Executive Director's Report

p>By Brad Anderson

The SAG-AFTRA Seattle Local has been working very hard since the merger of SAG and AFTRA to generate more work for its members. Recently, working in conjunction with the SAG-AFTRA Portland Local, the union has been exploring the development of new and creative approaches to deal with producer “concerns” about the use of union contracts. Although nothing has yet been finalized in the locals’ jurisdictions of Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Montana and Oregon, the expectation of all involved is that there will be exciting possibilities in the near future.

For example, the locals have been conducting extensive research into how national collective bargaining agreements have been used locally, including identification of issues that producers have expressed some hesitance over. There have been lengthy interviews with agents, casting directors and production houses to thoroughly review the same areas. The anticipated end result will ideally be a process by which producers become familiar with signing union projects, which will then allow them to access the higher quality professional performers represented by SAG-AFTRA.

This effort is just one piece of the SAG-AFTRA Seattle Local’s program to enhance the working lives of its members. For example, the SAG-AFTRA Seattle Local continues to improve its ability to serve members with the recent purchase of a ClearSonic IsoPac G Sound Isolation Booth. The booth is designed by the manufacturer to eliminate up to 70 percent of extraneous noise, creating a quiet, low-reflection chamber ideal for vocal recording. In addition, the booth is completely portable, and can be easily stored in order to allow for maximum flexibility of the local’s Member Resource Center.

The MRC is available free for use by all members in-good-standing on a reservation basis, and provides a wide range of audio and video recording, editing, playback and digital conversion capabilities. This latest acquisition increases the range of activities that can be performed by and for members needing access to a space to record auditions, review previously recorded materials, conduct workshops, update demos and much, much more. The MRC is part of the offices of the SAG-AFTRA Seattle Local at 123 Boylston Ave E., Seattle, WA 98102.

This item was originally featured in the July 2014 local newsletter.