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Navigating Local Production in Nevada

May 17, 2025 - 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM PDT

Where: Nevada State AFL-CIO, 1891 Whitney Mesa Dr, Henderson, NV 89014

Join Christopher Ramirez, a seasoned Las Vegas-based producer, for an exclusive three-part  workshop on working in Nevada’s film and television industry. Ramirez will provide valuable insights into local production, tax incentives and what it takes to bring projects to life in the Silver State.

Workshop Breakdown:

Part 1: Christopher Ramirez – Career & Experience in Nevada 
Christopher Ramirez shares his journey from early projects in Las Vegas to producing major independent  films, running production services, and collaborating with top talent. Learn about the evolution  of the local film industry and how he has successfully navigated the business.

Part 2: Filming in Nevada – Case Studies from Local Productions 
Explore three film scenes shot in Nevada, each highlighting unique aspects of local production.  After each clip, Ramirez will discuss:

  • Filming Locations & Logistics – How and why these locations were chosen
  • Production Challenges & Solutions – Behind-the-scenes insights
  • Nevada Film Tax Incentive – How the incentive was used and its impact on the production

Featured Projects: 

  • Frank & Lola – filmed in Las Vegas
  • Viena & the Fantomes – filmed in Southern Nevada
  • The Mustang/The Motel Life – filmed in Northern Nevada

Part 3: Open Q&A – Insights & Advice 
Attendees will have the opportunity to ask Ramirez questions about working in Nevada’s film  industry, breaking into production, and leveraging local resources for their own projects.

Check-in begins at 12:30 p.m.

Free parking

About Christopher Ramirez
Christopher Ramirez is a Las Vegas-based film producer and production executive with over two decades of experience delivering acclaimed feature films, commercials, and branded content. As the founder of Lola Pictures and Silver State Production Services, he has led multimillion-dollar productions with top-tier talent and studios, including Universal Pictures and Focus Features. His credits include Frank & Lola, Viena & The Fantomes, and The Mustang, and his work has been instrumental in positioning Nevada as a viable, high-caliber production hub. With experience in physical production to creative writing, development and financing, Ramirez bridges the worlds of independent film and studio production, with a renewed focus on connecting the motion picture industry to Las Vegas' expanding media landscape.

If you are not a member, you can attend for a fee of $20. You must register on the form below and pay at this form. 

This event is open to active SAG-AFTRA members in good standing (paid through April 30 or Oct. 31, 2025). Non-members can attend for a fee of $20 payable in advance. Parents/guardians of performers under 18 years old are welcome.

ADA requests may be included on your RSVP form below. Please note that ADA requests must be received 72 hours before the start of the event.



Hawaii Regional Commercial Code Review and Recommendations

Graphic with "Check out the Regional Commercials Codes" text and SAG-AFTRA logo
May 06, 2025 - 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM HST

Where: Via Zoom

Please join us for the SAG-AFTRA Hawaii Regional Commercials Code Review & Recommendations (R&R) meeting on May 6 at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom. The Regional Commercials Code is tailored specifically to meet the needs of our regional advertisers so they may easily hire local SAG-AFTRA performers at competitive rates and with flexible terms.

If you’ve previously worked under the Hawaii Regional Commercials Code, or have interest in working this agreement, we encourage you to attend this meeting. It’s a great opportunity to make your voice heard and provide suggestions and feedback as we review the current Regional Code provisions.

Please check out the Hawaii Regional Commercials Code PDF. You can also view an explainer video on our Ads Go Local webpage: sagaftra.org/adsgolocal.

RSVP: Reservations are required. Please log in and complete the form below to RSVP.

If you cannot attend this meeting, please make sure your voice is heard. You may submit proposal recommendations by emailing hawaii@sagaftra.org. Recommendations must be received by Monday, May 5.

This event is only open to active SAG-AFTRA members in good standing (paid through April 30 or Oct. 31, 2025). No guests are allowed. Parents/guardians of performers under 18 years old are welcome.

ADA requests may be included on your RSVP form below. Please note that ADA requests must be received 72 hours before the start of the event.



National Board Member Reception

A photo of the view of a wasp with a wig and formal wear with the SAG-AFTRA logo and text "A Night With Bites"
Apr 25, 2025 - 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM PDT

Where: Wasp in a Wig / SLS Hotel / 465 La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035

Please join us for a National Board member reception at the speakeasy Wasp in a Wig (no password required!).

Friday, April 25 / 6 - 7:30 p.m. 

SLS Hotel / 465 La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035
Parking will be validated.

RSVP below by April 24

Please note this will be a cocktail reception with hors d'oeuvres only for National Board members or their designated alternates. We are unable to extend the invitation to additional guests. 

For questions, email governance@sagaftra.org.



Indie Film Funding for Military Veterans

An American Flag with a director clapboard in the middle.
May 06, 2025 - 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM PDT

Where: James Cagney Boardroom, SAG-AFTRA Plaza, 5757 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036

RSVP Required: Log in to see the form below and RSVP by Monday, May 5 at noon PT.

In recent years, there has been an industry shift in how films are made and distributed. The evolution of social media, streaming and technological advances have expanded, while offering more opportunities for first time filmmakers, including military veterans. What has not changed, is the requirement for funding. Please join the L.A. Local Military Committee as we explore various methods used by independent filmmakers. Panelists include producers Shari Hamrick-Grewal and Angela C. Lee along with SAG-AFTRA members Rachel Bailit and Per Hampton, and SAG-AFTRA Executive Director, Government Affairs & Public Policy Kerri Wood Einertson. The conversation will be moderated by SAG-AFTRA L.A. Local Military Committee Chair Jane Austin.

Panelists:

 

Angela C. Lee is a Spirit Award-nominated producer whose film Songs My Brothers Taught Me premiered in competition at the Sundance Film Festival and Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes. She also produced the fiction short The Row commissioned by Indigenous Media and distributed by Condé Nast Entertainment. She is a 2018 Women at Sundance Fellow, and has been supported by the Berlinale Talents and Co-Production Market, PGA Diversity Workshop, and the Center for Asian American Media. Angela is also the Director of Artist Development at the arts nonprofit Film Independent, where she oversees the fiction and non-fiction labs and programs including Fast Track finance market, Fiscal Sponsorship program and Project Involve. A native Chicagoan, Angela graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in Economics.

 

Jane Austin (Moderator) is a stuntperson who began her career in 1988 on the television series Tour of Duty where she earned her SAG card. Jane has done stunt work on feature films such as Wayne’s WorldNaked GunStar Trek GenerationsAvatar 2 and Thor: Love and Thunder. Television credits include TimelessBoschLaw & OrderKey and Peele and True Blood to name a few. Jane has driven for numerous car commercials and specializes in aerial stunts and fireburns. Her biggest stunts to date include a 650-foot descender and an 80-foot high fall. Jane attended the University of San Diego business school and is co-owner of Hollywood Stuntworks, a company providing stunt coordinators, performers and equipment to the entertainment industry. 

 

Kerri Wood Einertson is the Executive Director of Government Affairs & Public Policy at SAG-AFTRA. In this role, Kerri oversees government affairs for the union, where the focus is on state and federal issues affecting performers, including copyright, production tax incentives and anything involving a government entity that helps SAG-AFTRA members thrive. In 2022, Kerri was appointed to the California Film Commission. She also serves on several nonprofit boards, including Children’s Musical Theater San Jose and the Diablo Valley National Charity League. Prior to SAG-AFTRA, Kerri worked for several years on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. She is fluent in Spanish and speaks it as often as possible. Kerri is a longtime member of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses. She is a native of Los Angeles and a graduate of USC. Kerri currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, two daughters and a very special German Shorthaired Pointer mix. 

 

Per Hampton is an award-winning screenwriter as well as an actor, author and director. Per trained at The Strasberg Institute in Hollywood under Lee Strasberg and Milton Katselas. He is a former U.S. Navy nuclear submariner specialized in crypto-top secret communications. He has called Rome, London and New York City home, with his hometown being Los Angeles, California. He’s performed in multiple stage productions on and off-Broadway. Per’s first short film End of the World garnered seven million views in two days on YouTube. His second novel in the current Sunset & Vine series, Force of Destiny, is under option as a feature film. The chilling psychological thriller Peekaboo is his directorial debut. Per co-starred in Double CrossMurders of Orange County  and independent film Sweet Pea

 

Rachel Bailit is an actor, producer  and teacher at The Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute. Rachel has created classes for veterans at SAG-AFTRA, Veterans in Media and Entertainment and New Politics, a bipartisan nonprofit that trains veterans and service members to run for political office. Rachel recently produced and stars in a new independent film  Everyone Asked About You, a tragic love story centered around the exploration of children and women in Hollywood. Rachel proudly serves on the SAG-AFTRA L.A. Local Military Committee.

 

Shari Hamrick-Grewal is an award-winning indie producer, writer and director. A troubleshooter, Shari is sometimes hired to help projects in distress by indie studios or private investors with budgets from $100,000 to $300 million. Shari also was the Production Coordinator for two film finance media funds with a combined investment capability of over $192 million for seven years. Currently she advises GPS Film Fund and just launched a new genre label called Happy Cheers, Inc. Shari has extensive international experience, including filming on location in Egypt, Germany, Hungary, Canada, Mexico, Hong Kong and New Zealand to name a few. She is a Producers Guild of America member for twenty years and a member of the International Film and TV Producers Council.

When: Tuesday, May 6 from 6 - 8 p.m. PT

Where: James Cagney Boardroom, SAG-AFTRA Plaza
             5757 Wilshire Blvd.
             Los Angeles, CA 90036

Parking: Please park in the garage off of Curson Ave. and bring your parking ticket for validation.


Questions? Email LARSVP@sagaftra.org.

No late admittance. Doors will close at the beginning of the event. RSVPs do not guarantee seating. These events are overbooked to compensate for no-shows.

This event is only open to SAG-AFTRA L.A. Local members in good standing (paid up thru April 30, 2025 or October 31,2025). No guests allowed. Performers under 18 years old must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.

Panelists are subject to change without notification.

This panel is not intended to imply an endorsement of any individual or company by SAG- AFTRA. The information provided through the panel 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 panel.

ADA requests may be included on your RSVP form below. Please note that ADA requests must be received 72 hours before the start of the event.

 



Social Media for Actors: Optimize Your Presence & Expand Your Network

Social Media illustrated phone in a hand
May 04, 2025 - 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM MST

Where: Online via Zoom

Join us for the Arizona-Utah Local Conservatory's Social Media for Actors: Optimize Your Presence, Expand Your Network Workshop with Heidi Dean on Sunday, May 4, 3:30 pm AZ / 4:30 pm UT.

SAG-AFTRA members will gain valuable insights into the world of social media and marketing. The workshop will last 2 hours and is fully on Zoom so members anywhere in the Local can participate. 

Your social media should work for you, not against you. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to audit, clean up, and optimize your accounts to boost your discoverability, make meaningful industry connections, and create a lasting impact. Whether you're starting fresh or refining your strategy, this session will help you turn your social media into a powerful tool for your acting career.

Heidi Dean is widely regarded as the industry’s go to social media strategist for actors and the creator of Marketing4actors.com. She’s a social media writer for Backstage magazine and a frequent speaker at film festivals, SAG-AFTRA events, AEA, conferences, podcasts and universities across the country. Her clients include Emmy Award-winners, Broadway stars, series regulars, casting directors and voice actors. She is also the author of the book Social Media for Actors: 100 Essential Tips To Grow, Thrive and Survive Online. Heidi turns social media rookies into ROCKSTARS!

Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your marketing skills!

COST: This program is free for SAG-AFTRA Arizona-Utah Local members as a benefit of membership. 

RSVP: Reservations are required. Please complete form below to RSVP. Please note that you must be logged in to RSVP. 

This event is only open to active SAG-AFTRA members in good standing (paid through April 30, 2025 or Oct. 31, 2025). No guests are allowed. Parents/guardians of performers under 18 years old are welcome.

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.

ADA requests may be included on your RSVP form below. Please note that ADA requests must be received 72 hours before the start of the event.



Educational Meeting for SAG-AFTRA Singers (EMSAS)

Recording microphone and microphone stand with black background.
Apr 30, 2025 - 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM PDT

Where: James Cagney Boardroom, SAG-AFTRA Plaza, 5757 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036

RSVP Required: Please log in and complete the form below by Tuesday, April 29 at noon PT.

Did you know that any union singer can be a vocal contractor? If you were asked to contract a union job, would you know what to do? Do you know what cast clearance is?  If you answered “no” to any of these questions, don’t panic! Come to the next Educational Meeting for SAG-AFTRA Singers (EMSAS) where we’ll deep dive into vocal contracting. Knowledge is power!

Join us after the workshop for a Singers Mixer! Make sure to register using the link to save your spot.

When: Wednesday, April 30 from 3 - 5 p.m. PT 

Where: James Cagney Boardroom, SAG-AFTRA Plaza 
              5757 Wilshire Blvd.
              Los Angeles, CA 90036

Parking: Please park in the garage off of Curson Ave. and bring your parking ticket for validation.

Questions? Reach out to music@sagaftra.org.  


This event is only open to active SAG-AFTRA L.A. Local members in good standing (paid through April 30, 2025 or October 31, 2025).No guests are allowed. Parents/guardians of performers under 18 years old are welcome.

Panelists are subject to change without notification.

This panel is not intended to imply an endorsement of any individual or company by SAG- AFTRA. The information provided through the panel 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 panel.

ADA requests may be included on your RSVP form below. Please note that ADA requests must be received 72 hours before the start of the event.
 



Singers Mixer

A microphone and microphone stand with blurred out spotlights behind it.
Apr 30, 2025 - 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM PDT

Where: The Maxwell Room, SAG-AFTRA Plaza, 5757 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036

RSVP required for the singers mixer: Please log in and complete the form below by Tuesday, April 29 at noon PT.

Mix and mingle with your fellow Los Angeles Singers community.

When: Wednesday, April 30 from 5:30 - 7 p.m. PT 

And join us before the mixer for our Education Meeting for SAG-AFTRA Singers (EMSAS)! Make sure to register using the link to save your spot.

Where: The Maxwell Room, SAG-AFTRA Plaza 
             5757 Wilshire Blvd.
             Los Angeles, CA 90036

Parking: Please park in the garage off of Curson Ave. and bring your parking ticket for validation.

Questions? Reach out to music@sagaftra.org.  


This event is only open to active SAG-AFTRA L.A. Local members in good standing (paid through April 30, 2025 or October 31, 2025).No guests are allowed. Parents/guardians of performers under 18 years old are welcome.

ADA requests may be included on your RSVP form below. Please note that ADA requests must be received 72 hours before the start of the event.
 



Seattle Member Happy Hour

mixer stock image
Apr 29, 2025 - 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM PDT

Where: Metier Brewery, 2616 E. Cherry St., Seattle, WA 98122

Join us at our member happy hour in Seattle! This is a casual open forum gathering where SAG-AFTRA members and their guests can network, share industry news, and enjoy complimentary appetizers. The SAG-AFTRA Seattle Local will be in attendance to share union information and hear from the members. Look for SAG-AFTRA table signage.

If you are unable to make the happy hour in Seattle, stay tuned as more events are in the planning stages.

RSVP: Reservations are encouraged and helpful for planning. Please complete the form below to RSVP; you must be logged in to RSVP.



At the Table - Table Read for Invasion of the Housewives - Call for Auditions

Image of notebook and clapperboard.
Jun 02, 2025 - 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM CDT

Where: KRC - 1 E. Erie, Suite 660

The next script for the AT THE TABLE Table Read Series is Invasion of the Housewives by Zach Lorkiewicz and produced by Grace Hahn. The read will take place at 6 p.m. on Monday, June 2, 2025, with a rehearsal on Thursday, May, 29 at 5:30 p.m. If you are available on both dates and interested in auditioning, please see the breakdown below. Audio or video auditions may be submitted. Deadline for submissions is May 5 at 5 p.m. 

At the Table is a volunteer program that SAG-AFTRA Chicago partners with IFA Chicago in an effort to introduce SAG-AFTRA Chicago members to up and coming filmmakers through the reading of their "soon-to-be" produced feature films.

Email Kathy.Byrne@sagaftra.org to request sides and submission details. Please include the name of the character you would like sides for in the subject line of the email.

Summary: Invasion of the Housewives follows a group of suburban women trapped at a girls’ night
during a supposed alien invasion. As inexplicable events unfold and conflicting news divides the group,

the women begin to turn on one another.

Character Breakdown:

GENEVIEVE (female, 50’s or early 60’s) - Genevieve is a mysterious and ethereal woman; she is the unspoken matriarch of this group, but in recent years has become increasingly absent. What is going on in Genevieve’s life? Is her marriage okay? Is she depressed? Sad her kids are away? Her friends gossip, but few really know. That’s why when Gen decides to throw a girls’ night (the first in years) – everyone is caught off guard. And to boot, Genevieve invites Mary, the social pariah of the group.

MARY (female, 50’s or early 60’s) - Mary, Mary, Mary. There’s something about Mary. Mary is, has been, and will forever be a hot mess. Her life is constantly on the brink of collapse, largely fueled by her extravagant and drug-fueled lifestyle. She has always battled with addiction, and after the death of her teenage son, she stopped trying. By this point, Mary has been cut out of all her friends’ lives –and with good reason. That’s why for Mary, an invite to girls’ night is a second chance. 

NADINE (female, 50’s or early 60’s) - Nadine has always wanted a Sunday kind of love; the kind of love you always hear about in classic songs, the kind that makes your stomach drop and takes your breath away. And Nadine has found it...several times. But time and time again, that love has proven to be nothing but an illusion. Nadine has a tendency to fall fast and ignore her responsibilities – even her children – in pursuit of this love she knows is out there. Nadine cannot seem to stop; even when she becomes involved with a married man. She is also furious that Genevieve invited Mary. The two have not spoken in years and she had no plans on changing that. 

KAREN (female, 50’s or early 60’s) - Karen is the group gossip. She somehow knows everyone's business all the time but maybe it's just a distraction. She is known to have *nonstop* anxiety - Karen overly fixates on the news and thinks the world is out to get her. She also notices every ache in her body, no matter how many times the doctor tells her it's nothing. Karen is constantly on edge and drives her husband absolutely crazy, but she is undeniably the life of the party.

LAURIE (female, 50’s or early 60’s) - Laurie has not been seen in months, but, unlike Genevieve, everyone knows why. On good weeks, you can see Laurie smoking pot in her backyard. She might wave to you. On bad weeks, you might catch her staring out the window at the moon. Years ago, Laurie was the life of the party: stylish, cool, a punk-rocker. That all ended when her husband, the love of her life, lost his battle against cancer. At that moment, a part of Laurie died.

ALAINA (female, 30’s or 40’s) - Alaina is new to the neighborhood… actually, when did she move here again? She seems to do her own thing. No kids, no husband. And what about that weird flower shop she opened up downtown? Nobody is quite sure... Nadine befriended her when she first moved, but mainly because Alaina constantly has pot. Nadine also convinced her to come out to girls' night tonight for the first time. Should be interesting!

ADAM BUCKINGHAM / RADIO VOICE / HAIR STYLIST (male, 30’s or 40’s) - charismatic

BRANDON / GEORGE (male, 50’s or 60’s) - calm, warm

SECRETARY / SUSAN / CUSTOMER / NURSE / WOMAN (female, 30’s or 40’s) - sassy, cynical

NARRATOR (male or female) - soothing

 

Production Team bios: 

Zach Lorkiewicz is an independent filmmaker based in Los Angeles. His love for Hollywood, creepypastas, & Italian horror films informs much of his work. He's directed dozens of music videos and short films, often under his artistic project Count the Clock. You can see much of his work on Count the Clock's YouTube channel: youtube.com/counttheclock.

Zach just completed shooting his first feature IT LIVES IN THE SCREEN, which follows a group of girls in LA being terrorized by their technology. 

Grace Hahn is a Chicago filmmaker who has produced feature films PRINCESS CYD [writer/director Stephen Cone] and ONCE UPON A RIVER [writer/director Haroula Rose]. She has most recently completed production on the indie horror feature IT LIVES IN THE SCREEN [writer/director Zach Lorkiewicz].

Grace also serves as post-production manager for Post Mambo, a post-production collective that supports the work of editor Troy Lewis [DAUGHTERS, Sundance 2024 Audience Award] and sound designer/composer Justin Enoch [FLAIL, Official Selection Sundance 2024]. She was recognized by NewCity as one of Chicago's 2020 Film50 "Screen Gems."

 

RSVP: Reservations are required. Please complete form below to RSVP. Please note that you must be logged in to RSVP. 

This event is only open to active SAG-AFTRA members in good standing (paid through April 30, 2025 or Oct. 31, 2025). No guests are allowed. Parents/guardians of performers under 18 years old are welcome.

ADA requests may be included on your RSVP form below. Please note that ADA requests must be received 72 hours before the start of the event.



Dance is For Everyone Mixer

Illustration showing the legs of several people dancing in colorful shoes.
Apr 29, 2025 - 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM PDT

Where: THE STU Dance Studios, 218 W. Palm Ave., Burbank, CA 91502

RSVP Required: Please log in and complete the form below by Monday, April 28 at noon PT.

Join the L.A. Local Local Dance Committee in celebrating International Dance Day!  

This event will feature special guests including choreographers and agents, along with information material from SAG-AFTRA and the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. Come learn some valuable information on your rights as a SAG-AFTRA performer, enjoy refreshments and bust a move to our DJ who will be spinning all night! 

Spend an eventful evening with us because DANCE IS FOR EVERYONE!

Who is LADC? The L.A. Dancers Committee’s mission is to create a community of educated and unified dancers in an effort to impact change and growth within the dance community. It aims to address issues unique to the dance industry, raise awareness of safety concerns and advocate for fair working conditions and wages. Come find us at the mixer. We look forward to meeting you!

When: Tuesday, April 29 from 6 - 9 p.m. PT           

*Check in begins at 5:30 p.m. PT 

Where: THE STU Dance Studios
              218 W. Palm Ave.
              Burbank, CA 91502

Parking: Street parking is available near the event venue. Please be mindful of street signs. Rideshare is highly encouraged.

Questions? Reach out to music@sagaftra.org.


This event is only open to active SAG-AFTRA L.A. Local members in good standing (paid through April 30, 2025 or October 31, 2025).No guests are allowed. Parents/guardians of performers under 18 years old are welcome.

Panelists are subject to change without notification.

This panel is not intended to imply an endorsement of any individual or company by SAG- AFTRA. The information provided through the panel 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 panel.

ADA requests may be included on your RSVP form below. Please note that ADA requests must be received 72 hours before the start of the event.
 



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