SAG-AFTRA SAN FRANCISCO-NORTHERN CALIFORNIA LOCAL
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Presidents’ Report
1
National Board Report
2
Membership Mtg. Review
2
Broadcast Notes
4
Film Incentive
5
Non-Broadcast Extension
6
Committee Reports
6
Of Note
9
Photo Gallery
10
New Members
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SAG-AFTRA SAN FRANCISCONORTHERN CALIFORNIA LOCAL
W I N T E R
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President’s Report Kathryn Howell Greetings and Happy Holidays to All! It was a pleasure to be a part of the San Francisco-Northern California Local Delegation to the inaugural SAG-AFTRA National Convention in September. One of the important agenda items was the election of national vice presidents. I was honored to nominate Ilyssa Fraden from Chicago as national VP of mid-sized locals. The mid-sized locals are San Francisco-Northern California, Washington-Mid Atlantic, Chicago, Philadelphia, New England and Miami. Ilyssa will be a strong advocate for all of us. I am also pleased to report that the convention approved the creation of an official forum for all 25 local presidents across the country. We will meet at least twice per year (one of which to be face to face) to discuss mutual concerns, successes, plans, etc. In both legacy unions, these presidents’ meetings proved to be very insightful and powerful. This was a pet project of mine which I am delighted to see come to fruition.
350 SANSOME STREET,SUITE 900 SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104 P:(415) 391-7510 FX:(415)391-1108
sf@sagaftra.org
Awards season: If your dues were paid up by December 2, keep an eye out for complimentary screenings of films vying for awards. Also, if you haven’t done so in the past, I recommend checking out the Academy-nominated short films that will show in a limited number of movie theaters after nominations are announced. These are the best shorts from all over the world (both live action and animated) and are consistently an excellent group of films.
SAGAFTRA.ORG/SF Facebook
EDITOR: Len Egert DESIGN: Vicki Balich
Here’s to a great new year!
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National Board Report -
Denny Delk
Since we got home from the first SAG-AFTRA convention, I’ve been trying to decide whether Santa is bringing lots of toys and goodies this year, or if all the boys and girls will get coal in their stockings. We have certainly had an educational experience, as on the local level actors are learning about broadcasters and broadcasters are learning about actors and, on the national stage, the big markets like New York and Los Angeles are learning that there are real professionals making a living in cities like Portland, Ore. and New Orleans. It continues to challenge us to play nice with everyone, but I think that we are learning how to do that as we move into the season of contract negotiations in the new year. And locally, we’ll be gearing up to reorganize some of the work that seems to have slipped off our plate (and not like the broccoli used to slip off when mom wasn’t looking). The leadership you’ve put in place both locally and nationally should serve us well. And it’s my hope that the new year brings more and bigger productions to Northern California, station owners who know the value of the product that we produce on their behalf and a really good $10 bottle of scotch. Actually, I’d settle for two out of three.
Membership Meeting Review On Monday evening, Oct. 21, the San Francisco-Northern California Local held its final membership meeting of 2013 at the downtown Marriott Hotel. A new membership orientation, presented by Executive Director Len Egert, Membership Coordinator Marifel Fuentecilla and Theatrical/TV Business Representative Lori Shockley kicked off the three-hour event. The business portion of the meeting followed with Local Board President Kathryn Howell discussing local and national legislative efforts to increase the film incentive rebate cap in California for the 2014 vote. Members were encouraged to take an interest and make their voices heard in Sacramento. Daniel Kitowski, The Actors Fund’s director of health services, Western Region, walked us through Covered California options and requirements and provided important information relevant to freelancers and the self-employed. Our main event was a five-person panel that addressed the topic of Maintaining Relevance in Today’s Market. It was moderated by Joshua Johnson, morning news announcer on KQED. The panel consisted of Nancy Hayes and Dee Dee Shaughnessy, longtime SF casting director and SAG-AFTRA agent, respectively; Tony Jima, owner of the newly SAG-AFTRA franchised agency, Crown North Talent in Stockton; longtime Director’s Guild AD Ned Kopp and Cindy Taylor, DGA 2nd AD. Hayes kicked off the discussion noting the new trend in commercials for ‘‘real people with a homegrown look” as opposed to the “slick and glossy look” — indicating that our San Francisco membership has an abundance of talent with the desired appearance. Hayes also stressed the importance of a current headshot Cont’d. on page 3
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with a resume on the back. Shaughnessy spoke of the constant challenge of staying engaged in your craft, noting that, “a lot of work over time goes into being prepared for a last-minute audition.” Jima mentioned that his agency is submitting local member auditions via video/Internet in order to take advantage of LA work in a cost-effective way. Kopp emphasized the necessity of basic set etiquette and professionalism in the workplace, and Taylor, who has consistently directed background, suggested the following guidelines as mandatory to any pro on every job: 1. Arrive early and leave enough time to park and get to the shuttle or holding area. 2. Bring a pen, photo identification and proof of citizenship. Two forms of ID are required. 3. Don’t wander off without informing the 2nd AD or PA. 4. Pay attention and keep quiet when camera is rolling. 5. Keep your cell phone off at all times. An audience Q&A followed with the guidance of Joshua Johnson. In responding to the question of bringing more work to SF, Kopp had this advice: “Never have the attitude that it’s not my problem and wait for someone else to take care of it. Speak to your representatives about supporting rebates and incentives.” Shaughnessy discussed the importance of a high commitment level and how “standards shouldn’t slip, even if you don’t have an abundance of work at the moment. Keep training and prepare.” All sound advice. If you are interested in supporting legislation or have suggestions for SAG-AFTRA please contact the local office at sf@sagaftra.org
Join SAG-AFTRA in Supporting our Troops Once again this year, SAG-AFTRA partners with the USO to offer hope, comfort and support to our troops and their families. There's no gift too great or small for our nation's heroes so please consider making a $25 tax-deductible gift to the program today to allow Americans deployed overseas the opportunity to call home or receive a care package for the holidays. Please visit teamuso.org/sagaftra to donate, sending a message of support to our troops. To all of our brothers and sisters, husbands, wives, partners and children who have contributed to our country’s defense in the past or who do so today: We thank you.
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BROADCAST NOTES KRON 4: Newspersons voted in favor of their new agreement on Nov. 1 and the executive committee and local executive board ratified the agreement on Nov. 8 and 12 respectively. The agreement provides for a 3-percent increase effective immediately and an additional 3 percent starting a year from now. The contract is in the process of being printed and should be distributed to all affected bargaining unit members within the next 30 days. On a related note, the FCC approved the merger of Young Broadcasting and Media General; that transaction also closed on Nov. 12. The newly combined company will retain the Media General name. Negotiations for the KRON writers and directors/announcers will resume shortly. KOIT/KBLX: Negotiations continue at these two Entercom-owned music stations. While several provisions of the agreements have been tentatively agreed upon, significant differences on key provisions still exist. Among the issues still to be resolved: use and re-use of programmatic, commercial and public affairs material; limitations on voice-tracking; and the economics of a new contract (e.g. wages, H&R contributions, severance, etc.) KQED-TV: This agreement expires at the end of the year and we have already served the company with the notice to reopen. KQED-TV recently premiered its revamped weekly news program formerly known as This Week in Northern California, which was hosted for 19 years by renowned SAG-AFTRA member Belva Davis prior to her retirement last year. The show is now called KQED Newsroom and is hosted by Thuy Vu, who formerly co-hosted Eye on the Bay at KPIX. The show will also feature Scott Shafer as senior correspondent, who will continue to host The California Report on KQED-FM. KQED Newsroom is being touted as a multiplatform vehicle incorporating a public affairs roundtable, interviews, field reporting and debate segments on current issues. The show will air each Friday evening on KQED channel 9, but will be rebroadcast over KQED-FM on Sunday evenings as well as being available with additional Web features at kqed.org. KSEE-TV We returned to Fresno for two days for our third negotiation session with new owner Nexstar. We were joined by several members who strongly and respectfully communicated the unit’s concerns to company management. With two stations merging into a duopoly, a physical move into a new studio, some staffing changes and new duties, we’re continuing our ongoing communications with the unit and management to work toward a smooth transition. KDTV Members at KDTV are engaged in negotiations to ensure that safety concerns and quality journalism do not suffer when the union permits the company to assign camera duties to reporters. Members organized a well-attended Saturday meeting to reach consensus on our priorities for the bargaining table. We resume negotiations in mid-December.
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BROADCAST NOTES
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SF NorCal Local Screens Documentary Breaking News, Breaking Down Last month, the SF NorCal Local presented two screenings of the Mike Walter documentary Breaking News, Breaking Down, in Fresno on Oct. 15 and in San Francisco on Oct. 17. The Fresno screening was a collaboration between SAG-AFTRA and the student chapter or Radio Television Digital News Association at Fresno State University (a special thanks to Faith Sidlow for her work organizing this event). Mike Walter, left and Thomas Roman
This award-winning documentary calls attention to the stress and impact on reporters and journalists who cover catastrophic news events like the terrorist attacks on 9/11, the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and other tragedies. By shining a light on these events and the reporters who cover them, Walter’s documentary helps “bring the visiting journalists together … tearing down the emotional walls journalists have erected.” Walter, the writer, director and producer of the film, attended the sceening with Kim Komenich from the DART Society, a Fellowship of Journalists Who Cover Violence. Both helped facilitate a candid discussion amongst members working in the field. Thank you to everyone who attended and participated. DART Fellow Kim Komenich, left, and Sonia Melara
Film Incentives & Local Rebate Program The Scene in San Francisco Film and Television Rebate Program makes San Francisco one of the few cities with a local film incentive program. On Oct. 30, members and staff from your San Francisco-Northern California local attended the Board of Supervisors’ Budget & Finance Committee in support of amendments to make the program more successful. Supporters included SAG-AFTRA, the San Francisco Film Commission, the Teamsters and other local constituents. Organizer Lauren Renaud read a statement from our local president, Kathryn Howell, stating, “We live from job to job — to support ourselves and our families, and to secure health coverage and pensions for our future. Each film project which comes to town is lifeblood for us.” The committee voted 3-0 to amend the rebate program. Through these changes, permit costs have been lowered, Web series are eligible for the rebates, the program is extended for an additional year and the cap on rebates was increased by $1 million. This is an important step toward welcoming more productions to the Bay Area. If you’re interested in our actions to support increases to the statewide film incentives program, please contact our local office at 415-391-7510. Victory at KPBS San Diego - The San Francisco-Northern California Local welcomes our new sisters and brothers from KPBS, a public radio and TV station in San Diego. On Nov. 18, 55 public media professionals who produce, report, host and present content for television, radio and the Internet joined our union. KPBS is the second public media station in Southern California to organize with SAG-AFTRA this year, and they join our broadcast members at San Francisco’s KQED, as well as NPR in D.C., WNYC in New York, and other radio and television stations. Congratulations to our new KPBS members and good luck on your first contract.
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CONTRACT CORNER SAG-AFTRA OK’s Extension of Corporate/Educational and Non-Broadcast Contracts SAG-AFTRA has agreed to a one-year extension of two of its legacy contracts for corporate, nonbroadcast and educational work. The National Board of Directors ratified the agreement between the union and the Producers Group on Oct. 1 at its meeting in Los Angeles. The legacy AFTRA and SAG Corporate/Educational and Non-Broadcast Contracts, which were jointly negotiated in April 2011, were set to expire on April 30, 2014. The terms of the contracts have not changed. With the coming negotiations for the TV/Theatrical contract, the extension gives the union more time to prepare and gives members more opportunity to be involved in the run-up to the next negotiation. The Corporate/Educational and Non-Broadcast Contracts cover public relations, sales promotion and training films made for initial use to the general public, schools, conventions, seminars, museums, in retail stores and for Internet use.
COMMITTEE REPORTS Conservatory Committee - Phillip Ramirez Six new presenters joined the conservatory line-up this year: Michael D. Cohen, Andy Sorouhan and Trish Tillman of Un-Scripted Theatre, Cassandra Chamberlain, Jeremiah Birnbaum, John Sudol and Joie Landeaux. Returning favorites included Robert and Michelle Colt, Shari Carlson, Elaine Clark, Robert Weinapple with local talent Ed Vasgersian, Lucrecia Russo, Tom Chantler, Joel Abrams, Denny Delk, Micci Toliver and Lynne Maes. A big San Francisco thank you goes out to all of our 2013 presenters. We are now in the process of scheduling our calendar for 2014 conservatory workshops, aiming to have at least two workshops per month. As always, the conservatory is open to accepting contact information or ideas for new workshops. If interested in presenting or joining the committee please contact vicki.balich@sagaftra.org.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
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BookPALS –Fairyland Review: - Lynne Maes “It’s a lot like playing in the sandbox.” - George McRae, veteran “Fairylander” BookPALS (Performing Artists for Literacy in Schools) have congregated at the life-size shoe at the entrance of Children’s Fairyland in Oakland on the third Saturday of each month for almost a decade. From the moment we enter the park until the moment we take a bow on the Emerald Stage and start handing out the coveted bookmarks, it’s a whirlwind of activity! Our role at Children’s Fairyland is to do what we do best — bring a story to life for the children listening and watching. We take wonderful children’s stories, some classic, some new, and transform them into scripts. Then, from the moment we walk through the gates to the moment we finish, it’s a fun melee of digging through the costume/prop box, dividing up roles, blocking on the run and seeking likely candidates for audience participation as the crowd gathers. Our performances last 30 minutes, and there are a couple of key ingredients — one of which is ensuring that an adult is sitting near the onstage action, holding the book and turning the pages. Although we’re acting out the story, it’s important to keep the book itself present, anchoring the performance, and reminding parents that reading aloud is one of the most important ways they can bond with and support their children. “Children's Fairyland loves BookPALS. Actors are particularly able to bring stories to life, and in an interactive way. We're sure that they’re helping us inspire future readers, which is one of our main goals,” says C.J. Hirschfield, executive director of Children’s Fairyland. As a storybook-themed park, every attraction is tied to a story or nursery rhyme, so BookPALS are right at home, immersed in the rich language and children’s literature surrounding us. George McRae, longtime Fairyland leader (and chief “actor wrangler”) compares reading at Fairyland to the joy of “playing in the sandbox ... experiencing a world of free, open play before the rigidity of ‘Schoolwith-a-capital-S’ takes over. And it will always be okay to play.” He remarks that it’s important for BookPALS to know what Fairyland is truly about: “not polished, perfected performances, but improvising, letting your imagination run free, making choices on the spot and simply letting go. It makes you a better actor. It’s also not for everyone — ‘winging it’ is not enjoyable for all actors, and that’s okay, too.” As a literacy specialist and educator, I see deep meaning and value in what BookPALS do onstage at Children’s Fairyland (and, of course, in classrooms all over the Bay Area). Children need more, and more varied language — they need the verbal dance that can happen when they are exposed to wonderful stories, and the conversations and ideas that are sparked by those stories. Every BookPAL, whether at Fairyland or in the classroom, is helping build skills that are considered “unconstrained.” For example, every time you use inflection and expression when you read aloud, you help build a child’s capacity to hear the nuance in text — nuance that they might miss if they stayed stuck on the surface, sounding out words. Take irony: How do you learn that the words on the page don’t actually mean what they say, but mean something else? You Cont’d. on page 8
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COMMITTEE REPORTS Cont’d from page 7
can learn it best when you hear and see how a fluent reader treats those words and tells the story that is between the lines. An occasional participant at Fairyland, my own fourth–grader, Warren, struggled to learn to read. “I don’t know what this story is about. I can’t really get it, because it’s so much work to read the words,” he would complain. Where’s the fun in that? It’s likely he would have given up without a book-loving parent there to read aloud to him. But not all kids have book-loving adults in their lives. Maybe their lives are too busy, too stressed, they’re dealing with too many variables or they might think their kids are too old to be read to. This is where BookPALS can make a difference. For many kids, it’s simply hard to learn to read. These kids need to know (and can learn from BookPALS) that there is something magical waiting for them at the end of the struggle — so they shouldn’t give up! In fact, one of our specialties is inviting kids onstage to participate — making the stories interactive whenever possible is a great way to connect with the children and families. They see how much fun we’re having, and that motivates them to read — and maybe check that very same book out of the library later that day. So, thank you “Fairylanders” and BookPALS everywhere. Thank you for bringing your imagination, your talent and your desire to make positive change in the world to our program.
The SAG-AFTRA San Francisco-Northern California Local will be closed in observance of the following holidays: Dec. 24-25 Dec. 31 Jan. 1 Jan. 20 Feb. 17
Winter Holiday New Year’s Eve New Year’s Day Martin Luther King Jr. Day President’s Day
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STAFF NOTES: The San Francisco office welcomes new commercial business rep Janice Goto into the fold. Janice has an extensive background in the entertainment industry. Raised in Los Angeles, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the USC School of Cinema. Her first job was in the production office of a popular television show. Following several years as an editor of broadcast promos, she began working freelance in production on television commercials. She has worked with all the major advertising agencies, filmed at most large and small studios, and traveled throughout the U.S. as well as overseas making commercials. After moving to San Francisco in the mid-’90s, her work expanded to include television shows, corporate, educational and non-broadcast projects. As a producer as well as a DGA first assistant director, she is well-versed in the commercials contracts. Janice is very enthusiastic to now be working as an advocate on behalf of SAG-AFTRA members and looks forward to hearing from you soon. Congratulations to our local broadcast legends on their induction into the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame! Mike Pechner, Barbara Taylor, Bobby Ocean, and Mike Sugerman. A special shout-out to local Vice President (broadcast) and longtime Local Board member Mike Pechner, who was inducted in the Specialty category. A former KCBS staff meteorologist, Mike was welcomed into BARHOF, capping a 45-year career that began just after the station switched to its all-news format in 1968. Pechner can rightfully claim to have originated more live broadcasts from more remote locations in Northern California and the United States than any other broadcast weatherman in the business. Congratulations Mike! Actors Wanted: The San Francisco School of Filmmakers is looking for SAG-AFTRA members wishing to participate in student films (deferred payment). If interested, submit headshots and resumes to San Francisco School of Digital Filmmaking, 925 Mission Street #108, San Francisco, CA 94103, Attn: Francesca Gabowrel, or email to info@filmschoolsf.com. This crew started working on a theatrical production but ended up signing the New Media Agreement. It’s called 8: The Series and is about Prop 8 in California. Shot in Northern California and directed by Waynee Leonard. Striking Images San Francisco State 1968 featuring photographs of Phiz Mezey, until Dec. 20 at the Labor Archives and Research Center, J. Paul Leonard Library, 4th Floor, San Francisco State University, 1630 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA. SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE to members in good-standing: John L. Dales Scholarship Fund - SAG Foundation Program George Heller Memorial Scholarship Fund - AFTRA Foundation Program Union Plus Scholarships - AFL-CIO
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San Francisco Photo Gallery
Lynne Maes, Margie Pratchenko, Yoli Mapp, B. Kaarina Turning Pamela Walker, Malcolm Grissom, Robin Roy, Cheryl Ann Belkin, Florentina Mocanu, Ruby Unger
Captive audience
Lynne Maes, Phil Ramirez, Ruby Unger, Miriam Chase
BookPALS Magic — October 2013
Ruby Unger aka “Miss Nancy”
Miriam Chase — Tiffany and Heather Shinn
Lyn Di Cesare
BookPALS in caucus
Teresa Roberts — Malcolm Grissom
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San Francisco Photo Gallery
Fall Membership Meeting - October 2013
Cindy Taylor
Daniel Kitowski
Ned Kopp
Tony Jima
Jenna Cohen
Dee Dee Shaughnessy
Nancy Hayes
Joshua Johnson
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San Francisco Photo Gallery SAG-AFTRA Convention September 2013
From left, Mike Pechner, Len Egert, Matt Cates, Lauren Renaud, Denny Delk, Kathryn Howell, Lori Shockley, Charlie Holliday, Mark Jones, Bob Butler, Phil Ramirez
From left, Kathryn Howell, Phil Ramirez, Matt Cates, Jessica Bowker, Lori Shockley
Delegates hard at work
Celebrating Halloween at the San Francisco office. Big kids at heart.
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You’re in Good Company
From left, Margaret Bonneville, Vicki Balich, Lori Shockley, Marifel Fuentecilla, Len Egert, Jessica Bowker, Lauren Renaud, Arceli Natividad, Barry Schimmel, Luke McLaughlin.
The perks of AFTRA-SAG Federal Credit Union membership are reserved for a very select group; professionals in the business of entertaining and informing the world. Perhaps the biggest advantage ASFCU offers is that membership gives you an ownership interest in the credit union. Unlike traditional “for profit” banking institutions, profits earned at ASFCU are returned to you in the form of better rates, better products, better benefits
Services are administered by entities independent of SAG-AFTRA. Questions must be handled by the providers. SAG-AFTRA does not endorse any of these services.
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San Francisco-Northern California Local Welcomes New Members & Transfers Sept. 1, 2013 to Oct. 31, 2013 Baldi, Paulo Boor, Gregory Martin Brudno, Ari Carnahan, Woody Carr, Finn Chan, Lily Crocker, Bonnie Davi, Jenna Detrow, Scott Devoto, Kelly Diazoni, Derrick Doss, Steve Eaton, Roberta Eisenman, Andrew Etemad, Naseem Fero, Shelby Garcia, Ramsey Jay Goodrow, Micheal Green, Jake Harvey, Korin Ann Jeloudov, Greg Jones, Victoria Elizabeth Karson, Ethan Kelly, Mark LaMorte, Vito Malberg, Aaron L
Malec, Gary Mc Hugh, Christine McLean, Matthew Miller, Jessica Muller, Adrienne Nguyen, Maggie Hai Uyen Orth, Jeffrey Orth, Jeffrey Pazoki, Sepehr Quintero, Tony Roy, Aditi Saldate, Michael Sam, Michelle Alicia Fong Shane, Kelli Shearer, Jeff Smith, Justin Smith, Shaka Omari Stone, Emily Tasha Tuckfield, Daisy Maria Van Dyke, Paris Waggoner, Heidi Webb, Brian White, Elisa Joy Winter, Charles Young, Scot
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