Official E-Newsletter of the SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local
IN THIS ISSUE
November 28, 2016
KMRC and SAG-AFTRA Conservatory Present
SAG Awards Voting Privileges
Agent Speed Dating
MusiCares Musician Dental Clinic Agent Speed Dating
Monday, Dec. 12
Local News 2016 AICP Show Kaufherr Center Update 2017 IAP Grants
Details below
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 Actor statuette. November 2016 dues must be received by Thursday, Dec. 1, in order for members to be eligible to vote and receive For Your Consideration materials. Visit the SAG Awards at sagawards.org. MusiCares - Musician Dental Clinic MusiCares, in collaboration with Chicago AFM and Smiles Programs, will host a free dental clinic for music professionals. When: 9:30 - 4:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 2 Where: Chicago AFM 656 W. Randolph, Ste 2W Chicago, IL 60661 Eligible patients will receive a complete dental exam, bitewing X-rays and a dental cleaning free of charge. Participants must document at least five years professional music career history and qualify through MusiCares. All appointments must be scheduled in advance. For more information and to obtain an application, call MusiCares at (212) 245-7840. MusiCares is a nonprofit organization providing critical assistance to music people in times of need. musicares.org
KMRC and SAG-AFTRA Conservatory Present: Agent Speed Dating Here's your opportunity to get one-on-one advice from some of the top agents in town. Each member will spend five minutes with an agent for on-camera auditioning, five minutes with an agent for voiceover critiques and 10 minutes with an agent discussing headshots and selfmarketing material. When: 6 - 8 p.m., Monday, Dec.12 Where: Kaufherr Members Resource Center (KMRC) 1 E. Erie, Suite 660 Chicago, IL 60611 RSVP to kathy.byrne@sagaftra.org. Space is limited. Park 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 cash. You will need both tickets to exit the parking structure. This is going to be a fast-paced, closely timed conservatory, so we need to do some preproduction to make sure it all goes smoothly. Here's what you'll need to do:
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RSVP to Kathy Byrne at kathy.byrne@sagaftra.org. Send a pdf of your headshot and resume. This will be shared with the on-camera agents, so they know what type of copy to bring for you. For the voiceover agent, you will need to send an mp3 of no more than 30 seconds of whatever voiceover work you think you're best at (i.e. commercial, narration, etc.). Don't have an mp3? No problem, just schedule a time to come to the KMRC by Dec. 5 and you can make one in the Audio Studio. The day of the Conservatory, bring additional hard copy headshots and resumes for the agents. You must be on time. We will be scheduling members in half-hour increments. If you miss your time slot, there's no way to make it up. Just come early and you'll have no worries.
If you attended the Speed Dating event in 2014, you are welcome to RSVP, but will be waitlisted in order to make room for members who have not had the opportunity to participate in this limitedcapacity event. 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. The purpose of this event is for you to receive unbiased, third-party critique of your work. As a byproduct, performers have found an agent during this process; however that is not the intent of this Conservatory. Work the perk! Agent Speed Dating - 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. Unfortunately, no guests allowed. Parents/guardians of younger performers under 18 years old are welcome. Please bring your membership card (paid through Oct. 31, 2016 or April 30, 2017) for admittance.
Local News #GivingTuesday with the Kaufherr Center Each year, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving is the global #GivingTuesday. The Kaufherr Members Resource Center is participating this year with a Bake and Book Sale to benefit the Kaufherr Center. These books may entertain, help you learn, take you down memory lane or just adorn your coffee table. The Center will be open from 9 to 5 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 29. Please come and help support the Center this giving season. See you Tuesday! Keep Your Agent in the Know If you book a project through your agent, please let them know when production contacts you directly. For example: If you book one of the nighttime dramas shooting here, your agent calls to say you got the part. Then production calls you to arrange a fitting, change your shooting date, ask you to do something that may resemble a stunt or other training. If production contacts you directly, chances are your agent is not aware of the changes and therefore cannot negotiate further provisions or pay in some circumstances, and he or she can't make sure you are being paid properly when your check comes in.
Sean Hennessy (manager of commercial and corporate/educational contracts), Courtney Rioux (SAG-AFTRA member), and Charles Andrew Gardner (SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local Board member) at the 2016 AICP Show at the Chicago Cultural Center on Nov. 17. The Association of Independent Commercial Producers is a trade association that represents the interests of production companies in the advertising industry. Its members account for 85 percent of all domestic commercial production aired in the U.S. In addition to being an awards ceremony, winning entries are archived in the Film Department of the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York. The AICP Awards Tour also includes stops in Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Atlanta, Dallas and Richmond.
The New and Improved Kaufherr Center in Action The Kaufherr Members Resource Center celebrates 15 years of service with a stylish and ergonomic redesign with state-of the-art equipment for ultimate comfort and productivity to better serve members. The Center has been supporting professional actors in Chicago since its founding in 2001 and offers union actors from Chicago and across the country access to its unique services, training programs and facilities - all at no cost to members in good standing. Here are some recent events that took place at the Center.
SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris and Chicago Local Executive Director Eric Chaudron with Chicago Local board members at the KMRC reveal on Nov. 14. President Carteris was the special guest for the reopening of the Center and met with Chicago members.
Adria Drawn (SAG-AFTRA member and acting coach) shares acting tips with members while Rachael Patterson (director of Acting Studio Chicago) looks on at the Functionary and Small Roles for Episodic TV/Film Conservatory on Nov. 21. The interactive conservatory focused on the best way to approach the one-liner for film and television productions and what type of techniques should be used to prepare for auditions.
SAG-AFTRA member Beth Horn donating blood at the 12th annual SAG-AFTRA Chicago Blood Drive at the Kaufherr Center on Oct. 24. The Chicago Local gave out 32 free flu shots and collected 19 units of blood. With these generous donations from members of SAG-AFTRA, 57 people will be helped. We are truly grateful to everyone who helped makes this possible.
2017 DCASE Individual Artists Program Grants The Individual Artists Program aims to assist Chicago's professional artists and creative entrepreneurs in creating work that elevates their careers and brings value to the City of Chicago. This year's IAP program will include significant updates to guidelines and eligible program categories. All applicants are required to attend an Application Assistance Workshop in order to apply for a grant. Free Workshop at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., Chicago 
Monday, Dec. 5, 6 - 8 p.m., 2nd Floor Claudia Cassidy Theater
Click here to sign up for one of these training sessions. The workshop will review updates to grant guidelines and eligibility requirements, review criteria and provide guidance to help applicants prepare the strongest, most competitive applications. Following the presentation, there will be time for applicants to speak with DCASE staff and ask questions. IAP guidelines are available at chicagoculturalgrants.org. The IAP application period opens on Dec. 1 and the deadline for applications is Jan. 13, 2017. Absolutely no extensions will be granted. 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 Email: chicago@sagaftra.org Website: SAGAFTRA.org