The Chicago Activator - May 5, 2014

Official E-Newsletter of the SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local

May 5, 2014

IN THIS ISSUE LIVE from Mayne Stage Conversations with Dan Navarro

Tickets Available Now

New Member Orientation Tips & Tricks Online Auditions Senior Radio Players Freelance Tidbit

LIVE from Mayne Stage

Volunteer at GCFD New WIN App Benefits

An evening full of great entertainment to benefit the Kaufherr Members Resource Center!

SAG-PHP News

6-9 p.m. Monday, May 19

CineYouth Festival Premiere of NOW Holiday Schedule

Details below.

SAG-AFTRA Unveils New Logo - Read more at SAGAFTRA.org.

Tickets Available Now! LIVE from Mayne Stage On May 19, the Mayne Stage in Rogers Park will be the backdrop for the second annual Live from Mayne Stage event to benefit the Kaufherr Members Resource Center (KMRC).

This year's event features critically acclaimed singer/songwriter and SAG-AFTRA National Vice President, Recording Artists Dan Navarro; comedian Russ Williamson; chanteuse Claudia Hommel accompanied by Bob Moreen; song-and-dance man Dennis Kelly; rhythm and blues vocalist Lynne Jordan; and world-class entertainer Greta Pope. Chicago broadcast legend Richard Steele will be the evening's master of ceremonies.

The KMRC is a multipurpose facility available at no cost to SAG-AFTRA and Actors' Equity members. Its mission is to support Chicago's professional performers in enhancing their skills and marketing their talents. The KMRC has a deep and profound commitment to Chicago's actors, singers, theaters and the arts.

"Chicago-area performers are very fortunate to have access to this comprehensive resource. The KMRC contributes greatly to the rich performing arts scene in Chicago, giving performers the tools for excellence," said SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local Board member and benefit chairperson Greta Pope.

When: 6 - 9 p.m. May 19, 2014 Where: Mayne Stage, 1328 W. Morse Ave., Chicago Tickets: $25 in advance, $50 at the door. Purchase tickets online at Eventbrite.

To purchase by mail, send a check payable to the KMRC to: KMRC c/o SAG-AFTRA Chicago 1 East Erie, Suite 650 Chicago, IL 60611

This event is being produced and administered by entities independent of SAG-AFTRA.

Conversations with Dan Navarro On May 19, SAG-AFTRA National Vice President, Recording Artists Dan Navarro, a Los Angelesbased singer/songwriter, voiceover artist and recording artist, will engage in conversations with SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local members. Dan will answer questions about navigating a successful performing career, share some tales from the road, talk about his union and much more. He has worked in many areas of the business and has a wealth of knowledge to share. Don't miss this opportunity to converse with one of the best.

When: 1 - 3 p.m. May 19, 2014 Where: KMRC, 1 East Erie, Suite 660, Chicago RSVP to jolene.jones@sagaftra.org About Dan Navarro Dan started his career as a songwriter, often with Eric Lowen, for artists as diverse as Pat Benatar (the Grammy-nominated We Belong), The Bangles, Jackson Browne and many more. In the 1990s, he recorded and toured with Lowen in the acoustic duo Lowen & Navarro.

A singer and voice actor for 25 years, his credits include The Lorax, Rock of Ages, Happy Feet, Rio (Oscar-nominated Real In Rio), Ice Age (2 & 3), Prison Break, Family Guy and The Cleveland Show; recordings with Neil Young, Andrea Bocelli, Luis Miguel, Jose Feliciano, Susanna Hoffs and commercials for Shakey's Pizza, McDonald's, Toyota, Coca-Cola, Honda, El Pollo Loco, Nationwide and hundreds of others.

Dan has contributed countless hours in Washington on performers' issues, including testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Copyright Royalty Board supporting Nashville Songwriters Association International, SAG-AFTRA, NARAS, BMI, SoundExchange and musicFIRST Coalition.

In addition to SAG-AFTRA, he also serves on the boards of Folk Alliance, The Levitt Pavilions LA, The California Songwriters Association and the Golden West Chapter of the ALS Association, fighting the neuromuscular disease better known as Lou Gehrig's disease, which tragically took Lowen's life in 2012. More about Dan at dannavarro.com.

New Member Orientation, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 7 New members represent the future for SAG-AFTRA. The more knowledgeable they are, the stronger our union and all members are. The goal of SAG-AFTRA Chicago's New Members Subcommittee of the Community Outreach, Community Organizing committee is to educate, engage and empower media and entertainment professionals from the moment they become union members.

The new member orientation event is only one part of that process. Topics covered include every step involved in the union experience, from initiation fees and the dues structure to the correct way to execute member reports and contracts. Other areas include agents and commissions, casting directors, resolving claims, health coverage, set demeanor, committees, staff and a variety of member benefits.

New member orientations are not just for new members. Whether you joined yesterday or 20 years ago, all members in good standing are welcome. Plan now to attend the next new membership orientation and stay informed. The next orientation is 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 7. Please call Natasha Beals at the SAG-AFTRA Chicago office, (312) 573-8081 ext. 3712, or email Natasha at natasha.beals@sagaftra.org to reserve your spot.

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 card only.

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 is going to 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.

Double Indemnity May 20 Don't miss the SAG-AFTRA Senior Radio Players' next performance.

Double Indemnity 7 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.) Tuesday, May 20 Claudia Cassidy Theater, 77 E. Randolph, Chicago Directed by Guy Barille, the show's producers are Ernie Lane and Connie Foster. Admission is free, however seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Freelance Tidbit Just a reminder: Session payments for commercial work are to be issued and mailed no more than 12 working days from the date(s) services were rendered. Working days excludes Saturdays, Sundays and holidays that the producer observes, and one must take into consideration USPS delivery time.

SAG-AFTRA to Volunteer at GCFD on May 29 SAG-AFTRA Chicago is returning to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Join staff and members from 1 - 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 29. The GCFD is at 4100 West Ann Lurie Place in Chicago. This is near Midway Airport. Free parking is available.

We never know exactly what we'll be doing, but volunteer opportunities include repacking bulk products to individual/family sizes, assembling boxes with assorted food, checking expiration dates, labeling products, sorting products, etc. Participants must be at least 14 years old.

The Greater Chicago Food Depository is a nonprofit food distribution and training center providing food for hungry people while striving to end hunger in our community. The GCFD distributes donated and purchased food through a network of 650 pantries, soup kitchens and shelters to 678,000 adults and children in Cook County every year.

This event is open to everyone. Please ask family and friends to join you. To volunteer, please RSVP to Linda Swenson at linda.swenson@sagaftra.org.

Workers Independent News App Workers Independent News is excited to announce the release of its mobile app. You can now get the WIN on your iPhone and iPad for free at the iTunes store. In the next few months, an Android version will be released as well.

Stay connected to the newest labor news. Download from iTunes today.

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP Are you aware of all of the benefits of your membership with SAG-AFTRA? If not, we encourage you to log into your SAG-AFTRA account and learn more about these exciting deals and discounts by clicking here!

Members Can Soon Combine SAG-AFTRA Earnings to Qualify for SAG-PHP Plan II Coverage In December, the trustees of the SAG-Producers Health Plan (SAG-PHP) announced a new way to meet the needs of members who do not qualify for coverage under either the SAG-PHP or the AFTRA Health and Retirement Fund. At that time, it was announced that beginning July 1, 2014, members with earnings under SAG-AFTRA contracts may be able to combine their earnings reportable to each plan in order to meet the dollar earnings requirement for SAG-PHP Plan II eligibility (currently $15,100).

We are pleased to announce that more information regarding this benefit has now been announced by SAG-PHP, including how and when to apply. To learn more, please review SAGPHP's special edition Take 2 newsletter found online at sagph.org.

The union's primary goal is for the merging of the SAG and AFTRA plans, and we continue to support the efforts of the trustees to find ways to qualify participants for health coverage through their combined earnings under SAG-AFTRA contracts.

CineYouth Festival: May 8-10, 2014 - Opening Night Guest: Fred Savage Presented by Cinema/Chicago and the 50th Chicago International Film Festival, CineYouth is a yearly youth film festival celebrating and showcasing short films made by filmmakers 21 years old and younger from around the world.

This year's CineYouth Opening Night guest is actor, producer, director, Chicago native and SAGAFTRA member Fred Savage (The Wonder Years, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Modern Family). Along with a screening of select clips from Savage's career and audience Q&A, a catered reception will follow the presentation.

Celebrating its 10th year, CineYouth strives to encourage the talent and accomplishments of young artists and provide them with opportunities to tell their stories, network with other filmmakers and be recognized for their creativity.

CineYouth is free and open to the public of all ages, but you must RSVP to attend opening night.

Please RSVP via email with your name and the number of guests attending.

Click here for the full CineYouth 2014 screening and workshop schedule.

The Gene Siskel Film Center presents the Chicago Premiere of NOW: IN THE WINGS ON A WORLD STAGE Two-time Oscar winner Kevin Spacey and Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes are reunited at the center of this rousing documentary that combines the power of an innovative production of Shakespeare's Richard III, the thrill of offstage asides and the colorful sweep of a travelogue. Join Mendes' Bridge Project, the first transatlantic theater company, for a whirlwind backstage tour that kicks off at London's fabled Old Vic and ends in New York 10 months later, after stops in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Discount for SAG-AFTRA Members SAG-AFTRA members will receive special $7 discount tickets for Now when purchased in person at the Film Center box office. Just mention promo code "SAG." Show times are 6 and 8 p.m. May 5 through 8. Note: Tickets on Monday are $6. The Gene Siskel Film Center is at 164 N. State St., Chicago, phone (312) 846-2800.

Holiday Schedule for Office and KMRC SAG-AFTRA Chicago and KMRC will close at 1 p.m. Friday May 23 and be closed all day Monday, May 26 in observation of Memorial Day. 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