The Chicago Activator - April 19, 2016

Official E-Newsletter of the SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local

IN THIS ISSUE

April 19, 2016

SAG-AFTRA Senior Radio Players Present

Gabrielle Carteris Elected President Commercials Contracts

Les MisĂŠrables

Senior Radio Players Narrator Workshop Committee News

Wednesday, April 20

May Day 2016 Low Budget Film Contracts

Details below.

Gabrielle Carteris Elected President in Historic Vote Filling the late SAG-AFTRA President Ken Howard's vacant office was at the top of the agenda when the National Board gathered at SAG-AFTRA Plaza on April 9. The board elected Gabrielle Carteris by acclamation to fill out the remaining 15 months of Howard's term and elected Rebecca Damon to serve as executive vice president -- meaning for the first time the top three SAG-AFTRA officers are women. Click here for more.

Members Asked to Ratify Commercials Contracts The National Board unanimously approved the recently negotiated commercials contracts during its plenary April 9-10, sending the deal to the membership for ratification. Click here for more.

Save the Date Don't miss the SAG-AFTRA Senior Radio Players' performance of Les MisĂŠrables.

7 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.) Wednesday, April 20.

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.

The SAG-AFTRA Senior Radio Players have presented live creations of radio classics for 19 years! Please come out to support them in what will surely be another amazing performance.

Johnny Heller 2nd Annual Splendiferous Narrator Workshop Renowned narrator Johnny Heller is bringing his famous, intensive, all-day workshop to Chicago for one day only. If you are a member of the SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local, you will be given a 15 percent discount off the admission price.

Topics include: - Fiction vs. Nonfiction - DIY! Promotion/Sales/Marketing/Self-Publishing/Acx - Erotica/Romance - Audition Demos - Coaching Special guest panelists include Paul Ruben and Sean Pratt.

When: 8 - 3:30 p.m. Monday, May 9 Where: Raiz H. Waraich Auditorium - East West University 829 S. Wabash Chicago, IL 60605 For more information, email Jolene Jones at jolene.jones@sagaftra.org. Space is limited.

Committee News

Attention all SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local Singers: What better way to show your solidarity than to join your fellow SAG-AFTRA singers in performing at the Chicago Local's membership meeting in June?

There will be several rehearsals leading up to the event. We ask that all interested union singers please plan on attending at least three rehearsals.

For more information, email Jolene Jones at jolene.jones@sagaftra.org.

As the song Solidarity Forever by Ralph Chaplin (1915), says...

"Solidarity forever/Solidarity forever/Solidarity forever/For the union makes us strong."

The Background Committee will be reconvening as an active committee on Friday, April 29, at noon at 1 E. Erie, Suite 650. The focus of the committee will be commercial background work. If you are interested in joining the committee and/or attending this meeting, please RSVP to Sean Hennessy at sean.hennessy@sagaftra.org.

Parking passes will be available if you park in the 10 East Ontario parking lot.

Save the Date May Day 2016 When: Noon - 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 1 Where: Haymarket Memorial (Corner of DesPlaines and Randolph streets)

May Day, also known as International Workers Day, is a celebration of workers that takes places all across the world. Join the Chicago Federation of Labor, Illinois Labor History Society and Jobs with Justice at the site where it all began as we continue the fight for workers' rights.

Low Budget Film Contracts - What SAG-AFTRA Members Need to Know This seminar is a must-attend for anyone working on or planning to work on low budget films or Web series. Are you and a bunch of your friends getting together and making short films, student 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!

When: 5:30 - 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 26 Where: KMRC, 1 E. Erie, Suite 660, Chicago Space is limited. RSVP to Kathy Byrne at kathy.byrne@sagaftra.org. Dinner will be served. You must be a current member of SAG-AFTRA (paid through April 30, 2016) or AEA to attend.

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 $13 cash, $14 Visa, MasterCard or American Express payment. You will need both tickets to exit the parking structure.

This meeting is only open to paid-up SAG-AFTRA members in good standing. Unfortunately, no guests allowed. Parents/guardians of younger performers under 18 years old are welcome.

SAG-AFTRA members, please bring your membership card (paid through April 30, 2016) for admittance.

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