The Extra Mile

Today, it’s simply not enough to just show up. Don’t get me wrong. Showing up is a huge part of the game, but you’ve got to show up and be extraordinary. You’ve got to come prepared. One of the important principles of success is the willingness to go the extra mile. Within days of the merger, SAG-AFTRA Denver went that extra mile.

On April 9, SAG-AFTRA in conjunction with the Film & Video Association (CFVA), sponsored Straight Talk:  Working with SAG-AFTRA … It’s easier than you think! This event consisted of an informative and lively discussion, followed by a Q&A, featuring a panel of entertainment industry professionals. They gave the straight talk on what it’s like to work with union contracts, how it impacts the budget and the value in using professional performers.

This evening was presented at the Denver FilmCenter/Colfax, with a post-event mixer in Henderson’s Lounge. It was gratis for members of SAG-AFTRA and CFVA and provided an excellent opportunity to mix, mingle and network with producers, filmmakers and other entertainment industry professionals.

The panel included Donald Zuckerman, Sheila Traister (co-vice president, SAG-AFTRA Denver Local), Scott Takeda (producer – Takeda Entertainment), Greg Babcock (location manager/scout – Babcock Film and Location Services) and William L. Brown (director – Stained Glass Windows). The house filled up and the good news/bad news is that some audience members actually had to be turned away because the venue was at capacity. 

In preparation for the evening, Donald Zuckerman stated, “… I cannot emphasize enough how foolish it is for someone to make a non-SAG film, unless the intent is to never have it seen outside a festival setting.” The other panelists shared an array of enlightening and fortuitous information. The Q&A portion from the audience brought conscious and quality thought-provoking debate.

The journey requires some blood, sweat and tears. Join us in exercising your personal initiative. Keep training, networking and showing up for the events. We are planning to collaborate this fall with Actors’ Equity Association to present a “stage and screen” project. Also, Denver SAG-AFTRA will be working with several of the film schools to help facilitate the use of Student Film and Short Film Agreements. A special Low Budget Contracts 101 event is planned for September at the Colorado Film School, and in addition to students, entertainment industry professionals also will be invited.

When one gets to where they thought the rainbow ended, they find it is still far in the distance. “There’s no traffic jam on the extra mile.”

Chaz Grundy, Co-President, SAG-AFTRA Denver Local