Workshops

When: 10 a.m. – noon, Friday, July 13
Where: SAG-AFTRA
James Cagney Boardroom 
5757 Wilshire Blvd. – Lobby Level
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Parking will be validated.

Join the SAG-AFTRA Commercials Department for an educational seminar for members on the basic terms and conditions of the 2016 Commercials Contract and the 2016 Audio Commercials Contract.

The first half of the presentation is based on the life of a commercial from the perspective of a principal performer – from audition to residuals. The second half is from the perspective of a background performer. Some of the topics we will address include meal periods, when payment is due, wardrobe/fittings, and travel time.

We will also be giving out prizes during the commercials trivia portion of the seminar. You don’t want to miss that! RSVP early to get a seat!

Please note: If you have a reservation for this workshop and cannot attend, please cancel your reservation by Tuesday, July 10 as a courtesy to members who may want to attend.

You must RSVP to attend. Spaces are limited.

Questions? Contact the Commercials Dept. at (323) 549-6858.

This workshop is only open to paid-up SAG-AFTRA members in good standing. Unfortunately, no guests allowed. Parents/guardians of performers under 18 years old are welcome. SAG-AFTRA members, PLEASE BRING YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD OR DIGITAL CARD ON YOUR APP (paid through Oct. 31, 2018) FOR ADMITTANCE.

When: 7 – 8:30 p.m., Thursday, June 28

Where: Washington-Mid Atlantic Local 
7735 Old Georgetown Road, Suite 950
Bethesda, MD 20814

Interested in learning how you can book more commercial work? Let us help you navigate the world of regional television, new media and audio commercials.

We invite you to join members from across the Washington-Mid Atlantic region and your local SAG-AFTRA elected leaders for an evening dedicated to empowering you. Staff will lead attendees through concerns about and solutions to the current local commercials landscape, answer questions about commercial work, advise on how to sell yourself to union and non-union producers, and give you the tools you need to book the job. 

Due to the importance of this information, we want to give you multiple ways in which you can attend. You may join us in person at our office in Bethesda, listen over the phone, or stream live from your computer or other internet-connected devices. 

If you want to attend, please RSVP to Anita Garcia at anita.garcia@sagaftra.org or (301) 634-4851 with your SAG-AFTRA member ID number and indicate if you will attend in person, online or via telephone. If you are attending online or via phone, information will be sent to you closer to the meeting date.

This workshop is only open to paid-up SAG-AFTRA members in good standing — no guests are allowed. Parents/guardians of performers under 18 years old are welcome. SAG-AFTRA members, please bring your membership card (paid through Oct. 31, 2018) for admittance. 

When: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Saturday, July 21

Where: Nova Southeastern University
Orlando Campus
4850 Millenia Blvd., Room 111
Orlando, FL 32839
For directions click here.

Pamela Frazier, casting director, talent producer and talent booking director, is coming back with her engaging workshop, this time to do part II in Orlando. This workshop will include participants and observers. There will be a limited capacity of 25 participants and 25 observers. 

Participants will learn how to:

• get the right representation in their local market
• the transition to Los Angeles
• how to avoid pitfalls, wasted time and mistakes actors make
• the importance of networking & marketing
• the importance of professional associations and unions

Cost: No charge to SAG-AFTRA members who participate or observe. Non-member participants - $40. Non-member observers - $20.  Payable at the door by cash or checks only.

Performers under 18 years of age must be accompanied by parent or guardian. 

RSVP: To reserve your seat please contact Susana Carrillo at (305) 663-7092 or via email at susana.carrillo@sagaftra.org. 

Limited Seating: Reservations will be secured on a first come, first served basis. Priority will be given to SAG-AFTRA members in good standing (paid through October 31, 2018 or on an up-to-date payment plan).

This workshop is not intended to imply an endorsement of any individual or company by SAG-AFTRA. The information provided through the workshop is given for informational purposes and may not be a suitable substitute for the advice of other industry professionals. You should always use good judgment in these matters and should not act or refrain from acting based solely on information provided through the workshop.
 

When: 7 - 9 p.m., Thursday, June 21

Where: SAG-AFTRA
James Cagney Boardroom
5757 Wilshire Blvd. – Lobby Level
Los Angeles, CA 90036 Parking will be validated.

Members of the stunt community are invited to a contracts seminar designed just for you. Join Los Angeles Local President and Local Stunt & Safety Committee Vice-Chair Jane Austin, members of the SAG-AFTRA Stunt & Safety Committee and senior staff for an informative and in-depth discussion on the contracts, terms and conditions that cover stunt performers. 

This discussion is designed for the veteran performer as well as those just getting started. We want you to understand your contracts so you can be informed and empowered on the job.

You must RSVP to attend. Spaces are limited.

Questions? Contact the Stunt & Safety Department at (323) 765-2910.

This workshop is only open to paid-up SAG-AFTRA members in good standing. Unfortunately, no guests allowed. Parents/guardians of performers under 18 years old are welcome. SAG-AFTRA members, PLEASE BRING YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD OR DIGITAL CARD ON YOUR APP (paid through October 31, 2018) FOR ADMITTANCE. 

Although this is not specifically a Meisner workshop, the well-respected acting teacher Sanford Meisner—who trained many well-known actors such as Gregory Peck, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert Duvall and writer David Mamet to name a few—stated “acting is the ability to live truthfully under imaginary circumstances.” Being able to enter into the imaginary world of the story and truthfully convey the hopes, dreams, needs and wants of the character that lives in that world, is the key to memorable acting. How do successful actors achieve this consistently? In this workshop we will explore some of the basic tools and techniques of the craft of acting. Tools that when applied can strengthen your acting skills and improve your chances of getting the role when going for an audition.
 
What you will learn:
•    Doing is the essence of good acting. How to know what to specifically focus on in a scene to make it come alive with a truthful performance.
•    The imaginary circumstances of the script. How to recognize them and make them real to you so they can work for you.
•    How to kick start your imagination and other tips and tricks to help you get into the imaginary world of the story.
•    How to trigger your emotions consistently and dependably. 
•    Inner dialogue (or the art of speaking when you’re not speaking).
•    Active listening (or the art of specifically reacting to what you’re hearing in a scene).
•    How to bring what is uniquely/personally you, to the script.
•    How to break down the script and understand/find what you need to do to make the character and the scene/dialogue come to life.
•    Basic audition tips and protocol.

When:  6:30–9:30 p.m., Sunday, June 24 
 
Where: 521 Ala Moana Blvd. Suite M-428
Honolulu, HI 
 
Class size is limited. This class is also open to a limited number of non-union participants.
 
Cost: Current SAG-AFTRA members - $10; non-union - $40

Theo Coumbis has worked for over 30 years in film, television and theatre as a professional actor. Coumbis is a member of SAG-AFTRA and has guest starred in shows such as Lost, Hawaii Five-O, Off the Map, Baywatch, North Shore, Fantasy Island, Love and Pancakes for Amazon Studios and many others. He was also featured in movies such as Into the Blue 2, You May Not Kiss the Bride, Testaments, Cameron Crowe’s Aloha and was the co-lead in the HIFF short The Round Up. He also worked on independent movie productions as an acting coach, casting director, co-producer, writer and director. Theo has a Diploma in Performing Arts from Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. His work in film, television and theatre has taken him to Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines and the USA. Theo is currently teaching acting classes as head instructor at Scott Rogers Studios, in Honolulu. 
 
RSVP: Please email Mericia Palma Elmore at mericia.palmaelmore@sagaftra.org. ONLY PAYMENT CONFIRMS YOUR RESERVATION. Please mail your check made payable to “SAG-AFTRA Conservatory” to 949 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 106, Honolulu, HI 96814. 
 
 

When: 6 - 8 p.m., Tuesday, June 19

Where: SAG-AFTRA
James Cagney Boardroom
5757 Wilshire Blvd. – Lobby Level
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Parking will be validated.

Are you interested in producing a New Media project with a budget less than $50,000, but don’t know where to start? Do you have questions regarding the rates, terms and conditions of the 2017 New Media Agreement? If you are creating a dramatic entertainment program for initial release on a new media platform, then this workshop is for you!

During this workshop, SAG-AFTRA staff will explain:

• The intent and scope of the 2017 New Media Agreement;
• Included rates, terms and conditions of the 2017 New Media Agreement;
• Required signatory and productions documents;
• The online signatory process; and
• Additional information required when submitting an application for a New Media project.

This workshop is free and open to anyone interested in producing entertainment content for new media. Please note you do not have to be a SAG-AFTRA member to attend. Seating is limited and RSVPs are taken on a first-come, first-served basis. If you sign up for the workshop but cannot attend you must cancel your reservation no later than 24 hours before the event.

Important Note: The New Media Agreement does not apply to commercials, interactive games or programs that will have an initial release in traditional media (Network TV, Basic Cable, Pay TV, DVD, Theatrical, etc.). These types of projects are signed under other SAG-AFTRA Agreements. For information on these other SAG-AFTRA agreements, please contact the respective SAG-AFTRA department.

Click here to RSVP. You must RSVP to attend. Spaces are limited.

Questions: Please contact the New Media Department at NewMediaEvents@sagaftra.org or (323) 549-6446.

When: 7 - 9:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 27 

Where: Phoenix Annex/Seydways Acting Studios (Native Sons Building)
414 Mason Street, 6th Floor, Suite 604
San Francisco, CA 94102

This free workshop presented by the San Francisco-Northern California Conservatory is for SAG-AFTRA members, designed to help actors find ease with using the imagination as their primary tool in connecting emotionally. It will also explore the foundations of a practical approach to performance for actors of all levels. If you have ever been confused by the myriad terms and approaches of acting methods, or feel pressured to be more emotional, this workshop will help you sort through and create a foundation for a way of working no matter what your approach or training may be.  This is a hands-on workshop which will include improvisational and scripted scene work, as well as covering a clear, practical understanding of such foundation concepts as:

• Substitution
• Backstory
• Given circumstances
• The role of emotion 
• The magic "as if"
• Being "in the moment" 

Class size is limited to 32 members.

RSVP: Please RSVP to Vicki Balich vicki.balich@sagaftra.org. Please include your name, phone number and union membership I.D. number.

• Participants will be randomly selected from those who respond, with preference being given to those who have not attended Conservatory events within the past 3 months.
• As a courtesy to members on the waiting list, if you have reserved a space in this workshop and cannot attend, please cancel your reservation by Monday, June 25. Failure to do so may result in the inability to attend future workshops.
• We appreciate your enthusiasm to participate in conservatory classes, but anyone who shows up without receiving written confirmation will not be granted access to the class. If you arrive late, it is up to the discretion of the teacher as to whether or not you will be admitted.

Cost: This event is free for SAG-AFTRA members.

When: 1 - 3 p.m., Tuesday, May 22

Where: SAG-AFTRA 
James Cagney Boardroom 
5757 Wilshire Blvd. – Lobby Level 
Los Angeles, CA 90036 
Parking will be validated.

Explore how to record professional quality auditions and deliver them directly to agents and casting directors.

In this workshop Tim Powell will help you discover:

How to achieve outstanding results on a tight budget 

Common self-taping mistakes to avoid

How to understand and implement 3-Point Lighting

How to select the best equipment for your needs

How to make composition choices that grab and hold viewers’ attention

Where to find recording and delivery apps that produce the best results

Professional audio tips and tricks

Relevant audio and video terminology

How to understand and implement compression to meet file size requirements

How to deliver your auditions efficiently and free of charge

How to secretly use your SmartPhone or tablet for professional self-taping

Links, to online tutorials, recommended products, and self-taping resources.

About Tim Powell
Tim Powell is an actor, producer, coach and teacher, and has been recording and delivering studio quality video-auditions for actors since the late ‘90s. Tim has acquired extensive knowledge and experience, from more than a decade of running his own video production company and working with preeminent casting professionals within the industry. He shares his expertise on how to produce clean, excellent quality; video-audition uploads on a restricted budget.

Since 2014, Tim has been sharing this information in workshops for the Los Angeles SAG-AFTRA Conservatory and in SRO workshops for the SAG-AFTRA membership.

You must RSVP to attend. Spaces are limited.

To RSVP, click here.

Questions? Contact (323) 634-8277.

This workshop is only open to paid-up SAG-AFTRA members in good standing. Unfortunately, no guests allowed. Parents/guardians of performers under 18 years old are welcome. SAG-AFTRA members, PLEASE BRING YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD OR DIGITAL CARD ON YOUR APP (paid through April 30, 2018 or October 31, 2018) FOR ADMITTANCE. This workshop is not intended to imply an endorsement of any individual or company by SAG-AFTRA. The information provided through the workshop is given for informational purposes and may not be a suitable substitute for the advice of other industry professionals. You should always use good judgment in these matters and should not act or refrain from acting based solely on information provided through the workshop.

When: 7 - 9 p.m., Wednesday, May 23

Where: SAG-AFTRA Plaza
James Cagney Boardroom - Lobby Level
5757 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Parking will be validated.

The SAG-AFTRA Radio Play Committee introduces their first workshop, An Actor’s Tool-A-Rama.

Everyone who LOVES their current career progress...raise your hand! (That's what we thought!) 

This workshop is designed to help you turn the negatives into positives with the ideas, techniques and tools from seasoned professionals. INFORMED actors are EMPOWERED actors. Step up to bat and firmly take your rightful power. Inquiring minds (AND voices) welcome! 

In this workshop, you will discover:

• Selection Not Rejection – Exploring the Audition Process Positively
• Microphone Technique – Professional Skills Necessary for Effective Microphone Performance.
• The 10 Commandments of Auditioning: Prep & Etiquette
• It Ain’t Called “Show Art” Audition Tips
• You Are the Solution & Other Realities of the Biz

Questions? Contact (323) 634-8277.

Spaces are limited. You must RSVP to attend.

To RSVP, click here.

About SAG-AFTRA Radio Play Committee
The Radio Plays Committee (SARP) produces radio plays and workshops that provide an opportunity for members to showcase their talent(s) to as many people in and out of our industry as we possibly can in a fun, safe, clean, diverse, supportive, entertaining and educational environment. By producing and workshopping these events, the committee illuminates and illustrates the origins of our union’s past and encourages members to continually practice their craft and become more involved in their union through performance and leadership. 

This workshop is only open to paid-up SAG-AFTRA members in good standing. Unfortunately, no guests allowed. Parents/guardians of performers under 18 years old are welcome. SAG-AFTRA members, PLEASE BRING YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD OR DIGITAL CARD ON YOUR APP (paid through April 30, 2018 or October 31, 2018) FOR ADMITTANCE. This workshop is not intended to imply an endorsement of any individual or company by SAG-AFTRA. The information provided through the workshop is given for informational purposes and may not be a suitable substitute for the advice of other industry professionals. You should always use good judgment in these matters and should not act or refrain from acting based solely on information provided through the workshop.