Career Development

This conservatory class, led by Lucrecia Sarita Russo, is designed to remove the mask under the mask, to free the actor of fear and develop spontaneous emotion and expression. 

When: 6 – 8 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 24
 
Where: SAG-AFTRA San Francisco-Northern California Local
350 Sansome Street, Suite 900
San Francisco, CA (between Sacramento/California Streets)
Public transportation is available and encouraged. There is limited self-pay street parking and self-pay parking garages in the area.
 
Class Requirement: Students must prepare a one-minute monologue and bring two copies of that monologue to class.  The monologue should be from a known play or film.

Class size is limited to 12 (6 participants with 6 observers). Performing participants will be chosen on the night of the workshop. Please come prepared. 
 
RSVP to 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, October 22nd. Failure to do so may result in the inability to attend future workshops.
•    We appreciate your enthusiasm to participate in conservatory classes, 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.
•    There is no charge for this event.
Lucrecia Sarita Russo is in her 7th year serving the SAG-AFTRA Northern California Conservatory Committee. Russo majored in the performing arts and her experience includes personal performances as well as casting for film, theatre, television, commercials and booking major musical artists nationwide. She taught acting at the Deslie Cashman’s School of Dramatic Arts and The Russ Lewis School of Drama.
    

When: 7 p.m., Monday, October 22
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Boston Center for Adult Education
122 Arlington St.
Boston, MA 02116

Kendall Cooper launched Kendall Cooper Casting in 2016 in the Washington-Mid-Atlantic area and has specialized in casting period films and television shows like Mercy Street, Turn and Little Women, which is currently in production in Massachusetts. Come to the conservatory to meet Cooper, hear about how she got to where she is today, and learn about the nuances of casting a period production.

RSVP Required. Space is limited. To RSVP, click here.

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.

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: 6 – 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 18

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

Learn how to make your life experiences the subject of a “killer” stand-up set! This workshop will go over stand-up comedy basic rules including setup, premise and stage etiquette, and selected individuals will have the opportunity to test out freshly minted material before the end of the workshop. Taught by Cool Beans Comedy regular host Matthew Moore and producer Corey Craig, with a collective 20 years of stand-up comedy experience.

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 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.

The Miami Conservatory Committee invites you to a voiceover workshop presented by SAG-AFTRA New York member Paul Liberti, a member of the AuthorDirect Audio team that directs authors in their own nonfiction reads for top audiobook houses for Audible. He teaches competitive classes in New York and Los Angeles, and for the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. SAG-AFTRA Miami member Dave Corey will host the workshop, which begins with an introduction into various levels of self-tape auditions.

When: Saturday, Nov. 3 and Sunday, Nov. 4

Saturday, Nov. 3

10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Presenter: Dave Corey
Self-taping: This session will demonstrate various ways to self-tape, from worst to best, and will provide tips to film and deliver professional quality auditions.

Noon - 12:30 p.m.
Lunch break (Please bring your own lunch.)

12:30 – 2 p.m.
Presenter: Paul Liberti
Audio Book Voiceover Narration Workshop - Focus on Dialogs: Session teaches how to create distinct and unique characters; approaches to non-fiction; skillsets to enhance your storytelling abilities; how to successfully deliver dialog between characters; and contemporary techniques to connect with the listener.
 
2 – 4:30 p.m.
Presenter: Paul Liberti
Animation and Character Voiceover Development Workshop - Creating Your Own Unique Characters: Participants will learn about voice placement, the facial mask and how you can create different sounds and vibrations. Techniques taught in the workshop can be applied to voiceover work in video games, animation and commercial; doubles,  recording commercial and animation auditions from a home studio, and more.
 
Sunday, Nov. 4

10 a.m. – Noon.
Presenter: Paul Liberti
Contemporary Commercial Voiceover: Break old habits of what commercial voiceover used to sound like and set a foundation for new skill sets. This session is about opening yourself up to becoming a competitive working commercial voice actor and discovering your own unique commercial voiceover style with a competitive emotional range. You will learn skills, techniques and insider secrets for the working contemporary commercial voiceover actor. Topics covered include voice placement, constriction and release, breathing and slating techniques, what it means to “make this conversational,” and more.

Where: Rockstar Recording Studio  
548 N.E. 42nd Street
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33334
(For directions, click here.)
 
RSVP Required: To reserve your seat, please contact Susana Carrillo at susana.carrillo@sagaftra.org. or (305) 663-7092. Seating is limited for this workshop. 
 
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 or digital card on the app (paid through Oct. 31, 2018) for admittance.

Chris Game knows what you're going through. The Los Angeles–based casting director has worked as an actor, director, writer and production assistant, and has been teaching acting for over 20 years. In this comprehensive class, he will bring his well-rounded experiences to focus on commercial and theatrical auditions. Topics include memorization techniques, self-taping tips, how to use the camera to maximize results, what to do when there’s no camera, script analysis and more.

When: 7:15 – 10:15 p.m., Monday, Oct. 15
Check-in begins at 6:45 p.m.

Where: American Federation of Musicians
1717 Morena Blvd.
San Diego, CA  92110

Please RSVP to sandiego@sagaftra.org. This event is free and open to SAG-AFTRA members only.

Chris Game has taught all disciplines of acting including scene study, comedy, commercials, master classes, procedural and script writing in Los Angeles, New York, Seattle and San Francisco. As a casting director, Game’s credits include television, film, music videos and commercials. In addition to casting Kelsey Grammer and Jason Segel in film projects, he has cast talent in major commercial campaigns that include Swiffer, Wendy’s, Pepsi, Mercedes Benz and more. Game has directed five films and three web series and as an actor can be seen in HBO’s Emmy winning Veep, Young and the Restless and in an upcoming Ron Howard production.

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 October 31, 2018) for admittance.
 

This conservatory workshop provides a look at the evolving digital age and how to develop a social media presence and incorporate it into your daily professional life. Topics will include social media’s relevance in casting, content calendars, sponsored content, timed and precise posting, and gaining smart and interactive followers. Platforms covered include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. The session will outline how YOU can best be utilized as an actor. Discussion will cover tools and techniques to further explore using your brand to fine-tune fan and follower engagements and interactions. 

When: 2 – 4 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 14
Doors open at 1:45 p.m.
 
Where: American Federation of Musicians, Local 174-496
2555 Ursulines Ave
New Orleans, LA 70119
 
Cost: Free for SAG-AFTRA members    
 
*RSVP: Seating is limited. Please RSVP no later than 5 p.m. CDT, Monday, Oct. 8 by emailing your name, phone number and email to neworleans@sagaftra.org with “Social Media RSVP” in the subject line.

*Questions? Email neworleans@sagaftra.org. 

Ryan Walker is a working actor and has also worked in casting with Carla Hool Casting, Slater Brooksbank, Nancy Nayor Casting and others. Walker is a co-owner of The Social Media Advantage, an entertainment focused, educational social media consulting firm. Walker has led workshops for the SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Conservatory and also facilitated seminars in Minneapolis, Thailand and Malaysia.

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.
 

Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018
8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

KMRC
1 E. Erie, Suite 660
Chicago, IL 

Scheduled presenter: actor, writer and coach Tony Castillo (SAG-AFTRA, AEA) 

A famous quote says, “Luck is where preparation meets opportunity.” Understanding how best to brand your image, influence stakeholders and market yourself as an actor can put you in a better position to capitalize on that moment when it appears.

Provide yourself leverage by attending this informative program. Topics to be covered will include websites, headshots, resumes, demos (video and audio), business communications, networking, social media sites and tracking your business.

Continental breakfast and a cold lunch will be provided.

Please bring a current resume and headshots, as these will be reviewed with feedback provided.

RSVP to Kathy Byrne at kathy.byrne@sagaftra.org. This event is open to SAG-AFTRA and AEA members in good standing. 

Park for $15 at 10 East Ontario. Enter on the north side of Ontario between Wabash and State, and then take a ticket. When you sign in, you may purchase a 12-hour ticket for $15. You will need both tickets to exit the parking structure. Cash only, please.

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: 1 - 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018

Where: MediaTech
3324 Walnut Bend Lane
Houston TX 77042. 

Cost: Free to ProACT, Houston Conservatory and Austin Actors Conservatory members; $35 for pre-members and the general public. Pay in cash or by check at the door.

SAG-AFTRA members may join the conservatory for the yearly rate of $35 and attend any conservatory event in 2018. You may in cash or by check at the door.
 
RSVP: HoustonRSVP@sagaftra.org.

About Lance Nichols
Distinguished New Orleans actor Lance Nichols stars in the Emmy nominated HBO drama series Treme, which follows several New Orleans natives as they try to rebuild their lives after the devastation left behind by Hurricane Katrina. Nichols is most widely known for his role as the preacher in the 2008 Academy Award-nominated film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, alongside Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. Following the success of this role, Nichols landed a part in the Warner Bros. summer blockbuster The Campaign (2012), starring Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis. Throughout his 30+ years of acting, spanning from the early 80s to the present day, Nichols has made over 75 appearances on multiple award-winning and critically acclaimed television series.

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.

If the very thought of recording a voiceover from home has you curious, flummoxed or anxious, SAG-AFTRA member Tim Dadabo has been doing this for years and will walk you through just how simple it can be. 

When: 6 - 8 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018

Where: Kaufherr Resource Center
1 E. Erie St. 
Ste. 660
Chicago, IL. 60611
(Park at 10 East Ontario. Enter on the north side of Ontario between Wabash and State, and then take a ticket. When you sign in, you may purchase a four-hour ticket for $13 cash payment. You will need both tickets to exit the parking structure.)

He’ll also dig a little deeper and show you how to connect with Source Connect for live ISDN-type sessions. 

From mics to “converter boxes,” to wall treatment and speakers, Dadabo will tackle it all during this two-hour special workshop. Let Dadabo show you the easy, medium and advanced ways to bring home voiceovers recording into light….the recording light! 

Please RSVP to CommercialsRSVPChicago@sagaftra.org.

This meeting is only open to paid-up SAG-AFTRA members in good standing. Unfortunately, no guests allowed. Parents/guardians of younger performers under 18 years old are welcome. SAG-AFTRA members, please bring your membership card or digital card on the app (paid through Oct. 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.

Join us for a workshop on insider techniques to help you become a booking powerhouse in the commercial world. You will gain a better understanding of the entire commercial audition process as well as learn specific ways to stand out in this competitive career path.

When: 7-9 p.m., Monday, Oct. 1
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Where: SAG-AFTRA Office
15110 Dallas Parkway, #440
Dallas, TX  75248

Cost: Free to ProACT, Houston Conservatory and Austin Actors Conservatory Members. SAG-AFTRA members may join the conservatory for $35/yr and attend any conservatory event in 2018. Pay in cash or by check at the door. $35 – Pre-members and general public. Pay in cash or by check at the door.

Register: RSVP REQUIRED to DallasRSVP@sagaftra.org.

Clayton Farris is an actor, writer, social media influencer, has earned awards as both actor and filmmaker and has commercial expertise, booking over twenty-five national commercials. Farris’ work includes smash hit shows like Grey’s Anatomy, American Horror Story and Jane the Virgin. Farris built a large internet following on Vine and is one of a handful of creators part of the Facebook Launchpad Program to help creators develop their brands and create larger audiences.