Philadelphia Sessions - Winter 2015

Winter 2015

The Official Publication of the SAG-AFTRA Philadelphia Local

Commercial Work: A Panel Discussion with the Industry

By Peter Andrew Danzig

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ov. 7 was an exciting day for SAG-AFTRA Philadelphia Local members.

The Wyndham hotel in Old City, Philadelphia, bustled with actors, agents, producers and industry folk, as we took part in the SAG-AFTRA-sponsored event Commercial Work: A Panel Discussion with the Industry. I was lucky enough to serve as the moderator and panel organizer for this event and found the support and excitement on behalf of our panelists enlightening.

Our panelists included Diane Heery of Heery Casting, voiceover casting director and engineer Rob Holt of Voice Box LLC, senior producer Joe Mosca of Red Tettemer O’Connell & Partners and SAG-AFTRA member and producer Dana Michael of Get-Kinetic. Collaborating with these panelists showed me that they are right there in the trenches with us, working hard and diligently to create a name for our Panelists and members on Nov. 7. industry in Philadelphia.

The purpose of this panel was not specifically to answer the explorations investments in yourself and your business. question “How do I get cast?” but to further our understanding Go out there and make your pitch! of the other side of the camera so we can understand the proPeter Andrew Danzig, a SAG-AFTRA and Actors’ Equity member, is an actor, cess of bringing an idea to fruition, from creative to casting. acting coach and teacher. He is also the founder of Theatrical Trainer, a personal The discussion of the casting process was riveting, and we training and conditioning company dedicated to actors and artists. learned that casting directors, producers and industry profesSAFETY HAS A NEW NUMBER sionals want us to be part of the solution. They want the actors otice something different on the back of your auditioning and working on their projects to come prepared, be SAG-AFTRA card? It’s the union’s new 24-hour safety knowledgeable and professional. hotline number: (844) SAFER SET. The panel taught us that an audition is not simply an audition, The number was created to ensure that members have a way it’s a job interview. We may forget that during the 60 seconds to quickly contact the union when an emergency arises on set we are auditioning we are making a business pitch about why at any time, night or day during non-business hours. Call (844) we are the best for the job. While the panel members unSAFER SET (844-723-3773) if you: derstand the difficulties and competition in the market, they • Have concerns about hazardous work; still shared that a prepared and diplomatic actor is always the • Are shooting or working in a potentially dangerous location; preference.

• Are concerned about issues involving minors; or What can we do as SAG-AFTRA members to further our • Want to report serious working conditions violations. chances of working with these panelists? Build your business Your name can be kept confidential. During regular business by taking classes and attending workshops to keep your skills hours, call your local office for help, but after hours, call (844) fresh, attend networking events to discover how others work in SAFER SET. This number is not to be used for non-emergencies the business, and don’t be afraid to expand your horizons and or for issues that can be resolved during regular business hours. explore voiceover, print and infomercial work. Consider these

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Philadephia SAG Awards Viewing Party

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n the evening of Jan. 25, members of the Philadelphia Local gathered at the IATSE Ballroom in South Philadelphia for a SAG Awards viewing party. Over 70 members came out to watch the Los Angeles festivities on a big screen.

Photos by Bonnie Wireback.

President’s Message

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reetings, Wishing you and yours a peaceful and profitable new year in 2015! Please continue to strengthen your union with your continued involvement through events, committee service, conservatories and functions. Stay informed by checking our local’s Web page routinely.

In solidarity, John Wooten

SESSIONS

SAG-AFTRA LOCAL STAFF

LOCAL BOARD MEMBERS

Executive Director:

CAST & CREW

President ­— John Wooten Vice President Actor/Performer — Sylvia Kauders Vice President Broadcast — Catherine Brown

National VP Broadcast Secretary — Sam Clover Sara Jane Blazo Mike Kraycik Paul Kurtz Gail Lewis Susan Moses Rob Charry Ed “Skip” Fisher Dick Sheeran Meagan Hill Harvey Jaffe National Board Member — Helen McNutt

Official publication of SAG-AFTRA Philadelphia www.sagaftra.org/philly

Editor: Shelley Figures Contributing Editors: Stephen Leshinski Chuck Varesko

Stephen Leshinski

Associate Executive Director:

Shelley Figures

Contracts/Signatory Administrator:

Lynn Koenigsberg

Benefits & Membership Administrator:

SAG-AFTRA Philadelphia

Michele Dooley

230 South Broad St., Suite 500 Philadelphia, PA 19102 (215) 732-0507

Executive Director’s Report

By Stephen Leshinski, SAG-AFTRA Philadelphia Local Executive Director

You and Your Union in 2015

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or local staff person. We’ll find a suitable location and send out the invitations, and you can introduce the speaker and help moderate, or just sit back and enjoy the program. It’s your union!

Local Broadcast: There exists within SAG-AFTRA a National Broadcast Steering Committee to bring together broadcast members from different platforms to discuss trends in broadcast, union governance issues and issues of professional development.

Philadelphia has a Local Broadcast Steering Committee, and you can participate. Whether it’s addressing the issue of personal service contracts, being safe when covering news events or protecting your intellectual property, this is where you can work with broadcasters from different stations to be a collective advocate for everyone doing broadcast work.

NextGen: Our newest committee is for our members under 30 who are not only looking for ways to develop as professional performers or broadcasters, but are also seeking mentorship and community with other younger members in our region. A combination of social networking and professional development, NextGen ensures that members of all ages have a say in the direction of their union.

Throw in our legislative campaigns and educational outreach and you have a union being driven by its members to be something more than the sum of its parts.

Are you looking to advance the benefits and oppor tunities for working actors and broadcasters in the tri-state area? At SAG-AFTR A, you’ve come to the right place.

f I gave you a staff, an office, a (modest) budget and 3,000 committed union members, what would you set out to achieve? Would you try to bring more commercial and industrial work under the union’s contracts? Organize more union elections at area radio and television stations? Undertake efforts to attract more television and theatrical productions? Create an expanded professional development curriculum through the conser vator y program? All of the above?

As a SAG-AFTRA member, this is your union.

The projects and priorities come out of the membership, either through elected board members, local committee meetings, or at any of the two dozenplus member events throughout the year. Think about how you would like to contribute in the new year: Conservatory: This is a program to help members become better at what they do. Whether it is an orientation into the world of audiobooks, a tutorial on using social media or a workshop on “self-taping” for auditions, these monthly programs bring in outside experts to provide essential skill training for performers, broadcasters and singers. Committee members help plan and facilitate the monthly workshops, but you don’t have to be on the committee to produce an event. If you are currently working with a professional that has made a big difference in your career or are aware of an aspect of the industry that you think SAG-AFTRA members would benefit from learning about, please bring your idea to a board member, committee member

“As a SAG-AFTRA member, this is your union.”

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providing insightful commentaries for KYW Newsradio and writing a blog for CBSPhilly.com.

Along the way, he picked up a truckload of honors. In 2005, he was named winner of the prestigious Curt Gowdy Media Award at the Basketball Hall of Fame. Campbell also was named Broadcaster of the Year three times by Bill Campbell at his 90th birthday party. the National Sports Broadcasters Association. He was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame in 1999.

he SAG-AFTRA Philadelphia Local lost a legend with the passing of sportscaster Bill Campbell in October. He was 91.

In a career that spanned more than seven decades, Campbell did it all, providing play-by-play for four professional sports teams. He was behind the mic for some of the most memorable moments in Philadelphia sports history, including the Eagles’ 1960 NFL championship win and Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game for the Philadelphia Warriors in 1962.

Campbell was 17 when he broke into radio in Atlantic City in 1940. Six years later, he hit the big time in Philly when he was named sports director for WCAU Radio. That same year, the Philadelphia Warriors hired him to provide play-by-play for their debut season; a position he held until the team moved to San Francisco in 1962. The Eagles came calling for Campbell in 1952. He stayed until 1966. Campbell also chronicled the Phillies highs and lows from 1962 to 1970. The back end of his play-by-play career included a stint with the 76ers from 1972 to 1981.

Campbell never lacked for work. At one point, he did 11 radio and three TV shows. Even in his later years, the man known as “The Dean” of broadcasting was busy, hosting a talk show on WIP,

Photo courtesy of the Campbell family.

Remembering ‘The Dean’

Holiday Party 2014

Karaoke fun was had at Fluke’s

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he SAG-AFTRA Philadelphia Holiday Party took place on Dec. 10 at The Original Fluke’s Irish Pub in Northeast Philadelphia. Local members converged on Fluke’s indoor party deck bar between 4:30 p.m. and 7 to mingle, network and engage in karaoke vocalizing. The actors and announcers proved that they could not only act but sing as well. The karaoke music was provided by local entertainment DJ Ron Scherr, who also took the photos seen here.

Child Labor Panel Discussion

Photo courtesy of Meagan Hill

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n Oct. 30, state Rep. Thomas Murt, R-Montgomery, hosted a panel discussion with Paul Petersen (The Donna Reed Show) and Jon Gosselin (Jon & Kate Plus 8) at Upper Moreland High School in Willow Grove that addressed child labor laws within the Pennsylvania film and television industry. It was Petersen’s advocacy group A Minor Consideration that was instrumental in helping Murt rewrite those laws in Pennsylvania.

The conversation was informative and, at times, extremely emotional. “The real demon is reality TV. The work is non-union, so there are no protective rules about limited work hours, on-set teachers and financial welfare for the children,” said Petersen. Referring to the Gosselins, he said, “Jon was a naïve babe in the woods. He trusted people who took advantage of his lack of knowledge of the business. The producers lied about having the family’s best From left, Rep. Thomas Murt, Paul Petersen and Jon Gosselin. interests at heart.”

Gosselin explained that any time he tried to prevent filming arrested for child pornography. We had no idea!” he said. because of illness or when one of his children was having a “meltMurt asked Petersen what more could be done to protect down,” producers would alledgedly threaten him with a breach children. Petersen replied emphatically, “End the federal child of contract suit. He also discovered that no background checks labor law that exempts kids in entertainment! The child that does were done on the subcontracted film crew. “One editor was the work should own the money.”