Utah 2009:07

July 6, 2009

FROM THE BRANCH PRESIDENT

By Susan Dolan

I recently returned from Atlanta where I attended the Regional Branch Division meetings along with our National Board Director Molly Ballard. I am happy to report that we have made significant progress as a Branch with iActor. You may recall that I encouraged all Utah SAG members to get their résumés, video demos and photographs on iActor. We now have a higher percentage of paid-up SAG members on iActor than some of our neighbors. We have nearly 14 percent of our membership on iActor, a 4 percent increase from October 2007. By comparison, one of the highest participating Branches in the country is New Mexico, with just over 32 percent. The highest percentage comes from Philadelphia at 33.5 percent. Please encourage your friends to participate in this valuable casting tool. Many casting directors are using this resource. In addition to opening the door to work opportunities for you, it helps our Branch have a stronger voice in our national union.

Another way to help our Utah Branch is by encouraging SAG friends you know that have moved here from other cities to reclassify their membership to Utah. The higher our total number of SAG members in good standing, the stronger our vote is in National Board meetings. We also can justify more funding and greater support as our numbers increase. The members who reclassify receive the benefits of Utah communications and casting priority in the state where they make their homes.

Thanks to all of you who voted in our recent election resulting in the 78 percent majority ratifying our new TV/Theatrical Contract. The Branches played an important role in voter turnout and “yes” votes.

LIFERAFT LIVE STREAM PILOT PROGRAM

The Screen Actors Guild Foundation is delighted to offer LifeRaft events to Guild members in the Utah Branch at no charge via the Internet.

The LifeRaft Live Stream pilot program will share the foundation’s series of “business of acting” seminars, LifeRaft, with Guild members of all SAG Branches through three live pilot panel events that will be video streamed over the Internet during July of 2009.

LifeRaft seminars are valuable opportunities to learn from seasoned industry professionals who are eager to share their time and expertise in discussions and question-and-answer sessions before a live audience. Some past and ongoing LifeRaft seminars include “Real Deal on Actor Reels,” “Agent and Casting Director Panels,” “Image is Everything: Knowing your Types,” “Life on Set,” “Journey of the Working Actor,” “Commercials 101,” “Making your Own Indie Film,” “Parenting Young Performers” and many others.

Beginning with the events listed below, career-focused actors can simply visit the LifeRaft Live Stream Gallery at http://www.sagfoundation.org/node/416 (show password: liferaft07) to view and learn from, as well as submit their questions to panelists and moderators during the events by e-mailing LifeRaft@Sagfoundation.org.

Currently scheduled Live Stream LifeRaft events include:

“Overcoming Career Sabotage”
Tuesday, July 7
6-8 p.m. Pacific Time

“Journey of the Working Actor”
Tuesday, July 14
6-8 p.m. Pacific Time

“Plan Z: Steps to Surviving the Current Economy”
Tuesday, July 21
6-7 p.m. Pacific Time

“An Evening with Casting Directors”
Tuesday, July 28
6-8 p.m. Pacific Time

As always, members are encouraged to register with the SAG Foundation at SAGFoundation.org in order to receive e-mail updates regarding this LifeRaft pilot program. Members experiencing difficulty logging in can view a brief video tutorial by visiting SAGFoundation.org/faq.

The SAG Foundation is proud to assist, educate and inspire SAG members in their careers and communities!

THE MARTIANS ARE COMING! ARE YOU READY?

By Don Livesay
Utah Executive Director

Yes, the economy is in the tank, but filmmaking, unlike many other industries, seems to do exceedingly well over time. From the earliest days of the studio system to the advent of television, from the birth of VCRs to the dawning of new media, the industry has re-invented itself again and again in tough times to remain a vibrant creator of jobs and a successful exporter of American product. That good ol’ fashioned resiliency has worked, and I believe it will in Utah.

According to The Economic Impact of the Motion Picture & Television Industry on the United States, published this April by the Motion Picture Association of America, 285,000 Americans are directly employed in the core businesses of producing, manufacturing and marketing motion picture and television product. Another 485,000 work in distribution, and a whopping 1.7 million are wage earners in the support fields, such as car rental dealers, hotels, caterers and the wide range of other businesses that catch the ripple effect of production.

I was surprised to read in this study that of all the businesses that comprise production, 81 percent of them employ fewer than 10 people. As easy as it is to assume that it’s the big studios that drive the bus, it is certainly the small local businesses that grease the wheels – 115,000 of them – standing ready to work on location in states like Utah. Moreover, the international appeal of American-made movies and television generated $15 billion in exports in 2007, a 23 percent increase over 2006. This figure is astounding, and yes, some of that product was filmed right here in Utah.

The Utah Legislature demonstrated support of our industry recently in passing a new and very competitive film incentive program. And now we hear that Disney, already a customer with innumerable Utah television and film projects in the can, has signed up for the tax credit with the production John Carter of Mars, to be shot here, beginning in November, for 45 days. According to reports, $27.7 million will be spent in the state, almost twice the amount spent for High School Musical 3. Are you ready?

In the MPAA report, Utah is listed as one of the five states to watch, right along with Michigan, Arizona, Connecticut and New Mexico. It is clear that the economy can cause frustration and sincere hardship on many levels. But as an actor in Utah, be advised: regardless of the present pain and your tolerance to cope, the rest of the world is watching us. And you need to watch, too. Get your resume up to date. Take some classes. Consider new pictures. And let’s all be ready.

IS IT UNION?

SAG offers a searchable database to all performers both SAG members and non-members alike who'd like to find out if a production is signatory to a SAG contract. Log on here. If you don't find the project you're looking for here, the production may still be pending the contract approval process or may be listed with SAG under another name. Please contact SAG if you have any questions, and start with the Branch office. Call Don Livesay at
(800) 724-0767. Press or say 3, then 7. Or e-mail him at don.livesay@sag.org.

Remember, Screen Actors Guild members must comply with Global Rule One, which states: No member shall work as a performer or make an agreement to work as a performer for any producer who has not executed a basic minimum agreement with the Guild which is in full force and effect. This provision is worldwide. Contact the SAG Contract Department for more information at (323) 549-6828.

OUR FILM OFFICE AT WORK

In May, Film Commission Director Marshall Moore wrote a letter to film professionals thanking all of us for “continued support to sustain efforts in serving the Utah film industry.” He stated that the main purpose of the office is to market the entire state as a film destination and to provide services such as location scouting, maintaining a directory of ready-to-work, qualified film professionals, communicating current events and managing the incentive program. In the past year, the office has held industry luncheons, conducted the annual Spot-On Commercial contest, contributed as a sponsor to the Sundance Film Festival and other festivals, and acted as a resource to many organizations like SAG that want to see Utah grow and prosper in the global marketplace.

Moore wrote that, because the industry is critical to the success of so many people, his office must be kept in the loop on production activity throughout the state. As part of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED), the film office is required to report certain film related data, specifically relating to job creation – something very near and dear to our members. As was certainly true with the passage of our new incentive program, data tells the story.

Let’s all help. If you see production activity, give the film commission a call and let his staff know about it. Don’t take it for granted that someone “down there” already knows. Because decisions to shoot in a particular location are often made at the eleventh hour, the film commission might not know a company is in town and the film company might not know the film commission is there to help.

The film commission office is located at Council Hall/ Capitol Hill, 300 North State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84114. Phone: (801) 538-8740. Click here for their website.

When you call, find out about how you can be personally notified of news and special industry events in Utah.

SAG'S DOCUMENT LIBRARY

Looking for a claim form? Want to check the details of any of the Guild’s agreements?

If you are registered at SAG.org and logged in, you’ll find everything you need to do business with SAG—quickly and efficiently. It is all in one place. The Document Library is your one stop for forms and performer handbooks. Go there now by clicking here.

WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU

Many of you know that the Utah Limited Letter Agreement for Commercials has been around a long time. The code offers a discount to producers and ad agencies to hire members of Screen Actors Guild in commercials that are produced and aired in Utah exclusively. That agreement is now up for renewal, and the Utah Branch Council is seeking your recommendations for any modifications that you see should be made. Please send them to Don Livesay, Screen Actors Guild, 1820 E. Ray Road Chandler, AZ 85225. Or send them by e-mail to don.livesay@sag.org. If you have questions or would like to voice your ideas or concerns directly to SAG, please call Don Livesay at (800) 724-0767, Select prompt 3, then 7. As a member of SAG, your voice matters!

For a copy of the current Utah Limited Letter Agreement for Commercials, click here.

WHAT IS UTAH'S REEL REPORT?

Utah’s Reel Report is the official e-newsletter of the Utah Branch. It is published quarterly, and it is designed to keep our Utah members informed of news and upcoming events. Your comments and suggestions are welcome. Please send them to Utah Branch Executive Director Don Livesay at don.livesay@sag.org.