Chicago Activator, April 7, 2014

Official E-Newsletter of the SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local

April 7, 2014

IN THIS ISSUE

Tickets Available Now

LIVE from Mayne Stage Congratulations, Alma!

Agent Access Create Your Own Content CIFF Television Awards

LIVE from Mayne Stage May 19 An evening full of great entertainment to benefit the

Special Hours KMRC on April 23 Help Wanted Freelance Tidbit Tips & Tricks Online Auditions

Kaufherr Members Resource Center!

Details below.

Tickets Available Now LIVE from Mayne Stage What's better than an evening full of great entertainment? An evening full of great entertainment that also benefits the Kaufherr Members Resource Center!

Scheduled to appear: Singers Dan Navarro Lynne Jordan Dennis Kelly Claudia Hommel Greta Pope SAG-AFTRA Singers Comedian - Russ Williamson Emcee - Richard Steele, WBEZ Broadcaster SAG-AFTRA Chicago's KMRC is a multipurpose center with a video suite, an audio suite, new Mac computers, and much more, all available at no cost to SAG-AFTRA and AEA members. Its mission is to support Chicago's professional performers in enhancing their skills and marketing their talent.

The goal of this benefit event is to raise funds to help guarantee that the KMRC continues to be a valuable resource to Chicago members. Please plan to attend.

Along with plenty of entertainment, there will be a silent auction and food and drinks for purchase.

Watch The Activator for more details.

When: May 19, 2014 Where: Mayne Stage, 1328 W. Morse Ave., Chicago Tickets: $25 in advance, $50 at the door To purchase your tickets, visit Eventbrite online or, send a check payable to the KMRC to: SAG-AFTRA Chicago, 1 East Erie, Suite 650, Chicago, IL 60611 This event is administered by entities independent of SAG-AFTRA.

Congratulations, Alma!

SAG-AFTRA member Alma Washington was honored by the Chicago Chapter of the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) at the 35th Annual Florence Criley and Olga Madar Awards on March 20. Alma was this year's Olga Madar Award winner. Madar was the first woman to be elected to the UAW International Executive Board and CLUW's first president.

Marking the celebration of International Women's Day, the event was a chance for CLUW - a labor coalition founded 40 years ago this March - to pay tribute to its recipient's activism for women's rights.

A longtime member of SAG-AFTRA and Actors' Equity, Alma is currently serving her third term on the Chicago Local Board. She has also been a convention delegate and participates in several SAG-AFTRA committees. Demonstrating her strong advocacy for women's rights, she is a board member of Working Women's History Project and the Illinois Labor History Society.

CLUW was formed when 3,200 women union members gathered in Chicago to address issues affecting all women in the workplace. Their slogan: "We didn't come here to swap recipes." The result of their eventually became the Coalition of Labor Union Women.

Fellow members and staff join Alma Washington to celebrate.

Agent Access with Johnson McKay Talent Peggy Johnson of Johnson McKay Talent, Chicago's newest franchised agency, will interview SAG-AFTRA members for the purpose of representation the week of April 28.

Deadline for submissions is noon, Wednesday, April 23. No electronic submissions accepted. If selected for an interview, you will be notified by Friday, April 25. Please mail or drop off your submission (headshot, resume and your SAG-AFTRA member number), to Kathy Byrne at SAGAFTRA Chicago, 1 East Erie, Suite 650, Chicago, IL 60611. If you have any questions, please call the SAG-AFTRA office, (312) 573-8081, ext. 5508.

SAG-AFTRA Chicago's Agent Access program is a 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 talent in Chicago's SAG-AFTRA membership.

April Conservatory Event Create Your Own Content The best way for actors to work steadily is to create their own content. It's been that way for decades. The digital age has made it technologically more feasible for everyone.

At this event, our panelists, Lisa Cordileone, Craig J. Harris, Grace McPhillips and Troy Pryor, along with Mel Jackson and Emile Cambry, will discuss the trials, tribulations and triumphs of creating your own content. There will also be an opportunity for event participants to get advice on their projects, whether the project is in development, in production, in post-production or just a germ of an idea.

Also, since creating your own content isn't done in a vacuum, we'll learn about a tremendous resource in Chicago called BLUE 1647, which will provide physical space, curated programming and other means to connect collaborators and nurture their abilities to bring their ideas to fruition.

When: 6 - 8 p.m. Monday, April 14 Where: Kaufherr Members Resource Center, 1 E. Erie, Suite 660, Chicago, IL 60611 RSVP to Kathy Byrne, kathy.byrne@sagaftra.org or (312) 573-8081, ext. 5508.

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 or credit cards only.

50th CIFF Television Awards to Honor Jesse Spencer and STORY Special Discount for SAG-AFTRA Members This year, the Chicago International Film Festival Television Competition is honoring SAG-AFTRA member Jesse Spencer with the Artistic Achievement Award. Chicago production company STORY will receive the Commitment to Excellence Award for TV Commercials.

Tickets to the April 10 event, held at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, are available online at CinemaChicago.org. Normally $100, SAG-AFTRA members can save 50 percent. Use the promo code SAGAFTRA to purchase a ticket for $50.

Special Hours for KMRC on April 23 The Kaufherr Members Resource Center will not be open on Wednesday evening, April 23. The KMRC will be open during the day, 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Help Wanted Part-Time, Flexible Hours GM Goldman and Associates, an insurance agency in Lincolnwood, is hiring part-time appointment setters. No experience necessary, a pleasant speaking voice is all that you need.

The hours are flexible to accommodate the needs of SAG-AFTRA members. GM Goldman and Associates is located near public transportation at 7250 N. Cicero Avenue. For more information, call (847) 675-3600 or email Donna Kiefer at dkiefer@gmgoldman.com.

Please note: This work opportunity is included at the company's request because it may be of interest to our members. Nothing herein constitutes or is intended to imply an endorsement by SAG-AFTRA of the company or opportunity. All questions regarding the opportunity should be addressed to the company.

Freelance Tidbit Always know the MPU (Maximum Period of Use) of your commercials so you or your agent can issue a timely renegotiation notice to the signatory. If your commercials are not renegotiated, the signatory will simply continue paying the original rates for another 21 months. Also, commission is no longer to be paid to your franchised agent if the commercial is rolled over at scale.

May Conservatory Event Tips & Tricks for Submitting a Kick-Ass Online Casting Audition With special guest Jason Teresi of Breakdown Services, May's Conservatory event will show members how to get the most out of their online casting auditions.

Jason will share examples of the good, the bad and the very best online auditions. He will show you how to record and submit successful online auditions and the tricks and tips you need to DIY. When: 6 - 8 p.m. Monday, May 12 Where: Kaufherr Members Resource Center, 1 E. Erie, Suite 660, Chicago, IL 60611 RSVP to Kathy Byrne, kathy.byrne@sagaftra.org or (312) 573-8081, ext. 5508.

Open to SAG-AFTRA and AEA members in good standing.

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 or credit cards only.

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/chicago