eligible to vote for the SAG Awards and receive screeners.

Visit the SAG Awards at sagawards.com for more information.

Holiday Hours This year, the Chicago Local and the KMRC will be open on Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 13.