National Board Report

By Anne Sward

I attended the September Screen Actors Guild National Board meeting in Los Angeles. We met jointly with the AFTRA National Board, and we jointly approved proposals for primetime TV and theatrical negotiations.

It was quite productive to sit in the room with so many actors from both unions to talk, to plan and to find commonality of purpose. SAG President Ken Howard and AFTRA National President Roberta Reardon co-chaired the meeting. AFTRA National Executive Director Kim Roberts Hedgpeth and SAG National Executive Director David White will serve as the unions’ co-lead negotiators. I feel we have a united front and very skilled representatives to negotiate a good contract.

Later this month, Utah Branch President Paul Mulder and I will attend the plenary meeting of the National Board during which the New York Division, the Regional Branch Division and the Hollywood Division will meet to discuss current issues. We are working out the process for negotiating a new Industrial and Educational Contract. That contract had been extended but now is sun-setting after six years. If you have issues you feel need to be addressed and represented, please call Paul or me through the office, (800) 724-0767. 

Update from the Utah Film Commission

By Marshal Moore
Director of the Utah Film Commission

Note: The following is from the Utah Film Commission newsletter Out Takes, October 2010.

It is an honor to continue our service for and in behalf of this great state and specifically the Utah film industry. As we prepare for another legislative session in 2011, all our collective energy will be directed toward extending and improving our current Motion Picture Incentive Fund. As we meet regularly with the Motion Picture Association of Utah, the Motion Picture Advisory Committee, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development Board, and the Legislative Workforce Services and Community and Economic Development Interim Committee, it is clear that there is a need and a desire for a few needed changes to our already existing incentive program.

These potential changes will be based on meetings with industry professionals in Utah and Los Angeles and with our government officials to determine the best course of action to take, as we are constantly faced with competition for film dollars from other states and countries. I do know that our program is working, but it does need a few improvements in order to attract a network TV series on its own merits.

Recently, I had the opportunity of attending the Toronto International Film Festival and viewing the made-in-Utah production of Danny Boyle’s 127 Hours. It was a privilege to attend this prestigious festival and support the filmmakers all the way through the production and postproduction process.

The current year continues to move forward with the following films: Guns, Girls and Gambling (completed), Peloton (completed), 17 Miracles (completed), Darling Companion (in production), Midway to Heaven (completed), Thrillbillies (in production), If the Shoe Fits (incentives approved), and Bennie (incentives approved).

We have just returned from Los Angeles and New York visiting studios heads and production companies. While we were in Los Angeles, Derek Miller, managing director of business incentives for the state of Utah, joined us. Derek will be drafting the new film incentive legislation and this trip served as an opportunity to meet directly with the studios and producers to get feedback as we begin that process.

Years ago, a Moab rancher once said, “The movies are good for business. They only take photographs and leave money.” This is as true now as it was then; film is entertainment and also big business. We appreciate all your great work and efforts to sustain and grow this “big business” here in Utah. 

Let's Make it Happen

By Don Livesay
Utah Branch Executive Director

In the last few months we have had several occasions to turn non-union jobs into union jobs that provided full benefits to Utah members. Although this positive outcome is not always assured, without members and agents alerting us about productions and auditions taking place, many of our people would have lost out. Many times all it takes is brief conversation with the producer to “turn the job.”

Turning or “flipping” a non-union job into a union job is based on two primary factors being in place. The producer really wants to hire the performers she or he needs, and those performers will not work without a union contract in place.

If you are interested in finding out how you can partner with us for SAG work, call me. But before you do, check out the special low-budget contracts for film at SAGIndie.org. Options are also available for industrials and local commercials.

Our job is to help producers hire the best performers in Utah. Those performers are SAG. So please clue me in on the jobs you hear about. Let me have the opportunity to find out what producers need and show them how easy it is to go SAG. We want to make it happen, and when we’re involved, many times it will.

My phone number is (800) 724-0767. My e-mail is dllivesay@sag.org.

Get Involved!

By Paul Mulder
Utah Branch President

Every year, Screen Actors Guild re-constitutes its national committees. These committees are an excellent way to serve your fellow Guild members and to help shape Guild policies. In an effort to get as many members involved as possible, SAG staff has created the Committee Service Request Form, that lists the various committees and task forces and provides an opportunity for you to share your areas of expertise. At the October 2010 Regional Branch Division meeting, your elected board members will use these forms to place members on the various national committees.

Committee service can require various levels of commitment. Some committees meet monthly, while some only meet a few times per year. All committee meetings are held via teleconference between members in Hollywood, New York and the Regional Branches. Committees also receive guidance and support from staff liaisons, who provide handouts, agendas, and information for the committees and also communicate between the committees and national staff. If you want to serve on a local committee, let us know. Please send an e-mail to dlivesay@sag.org and pass on any ideas you might have for helping out.

It is our Guild, and our involvement is the best way to make it serve us better.

Thank you for your service.

Non-Members Learn About SAG

On September 18, Utah Branch Executive Director Don Livesay presented a training to performers, mostly non-union, represented by Utah Talent Management, a talent agency located in Park City and operated by Margaret Maier. Topics included the history and jurisdiction of Screen Actors Guild, work in Utah and union provisions covering the employment of minors under SAG contracts.

During the one-hour session, he covered issues relating to union vs. non-union jobs and how to protect against unscrupulous agents and managers who charge exorbitant up-front fees. Livesay stated that most new people have a misunderstanding as to what our purpose is. He said our job is to advise producers on how to hire professional performers under industry minimum terms and conditions. “The idea that standards should exist for professionals is nothing new,” he said. “But unlike other fields, in our business, what we produce in front of a camera or behind a microphone outlives the employer and employee.” He added, “With that in mind, isn’t it fair to expect compensation to cover how we know the product will be used now and to provide a mechanism for additional payment for what could happen with it later on? Our contracts do that. Buyouts do not.”

Livesay answered many questions dealing with how parents can assist their children on set without feeling they are getting in the way. He also covered audition rules and what certain jobs pay depending on the nature of the performance. He said young performers are of special concern because of the frequent lack of adequate regulations covering the employment of minors under state law. Unless a union contract is in place, parents usually have no assurance state law will protect their child.

This event was the first of what we hope will be a series of presentations provided to performers through their talent agencies in Utah. If you think your agency would benefit from a SAG presentation like this, please ask your agent to call Don Livesay at (800) 724- 0767 or send an e-mail to don.livesay@sag.org.