Workshops

When: 1 - 3 p.m., Friday, Dec. 7

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

The most powerful tool you have as an actor is YOU. In this workshop you’ll learn how to be “yourself" in every aspect of the business while also thriving within the confines of a typecasting industry. Landing an agent, getting auditions and booking work starts by embracing your type and knowing how the industry sees you. But, developing your unique niche is the secret to achieving your career dreams. In this workshop type and image expert Mark Atteberry will walk you through a series of exercises that will help you to identify your type, define your image and create your own unique niche. You'll learn how to market yourself far more effectively, in a way that captures the attention of the industry and ensures that your career will be a long and successful one.

About Mark Atteberry
Mark Atteberry is an award-winning actor, photographer and image expert. His numerous acting credits include features like Gone Girl and The Hulk. His television work includes Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Black-ish, Grace & Frankie, Grey's Anatomy, Code Black, Scandal and many more. Atteberry is internationally known for his advertising and headshot photography and was voted “Top Headshot Photographer in L.A.” by BackStage. Known as “L.A.’s Type Specialist” Mark teaches and lectures regularly on type, image and branding for the actor. He has written several books including the Working Actor's Guide to L.A. and is the founder of Be a Working Actor Studios.

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. All performers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. SAG-AFTRA members, PLEASE BRING YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD OR DIGITAL CARD ON YOUR APP (paid through October 31, 2018 or April 30, 2019) 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 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 5

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

In today’s ever-changing industry, too many actors experience professional stagnation and artistic frustration. It seems like every day the game is changing and yesterday’s hustle isn’t good enough for tomorrow’s success. It does not have to stay this way.

This workshop will teach you how to build a foundation for a lasting fulfilling career that evolves and stands resilient against the whims of the industry.

Developed by actor, coach, producer, and cultural innovator Benjamin Mathes, the You, the Career presentation is a holistic yet practical approach to the professional life of an actor. It will challenge, excite and ground you, your most valuable asset.

After this presentation, you will have a clear understanding of:

• Aligning your artistic and professional goals
• What it takes to build a lifelong acting career
• The Corporate Economy (and how it’s holding you back)
• The Creative Economy (and how you can thrive in it)
• The 8 voices you need to stop listening to, and the 8 you should be listening to
• The 3 things you can do every day to develop a healthy, balanced, and unshakable career

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. All performers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. SAG-AFTRA members, PLEASE BRING YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD OR DIGITAL CARD ON YOUR APP (paid through October 31, 2018 or April 30, 2019) 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: 1 - 3 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 4

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

"Even pro baseball players hit the batting cages."

Reignite your passion, raise your career to the next level and book more! In this workshop, taught by working actor David Blue (Ugly Betty, Stargate Universe), attendees will learn how to:

• Make your auditions stand out
• Find the character (quickly)
• Learn shortcuts to figuring out your role
• Let go of the pressure
• Be YOU
• Rediscover the fun that got you hooked on acting in the first place

This very special workshop will kick-off with a quick introduction from special industry guests, actors Tracie Thoms (RENT, Looper), Todd Stashwick (12 Monkeys, The Riches), Eugene Byrd (Bones, 8 Mile), Ruthie Connell (Supernatural).

Don't give blah auditions. Come learn how to book an audition, cultivate the career you want and find happiness in your work.

Guests are subject to change without notification.

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. All performers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. SAG-AFTRA members, PLEASE BRING YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD OR DIGITAL CARD ON YOUR APP (paid through October 31, 2018 or April 30, 2019) 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. Panelists are subject to change without notification.

When: 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018
Doors open at 9:30 a.m.

Where: SAG-AFTRA
1900 Broadway, 5th Floor
New York, NY
(Between 63rd and 64th Streets)

Everything these days happens on social media. Producers make content for it. Fans and stars interact on it. Performers promote their work on it. Join the NY Young Performers Committee to learn about how our youngest members can use social media as a career tool.

The workshop will feature a conversation with special guest young performer Niles Fitch (This Is Us) to talk about his career and presence on different social media platforms, followed by a group activity for the young performers.

Parents will attend a panel discussion in the afternoon about how young performers can use social media as a career tool with entertainment professionals including casting director Adrienne Stern and SAG-AFTRA staff.

Breakfast and lunch will be served.

RSVP: Reservations are required and space is limited. Click here to RSVP - you must be logged in to access the form. This event is for SAG-AFTRA members aged 17 and under. Due to space limitations we can only accommodate one parent or guardian per young performer.

This program is made possible by a grant from the SAG-AFTRA – Producers Industry Advancement and Cooperative Fund.

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. PLEASE BRING YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD OR DIGITAL CARD IN THE MEMBER APP (paid through Oct. 31, 2018 or April 30, 2019) 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: 7 - 9 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 29

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

Do you ever feel like you’re stuck in a hole as far as your acting career. Do things seem daunting? You’ve got your headshots, the reels, the acting classes. You do them again and again and it feels like they’re all you can do to control your career. You know you’re hustling, you can feel it, yet still you’re not “thriving”.

Maybe you feel unfulfilled because you aren’t booking, or perhaps you’re just not booking the roles and media you want. Maybe you’re in a rut, struggling with your emotional or mental health because, let’s face it, this industry is tough on the soul.

In this seminar, you will learn practical ways to properly assess what you’re doing and ways you can be more productive in the industry that will still allow you to be creative both when you are and are not working directly in acting roles. You will leave, being able to take on more while actually saving hours in your week so that you can re-energize and take that much-needed time for self-care.

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. All performers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. SAG-AFTRA members, PLEASE BRING YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD OR DIGITAL CARD ON YOUR APP (paid through October 31, 2018 or April 30, 2019) 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 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 28

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

How do you set yourself apart in an audition? How do you serve the text while still making bold choices?  We all want the casting director and producers to see the unique contribution we can make to a role but sometimes our efforts take us away from the story being told, or we stay general because we're just not sure how to make it our own, or worse, we think we're being specific when we're not.

This seminar will help you assess your own process and give you new tools to meeting a role’s need for specificity. You will learn to find hidden clues in the script, use your uniqueness to create specific characters, and discover ways to be even more present in the audition. Participants can bring in a comedic or dramatic scene or monologue of their choice to possibly work at the front of the room.

About Michael D. Cohen
Michael D. Cohen is a series regular on Nickelodeon's award-winning sitcom Henry Danger. He has appeared on Modern Family, 2 Broke Girls, The Real O'Neals, The Mindy Project and many other episodics. Recent film credits include Suburbicon directed by George Clooney, the Oscar-nominated film Whiplash and It Was You Charlie for which he was nominated for ACTRA’s Best Lead Performance award.  As an acting coach, Cohen is a faculty lecturer for the University of Texas at Austin in Hollywood, and also teaches through his own studio the Michael D. Cohen Acting Studio in Los Angeles.

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. All performers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. SAG-AFTRA members, PLEASE BRING YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD OR DIGITAL CARD ON YOUR APP (paid through October 31, 2018 and April 30, 2019) 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: 1 – 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 28

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

We dive into improv from all angles, with different perspectives, situations, and opportunities for everyone to understand how to take this useful tool and apply to acting, auditions, and performing live stand-up comedy. Individuals will perform multiple times throughout the workshop and practice helpful tools to improve on listening, yes-anding, and working in the grey area. This event is facilitated by IFTP’s Artistic Director Matthew Moore, and Cool Beans U’s Corey Craig and Alexandra Catalano.

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. All performers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. SAG-AFTRA members, PLEASE BRING YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD OR DIGITAL CARD ON YOUR APP (paid through October 31, 2018 or April 30, 2019) 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: 2 - 4 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 15

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

Join us for another great workshop presented to SAG-AFTRA members by The Second City Training Center. Second City has been doing improv for 55 years and is commonly referred to as the Harvard of comedy. Improv is practically an industry standard on set and in auditions; you’re going to be asked to do it at some point if you haven’t already.

In this free, 2-hour workshop, you’ll be learning the fundamentals of improv where we’ll discuss the basic concepts, how it applies to acting on stage, on camera, and to your life in general. There will be games, laughter, and we promise, lots of fun! You don’t need experience, just the willingness to explore your creativity.

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 or April 30, 2019) 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: 7:30 - 9 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 15
Mixer begins at 6:30 p.m.

Where: SAG-AFTRA
Frank Maxwell Room – Lobby Level
5757 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Parking will be validated.

SAG-AFTRA National Native American Committee will host the FREE panel discussion, Native Americans in the Industry: Where We Are Today during L.A. Skins Fest, the premiere Native American film festival in Los Angeles. The panel will address the inclusion of Native Americans in film and television and features professional actors, writers and casting directors.

Panelists will include casting director Rene Haynes (The Revenant, Jamestown), actors Elizabeth Frances (The Son), Forrest Goodluck (The Revenant) and writer Lucas Brown Eyes (Young & Hungry).

For more information on L.A. Skins Fest including a film screening schedule, additional seminar descriptions, parking, and venues, visit www.laskinsfest.com/.

You must RSVP to attend. Spaces are limited. To RSVP, click here.

Questions? Contact (323) 549-6644.

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 or April 30, 2019) 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.

Shaan Sharma, working actor, veteran commercial casting session director, acting coach, Backstage contributor, and SAG-AFTRA Conservatory Committee member, will be sharing game-changing information with a limited number of members on how to pursue a commercial and on-camera acting career. This workshop will cover topics such as the huge differences between auditioning and casting for the theatrical and commercial sides of the business, training and development, having a support network, nervousness and confidence, the entire process of casting through booking, online casting services, headshots, reels, branding, marketing, representation and much more. 
 
Sharma will expand upon his “4 Steps to Becoming a Working Actor” and “The 4 Pillars of a Joyful Acting Journey.” To supplement this information, he will provide a FREE PDF copy of his book, Commercial Acting in L.A.: A Session Director’s Guide, as a gift to all attendees.
 
Due to mature language, this event is recommended for adults only.
 
When: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Saturday, November 10

Where: Dallas-Fort Worth Local Office
15110 Dallas Parkway, Suite 440, Dallas  75248
(NE corner of Beltline and Tollway in Bank of America Building)
How Much:  FREE for Conservatory members; $35 for those not already paid for ProACT, Houston Conservatory or Austin Actors Conservatory.  Cash or check only at the door.

Limited number of seats. Lunch provided.
RSVP Required: Email DallasRSVP@sagaftra.org . Please include your name and member ID. 
 
Questions: 214-363-8300
 
This workshop is only open to paid-up SAG-AFTRA members in good standing. Unfortunately, no guests allowed. 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.