A Holiday Message From Your National Executive Director

Dear Member,

I want to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a joyous holiday season. 

One of the best gifts we could have hoped for is IMDb’s decision to change their approach to the publishing of our members’ personal information, especially birthdates. As you enter the new year, you have the opportunity to determine much of what personal information is displayed on your IMDb page — giving you back control of how you are represented to the industry and to the public. President Fran Drescher personally led the engagement with IMDb that has brought us across the finish line on this issue, and without her dedication to advancing this cause, I doubt we could have gotten here. We made it to this point thanks to the perseverance of a number of member and staff leaders who always stood strong. Looking back on the start of this effort more than 15 years ago, I know that our commitment to never letting this issue go has paid off.

As you may have read in the latest SAG-AFTRA magazine, we will be beginning the process of reopening our offices nationwide starting Jan. 30. This will be a gradual resumption of activities over a transition period starting at the end of January, moving over time from our current policy of resource conservation to a period of moderation with increased in-person member services and activities throughout the spring and summer.

I know many members can’t wait to get back to face-to-face interactions, whether it’s being served at our local or national offices, or at in-person member events, where we can once again connect with one another and work together in more traditional ways to advance members’ goals. In anticipation of this reopening, we have been adding staff to ensure we have the resources we need to properly support member events and committees — and everything that comes with the return to in-person activities. I ask that you be understanding as we carry out this transition in a phased-in way that ensures the time needed to provide quality, effective member service.

Whether it’s listening to holiday music on the radio while driving, spending time with family watching a holiday classic movie, or keeping up on what’s happening in the world around us, one common thread that unites everyone is the extraordinary gift we all receive from the talent, creativity, and dedication of all SAG-AFTRA members. I hope you take pride in knowing that our culture simply wouldn’t be the same without your contribution to it, because it is your work that lifts our spirits, inspires us, encourages us, cautions us, challenges us and warms our hearts.

I hope you have a happy and safe holiday season and are able to spend it in whatever way fulfills and enriches you. I can’t wait to see you all in person soon.

May the spirit of the season fill your hearts with good cheer!

Duncan Crabtree-Ireland

National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator