A Letter from the President
Dear Member,
It is such an honor and humbling that you chose me as the first elected president of our local. I ran for this office to make a difference in members’ lives and I am committed to doing so.
I send my congratulations to our top national officers, President Ken Howard and Secretary-Treasurer Amy Aquino, and all of my colleagues elected to serve our 25 locals across the country.
Elected office is one of the greatest honors that the membership bestows, and I intend to perform the duties of the office in the same mold as those who came before me. Ned Vaughn and Gabrielle Carteris showed extraordinary leadership and service as co-presidents of the SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Local. They were instrumental in bringing our two organizations together into the unified SAG-AFTRA, and their leadership helped us navigate this pivotal and challenging 18-month transition. They served as exemplars, the best and brightest, and I know that you join me in thanking Gabrielle and Ned for their service. I will work every day to equal their many tremendous contributions and their strong leadership.
Later this month, we will gather in Los Angeles for SAG-AFTRA’s first national convention. The convention is an opportunity for members to become better educated about their union and the industry in which they work. Hundreds of newly elected leaders, national board members and delegates will be traveling to Los Angeles to participate in important strategic planning and governance activities.
While the convention itself is open only to elected delegates, I hope that you will wish us well as we meet to do the members’ business from Sept. 26–29, at the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE.
I also urge all members to take advantage of our website to stay informed of the latest goings-on regarding our union, and to consider it as a resource and directory in navigating our industry. If you’re not already registered at SAGAFTRA.org, you should sign up now.
Your union is one of your most valuable resources and guides to the industry. If you’re not registered, you may not be receiving all the important information you need to take full advantage of your SAG-AFTRA membership.
In unity,
Clyde Kusatsu
Rep. Waxman Gives Members the Scoop on Health Care Law
From left, Dan Kitowski, The Actors Fund’s director of health services-Western Region; L. Scott Caldwell, co-chair of the SAG-AFTRA Healthcare and Safetynet Committee; U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif; Ilyanne Morden Kichaven, executive director, SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Local; Keith McNutt, The Actors Fund’s director of Western Region
When it comes to being a member of SAG-AFTRA, one of the key contract provisions is access to health care. Unfortunately, there are periods when members may not meet the earnings threshold for health care through the union plans. The SAG-AFTRA National Healthcare Safteynet Committee seeks way to bring members information and education, as well as health care access. On Aug. 22, the committee hosted The Actors Fund and Rep. Henry Waxman to discuss the new California health care exchange, Covered California.
Nearly 150 entertainment professionals attended Every Artist Insured: Finding Affordable Health Insurance through Covered California. L. Scott Caldwell, co-chair of the SAG-AFTRA Healthcare and Safetynet Committee, welcomed the audience and introduced Waxman, who authored and championed the Affordable Healthcare Act. Waxman provided relevant details about the legislation and explained that subsidies would be granted based on participants’ income. Under this program, qualifying participants can attain health care coverage regardless of their health status and financial situation.
Dan Kitowski, The Actors Fund’s director of health services-Western Region, presented a comprehensive overview that included descriptions of the various plans and types of coverage, income-related information and the necessary steps to take before the program is implemented in January 2014. Kitowski stated, “Two very important things happen in January: The pre-existing clause goes away so that everyone has access to purchase health insurance. And, depending on your income, the federal government may help you pay your monthly premium. This is huge! It may be the first time in our lifetime that buying private health insurance is affordable.”
The Actors Fund hosts a weekly workshop focusing on Covered California. Click here for more information.
Find out more information about Covered California and what it means for you by visiting coveredca.com.
Delivering Devastating News: How Journalists Cope
From left, Mike Walter, Biz Asia America general news anchor, and Lolita Lopez, KNBC-TV Los Angeles general assignment reporter
Every day, SAG-AFTRA broadcasters take to the front lines to deliver unfettered news that has the potential to traumatize and affect their emotional state. On Aug. 27, SAG-AFTRA presented Breaking News, Breaking Down with five-time Emmy Award-winning journalist Mike Walter and KNBC-TV General Assignment Reporter Lolita Lopez. Both member broadcasters shared their personal experiences with emotional stress and enlightened members on how they cope with delivering difficult news.
Catastrophic disasters can strike our nation at a moment’s notice and are often gruesome and horrific. Walter and Lopez discussed the emotional and psychological tolls these stories can bring.
Walter created the documentary Breaking News, Breaking Down to shed light on the emotional stress that can ensue when reporting disasters. The documentary, which was screened during the seminar, showed footage of Walter covering the 9/11 attacks and illustrates the impact of news on those reporting.
Lopez, too, described her own experiences on 9/11 as well as her personal journey of using her own illness to educate her audience on cancer. Lopez now tries to find the positive in difficult stories and ensures that work is left at work so her emotional state remains intact.
Both Walter and Lopez discussed the importance of seeking professional help when reporting on stressful topics because of the emotional trauma that can occur.
To learn more about broadcast contracts, safety tips and more, click here.
Dancers Forum: Stepping into Hope & Change
Dancers Dayna Hasson, Larry Billman, Julie McDonald and Galen Hooks, producer Adam Shankman, and dancers Kym Johnson and Stephen “tWitch” Boss engaged an audience of performers during the Dancers Forum Panel on July 25 at SAG-AFTRA's Los Angeles national office. The event was part of a full day of workshops, seminars and panels hosted by SAG-AFTRA, the Screen Actors Guild Foundation, The Actors Fund, Actors’ Equity and Career Transitions for Dancers. Photo: Angela Weiss/Getty Images for SAG Foundation
Full House at SAG Foundation Poker Tournament Fundraiser
National Board member Jeff Garlin, left, and Fred Melamed play poker at the SAG Foundation's Third Annual Poker Classic. Photo by Angela Weiss/Getty Images for SAG Foundation
More than 300 celebrities, voiceover actors and guests made up a full house at the SAG Foundation’s Third Annual Poker Classic on Aug. 24 in Los Angeles. The SAG Foundation Poker Classic is the major annual fundraiser for its Don LaFontaine Voice-Over Lab, dedicated to the professional development and success of voiceover artists.
"No other facility exists for voiceover artists like the SAG Foundation’s Don LaFontaine Voice-Over Lab,” said SAG Foundation President JoBeth Williams. “We are proud our poker classic sold out in its third year so that the Don LaFontaine Voice-Over Lab can continue to support the voiceover community."
City of L.A. Offers Tax Amnesty Program
Attention all SAG-AFTRA members who are business owners, LLCs with unpaid taxes or underreported gross receipts, or businesses not registered with the City of Los Angeles’ Office of Finance: The Office of Finance is offering a tax amnesty program through Dec. 2 to help business owners save up to 40 percent in penalties. The amnesty applies to the following areas:
-Telephone, electricity and gas users tax
-Commercial tenant’s occupancy tax
-Transient occupancy tax
-Parking occupancy tax
For more information and to make a payment, click here or call the Office of Finance call center at (213) 473-5901, M-F, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. This notice is a courtesy to members. Please do not contact SAG-AFTRA for any further information.
Get Involved!
There are a variety of ways in which a member can serve the union, and national committee service is a great way to lend your talents, experience and knowledge of the industry to benefit the union and its members. Service on local committees is also an option.
If you are interested in serving your union on a national committee, you are encouraged to complete the online National Committee Service Request Form. A list of the union’s national committees will be provided. Once the completed online form is submitted, the request will be forwarded to the president’s office for consideration. You will then be notified by the union in October if you have been selected for service.
National committees will be reconstituted at SAG-AFTRA's upcoming board meeting following the convention. Therefore, if you wish to be considered for service, please submit the online National Committee Service Request Form no later than Noon PDT on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013.
If you have any further questions, we are here to help! Please contact the Governance Department for more information at (323) 634-8156 or by email.
If you're interested in serving on a local committee or volunteering, please email LA@SAGAFTRA.org.
EVENTS CALENDAR
September
Singers Caucus Meeting, 6-8:30 p.m., Sept. 17. The SAG-AFTRA Singers Committee presents its second educational meeting for SAG-AFTRA singers. These meetings aim to support and educate the community on important matters concerning work in this exciting yet demanding field.
Social Media Week Conference, Sept. 23–Sept.27. Social Media Week is more than a conference; it’s one of the world’s most unique global platforms, offering a series of interconnected activities and conversations on emerging trends in social and mobile media.
BigScreen LittleScreen LA, Sept. 24, 6:30 p.m. BigScreen LittleScreen Los Angeles (#bslsla) is a showcase for Web video producers, distributors and agencies. Join hosts Paul Kontonis and SAG-AFTRA New Media, as we celebrate the content and the creators of original high-quality web video.
October
Sight Singing Class: Registration Deadline Oct. 1. This six-week course is geared toward professional singers and designed for learning to sing at sight. The sessions will cover reading music and performing what is on paper. This course begins Oct. 15, 2013.
General Services Agreement Seminar, 12-2:30 p.m., Oct. 3. SAG-AFTRA National Agency staff will hold a bicoastal educational seminar on general service agreements.
New Media Workshop, 7-9 p.m., Oct. 8. A SAG-AFTRA New Media Business Representative will explain the signatory documents and the process of signing a project.
Low-Budget Signatory Contract Workshop, 6-8 p.m., Oct. 10. SAG-AFTRA Theatrical Business Representatives will explain how to sign Low-Budget Agreements from start to finish.
Member Orientation, 1-4 p.m., Oct. 23. This meeting is for any individual who has not been to an orientation before or who would like to learn about the services provided by SAG-AFTRA.
November
Homeless Heroes Walk, 7 a.m., Nov. 23. Sign up here.
