Conservatory

The SAG-AFTRA Washington-Mid Atlantic Conservatory Committee Presents: "Meisner Technique"

On-camera auditions can often feel daunting and intimidating. It's challenging to deliver an inspiring read when facing a camera or a disinterested reader. Additionally, with only a few minutes to review your sides, it’s tough to fully grasp the material and decide how to approach a scene or character. In this workshop, we'll explore a technique for quickly breaking down a scene and role in limited time. You’ll learn how to use the lines and suggestions in the script to breathe life into the material, making cold readings both engaging and effective. Robert Epstein will guide you through the principles of the Meisner Technique to help you deliver compelling performances in your cold reading auditions.

Robert Epstein, known as DC's resident Meisner expert, has taught his comprehensive program for actors, "The Complete Actor’s Training," for over 30 years. With roles on cable and network TV, as well as directing DC film and theatre projects, including Adams Morgan: The Movie, Robert is a seasoned professional. He has also led numerous workshops for the SAG-AFTRA Conservatory and the Actor’s Center.  

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.

** Registration for this event will open on Monday, August 12 at 10AM **

Deadline to RSVP is Aug. 16 at 12 noon PT.

Location: SAG-AFTRA Plaza, Cagney Boardroom
            5757 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Description:

Hear from a diverse panel of working actors, from those just-getting-started to seasoned veterans to actors at the height of their careers.  

We are thrilled for you to learn from and ask questions of: Barrett Doss, Elia Saldana, Grace Kaufman, Jason George, Jes Macallan, Laraine Newman, and Rachel Marsh. 

This is an opportunity for Conservatory members to hear about their journeys as actors who primarily work the theatrical contract. Moderated by Lee Garlington.

Questions? Please email conservatory@sagaftra.org.

This workshop is only open to paid-up SAG-AFTRA members in good standing. Unfortunately, no guests allowed. All performers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. 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.

Please note that ADA requests must be received 48 business hours before the start of the event. 
 

** Registration for this event will open on Tuesday, August 13 at 10AM **

Deadline to RSVP is Aug. 19 at 12 noon PT.

Location: SAG-AFTRA Plaza, Cagney Boardroom
            5757 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Description:
Join the SAG-AFTRA LA Conservatory for Booking More by Worrying Less with David Blue!

This masterclass is intended to accommodate Advanced Level actors. Please assess your own abilities accordingly when considering registering for this workshop.

Hate the entire audition process? Exhausted trying to always figure out what "they're looking for?" Tired of obsessing for days if you "did the RIGHT thing?" Join this fun, one-day workshop to develop usable techniques you can apply to your auditions and performances, to always know you are bringing the height of your talent to each and every opportunity, consistently. -- And learn it from a working actor who has proven these techniques across the globe in TV, Film, theater, VO and more.

Directions:
The first fifteen registrants will be assigned sides to work. Those registrants will be expected to come prepared with their assigned sides. 

A staff member will reach out to you after you have registered. 

The following registrants will be allowed to attend as observers. Please note this is a large class and not everyone will have the opportunity to be selected to work. 

Instructor: David Blue

Questions? Please email conservatory@sagaftra.org.

This workshop is only open to paid-up SAG-AFTRA members in good standing. Unfortunately, no guests allowed. All performers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. 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.

Please note that ADA requests must be received 48 business hours before the start of the event. 
 

** Registration for this event will open on Thursday, August 15 at 10AM **

Deadline to RSVP is Aug. 20 at 12 noon PT.

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

Description:

Given the opportunity to express yourself, where do you stop and what do you stop yourself with? Award winning actor Karen Austin unpacks self-sabotage, your discomfort zone, the leap into strong choices, and practical techniques for delivering your best. The opposite of fear is work. There may be group exercises and a few participants may perform on-camera, time permitting. 

Best for performers over the age of 18. 

About Karen Austin

Her career includes decades of lead roles on film, stage & TV,  LA Drama Critics Circle & Dramalogue Awards, an M.A. from Northwestern University and election to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. She has taught at Stanford, the NY Actors Institute and the LA SAG-AFTRA Conservatory. She co-leads the Mastery of Creativity Workshop, and holds a weekly studio scene study class. 

Directions:
Attendees are welcome to bring materials to take notes

Instructor: Karen Austin

Questions? Please email conservatory@sagaftra.org.

This workshop is only open to paid-up SAG-AFTRA members in good standing. Unfortunately, no guests allowed. All performers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. 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.

Please note that ADA requests must be received 48 business hours before the start of the event. 
 

Join General Hospital casting director Mark Teschner as he provides industry insights, offers valuable knowledge about its evolving landscape and examines current dynamics in the television casting industry. Teschner will join in virtually from Los Angeles.  

Highlights:

• 11x EMMY® Winner: Experience a special session with an award-winning casting director, providing unparalleled expertise and stories from a celebrated career in television.

• Inside 'Auditions': Gain exclusive insights into the casting process behind the long-running soap opera, General Hospital, with a focus on how iconic roles are cast and developed.

• Career Advancement: Receive practical advice on advancing your acting career, including tips on headshots, resumes, and navigating auditions for television roles.

• Q&A Session: You will have an opportunity to ask questions about the casting process, industry trends and personal experiences.

About Mark Teschner

Mark Teschner, a native New Yorker, has been the casting director for ABC Daytime's "General Hospital" since 1989. Renowned for his exceptional eye for talent, Rolling Stone calls him "an actor's casting director," and TV Guide praises his "unparalleled track record for finding top new talent." Teschner has won eleven Emmy Awards for "Outstanding Achievement in Casting" and eight additional nominations. He is also a seven-time recipient of the prestigious Artios Award from the Casting Society of America, with sixteen additional nominations. Teschner has served as vice president of the Casting Society of America and as a Governor of the Television Academy. This year, he was inducted into the "Silver Circle" at the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences.

RSVP: Registrations are required. Please complete the form below to RSVP; you must be logged-in to RSVP.

Cost: Free for SAG-AFTRA San Diego Local members in good standing (paid through Oct. 31, 2024) with registration.

If you are not a member or not a San Diego Local Member you can attend for a fee of $10. You must register below AND you must also pay via this link.

Check-in begins at 6:30 p.m.

No guests are allowed. Parents/guardians of performers under 18 years old are welcome.

Please note that ADA requests must be received 72 business hours before the start of the event.

Join us for From Actor to Producer: Making Your Own Content and Developing Another Industry Skill Set! This will be an evening with local SAG-AFTRA members who have taken the leap to the other side of the table. You will not want to miss this free Conservatory event where you will learn the steps it takes to go from actor to a sought after multi-hyphenate. This talented panel will share their experiences and best practices as we unpack the process of making a film from that first inspiration through to post production and the premiere.

Panelists include:

• Tiffany Bedwell
• McKenzie Chinn
• Coby Goss
• Erik Juarez
• Lisa Roti

Please send questions in advance for our panelists to jess.jones@sagaftra.org by Oct. 24 at 1.p.m.

If you like what you learn here and you want to take it farther, be sure to sign up for the SAG-AFTRA Chicago "Make your own Short" series this fall! (If you are interested in receiving forthcoming details on the short series, separate registration will be required. Please register your interest here for additional details, when available.)
 

Panelist Bios:

Coburn Goss -  Coburn Goss is a Chicago-based actor, writer and producer, originally from North Little Rock, Arkansas. Film credits include Widows, Man of Steel, Batman v. Superman, The Lucky Ones, Once upon a River and the upcoming Adult Children. Television credits include: Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, The Red Line, Empire, Boss and E/R. He has performed Off-Broadway and regionally with Steppenwolf Theater, Goodman Theater, Asolo Rep, Seattle Rep and Arkansas Rep. His play Marked Tree received the American Theater Critics’ Osborn Award. He co-wrote and produced the film All Happy Families.
 

Erick Juarez is an up-and-coming filmmaker with a passion for storytelling that began in his early days as an actor. Originally from Guatemala and raised in Chicago, Erick studied acting at Northern Illinois University, where he earned his BFA and also trained at the Moscow Art Theatre School in Russia. Erick is now actively involved in Chicago's indie film scene, working on projects like Parting Gift, Holiday Heartbreak, Paper Flower, and Cake. His background in acting gives him a unique perspective on producing, allowing him to approach filmmaking with creativity and insight.
 

Lisa Roti  is an accomplished actor and producer with TV credits that include co-starring roles on Amazon’s Utopia, NBC’s Chicago PD, and Fox’s The Mob Doctor. She recently earned a “Best Supporting Actress” laurel for her role as Maria in the indie short Side Effects. Beyond her acting career, Lisa recently cast and produced SAG-AFTRA short My Best Nut and has extensive experience in various production roles, including locations, art department, and live entertainment events. Additionally, she is a noted jazz vocalist who has toured internationally, including as part of President Barack Obama’s 100,000 Strong Initiative in Beijing.

McKenzie Chinn is a filmmaker and actor based in Chicago, whose work envisions personal and collective liberation. She is a 2021 Sundance Screenwriters Lab and Directors Lab Fellow, where she honed her feature film “A Real One,” currently in late development. The short version of “A Real One” won the 2023 Chicago International Film Festival’s Gold Hugo, qualifying the film for 2025 Academy Award consideration. Her film “Olympia” (writer, producer, actor) won the Best Narrative Feature Audience Award at Geena Davis’s 2019 Bentonville Film Festival. She is a current SFFILM Rainin Grant Fellow. As an actor she has played recurring and guest star roles on ABC’s Will Trent, Fox’s The Big Leap, and others, and has appeared onstage with Steppenwolf Theatre, Goodman Theatre, The Second City, Woolly Mammoth, The Studio Theatre, and others. She earned her MFA at The Theatre School at DePaul. mckenziechinn.com

Tiffany Bedwell -  Michigan-born and Chicago-based, Tiffany trained in theatre in Detroit, Russia and Greece, and performed on stages around the US. After transitioning to performing for film/TV, Tiffany played Dr. Emily Wandervogel in Dreaming Grand Avenue and Tessa in Good Guy With a Gun -- and thus, she became addicted to all things indie film. In 2023, Tiffany made her directorial debut, co-directing the short Fitting Descriptions alongside John Mossman. She also executive produced and starred in the film, and co-created the story. Fitting Descriptions is in the midst of a robust global festival run. As a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), Tiffany’s stories in development amplify the voices and hands of the Deaf and CODA existence, which the hearing world mutes every day.

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

This event is only open to paid-up SAG-AFTRA members in good standing (paid thru Oct. 31, 2024.) No guests are allowed. Parents/guardians of performers under 18 years old are welcome.

Please note that ADA requests must be received 72 business hours before the start of the event. 

Join Casting Director Jordan Bass who will teach attendees practice audition techniques. As a participant, you will perform a mock audition and receive direct feedback. The workshop is designed to be educational and informative.  

Conservatory Information:

• You will have direct access to a working Casting Director in a small, intimate setting.
• You will work one-on-one, reading a scene with the instructor and receiving specific and constructive feedback.
• You will learn from performing in a 'mock-audition' setting as well as watching your peers perform and receive feedback.
• During Q&A, you are encouraged to ask any relevant questions about auditioning, self-taping, demo reels, headshots, or the ‘business’ in general.  *All answers reflect the instructor’s specific opinions. 

General Instructions from SAG-AFTRA for Participation:

• If you are interested in participating in this workshop and performing a mock-audition, please send your resume to nevada@sagaftra.org by September 6, 5:00 p.m. PT.
• Each performer selected by SAG-AFTRA will receive a unique scene tailored to their ‘type’ a day or two prior to the workshop.  Memorization is not required.
• Maximum capacity is 20.  No walks-ins allowed.

About Jordan Bass:

Jordan Bass is a partner in bass/casting, a bi-coastal casting company comprising the partnership of siblings Jordan Bass and Lauren Bass, that specializes in curating strong ensemble casts across film, television, theatre & new media. Feature credits include: Taylor Sheridan's Wind River starring Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen, New Line's Annabelle, Amazon's Chemical Hearts, Wayfarer Studios' Love You Anyway, Blumhouse's Martyrs, HBO/Project Greenlight's The Leisure Class, Izzy Gets the F*ck Across Town, and A Violent Separation.  TV credits include: Ghosts of Beirut (Showtime), Beerfest (CW Seed), Hyperlinked (YouTube/Disney), The 5th Quarter (Go90), Ed Burns' Public Morals (TNT), Spartacus: Blood & Sand (Starz), Big Time Rush (Nickelodeon), and Vin Diesel's The Ropes (Crackle). Select LA Theatre credits include: Our Dear Dead Drug Lord (CTG, Kirk Douglas Theatre), A Kid Like Jake (Pasadena Playhouse), Happy Fall (LA LGBT Center), Arrowhead (IAMA Theatre).

Free for SAG-AFTRA Nevada Local members in good standing (paid through Oct. 31, 2024) with registration.

Check-in begins at 12:00 p.m.

RSVP: Registrations are required. Please complete the form below to RSVP; you must be logged-in to RSVP.

Maximum capacity is 20.  

No guests are allowed. Parents/guardians of performers under 18 years old are welcome.

Please note that ADA requests must be received 72 business hours before the start of the event.

Join actor and Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute instructor Dylan Mooney for an exciting evening of delving into the Business of Acting.  

Discover essential skills and tools that will propel your journey in the acting industry to new heights, while also unlocking secrets to successfully assume the role of a thriving CEO in your acting business. 

Dylan will cover:

• Three of the seven philosophies taught in his Business of Acting course that all actors must live by to find success in the industry
• How to identify your type
• The secret to taking great headshots
• Why having PR is necessary & affordable
• Self-tape framing & eye-line tips
• Where to find remote readers to help you tape for free
• Creating the perfect landing page for your acting business

About Dylan Mooney

Dylan Mooney has been a professional actor for nearly 17 years and is currently recurring on the BET+ TV show The Family Business and just wrapped supporting roles on two feature films, The Comic Shop & Persona which will be released later this year. In addition to working as a professional actor, Mooney is currently an instructor at The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute (faculty page), where he has been teaching 'The Business of Acting' for the past several years, which is part of their graduate program. Mooney also teaches the same course, The Biz of Acting 6-Week Course, privately online. He is the VP of Content Development for Glass Slipper Pictures, a distribution and production company. Lastly, Mooney is the proud founder of the Actor Trade App (IG) which has been featured in Variety magazine and the Los Angeles Business Journal.

RSVP: Registrations are required. Please complete the form below to RSVP; you must be logged-in to RSVP.

Cost: Free for SAG-AFTRA Nevada Local members in good standing (paid through Oct. 31, 2024) with registration.

If you are not a member, you can attend for a fee of $20. You must register below AND you must also pay via this link.

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

No guests are allowed. Parents/guardians of performers under 18 years old are welcome.

Please note that ADA requests must be received 72 business hours before the start of the event.

New England Conservatory presents: Ask the Staff

Join the New England staff in a virtual conservatory on July 11. Jessica, Ellen, Ben and Dylan will be available to answer your questions on contracts, the local industry, membership and more! Come with your questions or drop in to learn something new.

When: Thursday, July 11, 7 to 8 p.m.

Where: Zoom

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

This event is only open to paid-up SAG-AFTRA members in good standing (paid thru Oct. 31, 2024.) No guests are allowed. Parents/guardians of performers under 18 years old are welcome.

Please note that ADA requests must be received 72 business hours before the start of the event. 

With film and episodic production beginning to pick up in Minnesota, so too has confusion about exactly what kind of paperwork is required before shooting begins, when reporting to set, and following the production wrap.  

You are invited to join staff and Local leaders for a workshop to inform members about what is expected when you show up to work on Day 1.  

Our special guest is Kathy Byrne, Senior Director of TV & Theatrical from the Chicago local. We will be hosting afternoon and evening sessions to accommodate as many busy schedules as possible.  

Don’t miss out on the chance to learn, confirm, and discuss how members can help streamline the paperwork process from Day 1 to wrap of production. 

Where: via Zoom

Date: July 29, 2024

Time: 6 PM

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

This event is only open to paid-up SAG-AFTRA members in good standing (paid thru Oct. 31, 2024.) No guests are allowed. Parents/guardians of performers under 18 years old are welcome.

Please note that ADA requests must be received 72 business hours before the start of the event.