Senior Performers
National Joint (SAG/AFTRA) Senior Performers Committee
This is a joint committee with AFTRA and comprised of senior performers. Its primary aim is to increase equitable employment opportunities and work conditions for senior performers by promoting more open attitudes within the industry with respect to casting and the way in which seniors are portrayed in film, television and commercials.
This committee also addresses problems of retired performers or those who may be approaching retirement (over the age of 55) through focusing on the areas of screen image, pensions, social security and unemployment insurance.
Monthly Cold Readings
The SAG Hollywood Senior Performers Committee is still looking for performers to participate in the monthly cold readings with casting directors and WGAW staged readings.
SAG members who participate in the monthly cold readings with invited casting directors are also eligible to be selected for our staged readings with the WGAw. If you have not submitted in the past and you would like to be considered, please send your headshots/resume to:
Silvia Henriquez,
Affirmative Action/Diversity Department,
Screen Actors Guild,
5757 Wilshire Blvd, 7th Floor,
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone: (323) 549-6646.
Message to Seniors
Your dedicated SAG staff along with Chairs of the Seniors Committee were gratified by the enthusiastic turn-out at our spring Seniors Town Hall gathering in the James Cagney Room in Hollywood.
With the hope that your pleasant memories of summer vacations are still lingering, we are ready to gather again soon at which time we will share with you results from the Seniors’ Survey taken at the spring meeting concerning your status, needs and preferences.
The National and Local Senior Performers Committee will be meeting in September to map out the year ahead. We will discuss and implement further items of your interest and will be working to develop programming and events that you have asked for.
Meanwhile, please be aware that the Seniors Joint SAG/AFTRA cold readings session overseen by casting directors, is on Thursday, September 24. 24 spaces are available for this session. Please direct your head shots to diversity@sag.org.
On the national Senior Performers scene, New York will be releasing the Senior Performers Interview Project, the incisive film that we previewed at the Hollywood spring gathering. Look out for further information about the launch of the film and related events!
We Senior Performers are a vital force in both our industry and in society at-large. It is our intention, to revitalize our interests through the Senior Performers Committee to let Madison Avenue, Hollywood and everywhere in between know of our honed talent, our force of numbers and our availability to satisfactorily fill the role.
Stay tuned.
Senior Performers Committee
The New York Local Joint AFTRA-SAG Senior Performers Committee has initiated the People of a Certain Age letter writing campaign—written statements by your senior non-theatrical friends and family members, who watch (or don’t watch) television shows and movies, which will be collected by the Committee for review and possible action, such as forwarding to casting directors, agents and producers. It is important for the creative and casting communities to read what the general senior audience thinks and feels about what is being presented for their viewing.
Below are sample questions to get you started:
- What shows do you enjoy watching and why?
- What would you like to see included in greater quantity in TV shows and movies?
- What do you relate to in TV shows and movies?
- What types of TV shows and movies would you like to see more of on the market?
- Would you like to see more stories written by senior writers about senior life that include leading and supporting roles for senior professional actors? What products would you like to see advertised?
- Would you like to see more standard stories written to include leading and supporting roles for senior professional actors? As we all know, THE AMERICAN SCENE IS VERY UNDER REPRESENTED.
As you approach your family, friends and neighbors, ages 40 and over, please make sure each letter is personalized and written from the heart and in their own words.
Be sure they include as much information about themselves as they are comfortable with: the city and state where they live and/or their name.
When you collect the letters, please mail or deliver them to:
Adam Moore
Screen Actors Guild
360 Madison Avenue, 12th Floor
New York City, NY 10017
Or bring the envelope to the next New York Local Joint AFTRA-SAG Senior Performers Committee meeting.
Thanks for your efforts and enthusiasm!
