Chicago

VO Lab programs and sessions are open to all SAG-AFTRA members and VO Lab eligible performers that meet the requirements, regardless of your location or the VO Lab program's city of origin. Once you have completed the required Voiceover Lab Application (online), you must complete the Voiceover Lab Orientation (VOLO) in order to begin using the Lab. This 2-hour VOLO covers Lab policies, home recording and other related topics.  There will also be a recording and editing demonstration using Twisted Wave software.

REQUIREMENTS

• Participation in VO Lab programs is open to union members in good standing, regardless of your geographical location or a program's city of origin. Join Details are generally emailed to participants approx. 1-2 Hours before the start time of the program. 
• Attendees must be present for the entire program (12:30 - 2 p.m. PT / 3:30- 5:30 p.m. ET) in order to receive VO Lab eligibility. If you have a schedule conflict, please attend orientation at another time.

Click here for details and to RSVP.

The products and services noted herein are provided as an informational service to SAG-AFTRA members and are administered by entities independent of SAG-AFTRA. Any questions must be handled by the provider. This information is not intended to serve as an endorsement nor is any warranty or guarantee implied.

Mastering is the final stage of production before an audiobook is released (or distributed).  During mastering, narrated audio is transformed into professional quality recordings that meet specific standards and ensure that audio levels are consistent. In this class you will learn about RMS, peak values, noise floor and other related aspects of the process.  We will be using Twisted Wave for this class, so if you use Twisted Wave have it with you durating the instruction.  If you are not a Twisted Wave user, the techniques you will learn can be applied using other popular DAWS and audio editors. Our intention is to help you master mastering; join us.      

REQUIREMENTS

• An interest in mastering for audiobook production.
• Knowledge of Twisted Wave.  You can visit twistedwave.com for details about this audio editor.
• Knowledge of other DAWS (Digitial Audio Workstations) can be helpful for context.
• Participants must be present for the entire class 5-7:30 p.m. PT / 8-10:30 p.m. ET

Click here for details and to RSVP.

The products and services noted herein are provided as an informational service to SAG-AFTRA members and are administered by entities independent of SAG-AFTRA. Any questions must be handled by the provider. This information is not intended to serve as an endorsement nor is any warranty or guarantee implied.

Are you finding yourself burnt out with voiceover jobs, or the hustle involved with trying to get voiceover jobs? Do you wish the life of a voice talent was a bit less chaotic? Join award-winning narrator and industry veteran Gabra Zackman for a conversation about how to find some Zen in your career at every level of the business. This engaging discussion will offer invaluable advice on how to maintain a healthy work-life balance while managing your bookings, meeting your deadlines, looking for new work and networking. For anyone wishing to create a sustainable voiceover career, this conversation is not to be missed. 

INSTRUCTOR BIO

Gabra Zackman

Gabra Zackman is a New York City-based actress, audiobook narrator and writer (the Bod Squad Series, Pocket Books 2015; audiobooks co-produced with Rohan Audio for Audible Studios, 2016). She has performed off-Broadway (including Bedlam’s Sense and Sensibility by Kate Hamill), in regional theaters, several Shakespeare festivals (9 Seasons with Hudson Valley Shakes), and on TV in Law and Order, SVU, and AMC as well as a handful of indie film roles. Gabra is a company member of the Upstart Creatures, as well as their Outreach Director. Gabra has recorded over 500 audiobooks in nearly every genre. She has won Audiofile Earphones awards for her work, including a citation for Best Fiction Audiobook of 2017. Gabra’s recording of Michelle McNamara’s I’ll Be Gone in the Dark was on Audible’s Top Ten Audiobooks list for multiple weeks and number one on the New York Times Best Selling Audiobooks list. She is a 2018 Audie Award and Odyssey Award winner for the multicast Sadie. Her newest venture is as co-producer of her original audio series Nice and Naughty with Love Bytes Originals, and she is currently director and co-producer of the No Fear Shakespeare series for Hachette. Visit www.gabrazackman.com to learn more!

REQUIREMENTS

Participants must be present for the entire program 3-4 p.m. PT / 6-7 p.m. ET.

Click here for details and to RSVP.

The products and services noted herein are provided as an informational service to SAG-AFTRA members and are administered by entities independent of SAG-AFTRA. Any questions must be handled by the provider. This information is not intended to serve as an endorsement nor is any warranty or guarantee implied.

Join SAG-AFTRA's National Director of Audiobooks, Jane Love for an invaluable discussion about working in the exciting and expanding world of audiobooks. We'll explore the way our members do this work, as well as rates of pay and other normal terms and conditions of employment. We'll discuss resources available to members and answer questions about this niche area of SAG-AFTRA covered work. For anyone pursuing work in this vibrant industry, this discussion about rights, rates and resources is not to be missed!

INSTRUCTOR BIO

Jane Love

Jane Love has been with the union for 32 years, having spent most of those years in the Washington-Mid Atlantic Local.  She, together with Associate Executive Director/Labor Counsel for News and Broadcast, Rich Larkin, began organizing the audiobook industry in earnest in 2008 and has since increased union covered earnings from roughly 1 million in 2008 to more than 34 million in 2020 in partnership with an amazing group of member narrators.  Audiobook work is the fastest growing area of work in SAG-AFTRA's jurisdiction with earnings having jumped more than 20% in 2020 during the pandemic over 2019 earnings.  Love was appointed National Director, Audiobooks earlier this year.

REQUIREMENTS

Participants must be present for the entire program  Noon - 1:30 p.m. PT / 3-4:30 p.m. ET

Click here for details and to RSVP.

The products and services noted herein are provided as an informational service to SAG-AFTRA members and are administered by entities independent of SAG-AFTRA. Any questions must be handled by the provider. 

COPRESENTED BY THE CASTING SOCIETY OF AMERICA AND THE SAG-AFTRA FOUNDATION

Why aren’t you auditioning for video games? Join the Casting Society of America and the SAG-AFTRA Foundation to hear about the exciting opportunities for actors in the video game industry, including answers to your most-asked questions about the casting process, audition tips, and experiences on set. This panel features casting directors Carla Hool and Millie Tom, performance director Tom Keegan, and experienced video game actors Karen David, Elizabeth Grullón, Christopher Mychael Watson, and Noshir Dalal. Moderated by casting director Lisa Zambetti.

A Q&A will follow the panel, and member participation is encouraged.

Click here for details, panelist bios and to RSVP.

The products and services noted herein are provided as an informational service to SAG-AFTRA members and are administered by entities independent of SAG-AFTRA. Any questions must be handled by the provider. This information is not intended to serve as an endorsement nor is any warranty or guarantee implied.

This class will meet REMOTELY. All RSVP'D Members will receive a ZOOM Link inviting them to join the class.

If you have not received the link by the morning of the class, please check your spam, junk, or promotions folders. If you still cannot find the link, please send us an email at thebusiness@sagaftra.foundation.

This class begins at 1 p.m. PST/4 p.m. EST.

SYNOPSIS

The audition is not only how one prepares the material. It is also about the mindset actors have about auditioning, how they conduct themselves in the room and how they let it go. This session will cover the many ways actors can prepare mentally, physically and psychologically for the audition.

Please bring pencil or pen along with something to take notes.

Small Group Sessions are facilitated discussions with the goal of digging deeper into some of the information and advice shared within the panels. These sessions provide a time to break down concepts into practical action items by which an actor can individually apply to their professional pursuits. This session will last for 1.5 - 2 hours. Participants must stay for the whole time.

Click here for details and to RSVP

The products and services noted herein are provided as an informational service to SAG-AFTRA members and are administered by entities independent of SAG-AFTRA. Any questions must be handled by the provider. This information is not intended to serve as an endorsement nor is any warranty or guarantee implied.

This class will meet REMOTELY. All RSVP'D members will receive a ZOOM link inviting them to join the class.

If you have not received the link by the morning of the class, please check your spam, junk, or promotions folders. If you still cannot find the link, please send an email at thebusiness@sagaftra.foundation.

This class begins at 1 p.m. PST/4 p.m. EST.

SYNOPSIS

Building one's team is an important component to an actor's career. This small group session will cover what an actor has to keep in mind when looking to add a commercial agent, theatrical agent, and manager to their team.

Please bring pencil or pen along with something to take notes.

Small Group Sessions are facilitated discussions with the goal of digging deeper into some of the information and advice shared within the panels. These sessions provide a time to break down concepts into practical action items by which an actor can individually apply to their professional pursuits. This session will last for 1.5 - 2 hours. Participants must stay for the whole time.

Click here for details and to RSVP.

The products and services noted herein are provided as an informational service to SAG-AFTRA members and are administered by entities independent of SAG-AFTRA. Any questions must be handled by the provider. This information is not intended to serve as an endorsement nor is any warranty or guarantee implied.

This class will meet REMOTELY. All RSVP'D members will receive a ZOOM link inviting them to join the class.

If you have not received the link by the morning of the class, please check your spam, junk, or promotions folders. If you still cannot find the link, please send us an email at thebusiness@sagaftra.foundation at least 15 minutes before the start of class time.

This class begins at 1p.m. PST/4 p.m. EST. 

SYNOPSIS

There are many areas an actor can pursue within the entertainment industry. By taking the time to narrow down what an actor really wants to focus on it can free them up to deepen their pursuit of job opportunities. In this session, we will examine the different ways an actor can focus their career goals and discuss how one can create a system by which to effectively target the industry professionals within that area.

Please bring pencil or pen along with something to take notes.

Small group sessions are facilitated discussions with the goal of digging deeper into some of the information and advice shared within the panels. These sessions provide a time to break down concepts into practical action items by which an actor can individually apply to their professional pursuits. This session will last for 1.5 - 2 hours. Participants must stay for the whole time.

Click here for details and to RSVP

The products and services noted herein are provided as an informational service to SAG-AFTRA members and are administered by entities independent of SAG-AFTRA. Any questions must be handled by the provider. This information is not intended to serve as an endorsement nor is any warranty or guarantee implied.

During this class you will learn quick and simple techniques that can be used to alter your speech.  The class will focus on oral posture, painting with vowels and consonants, and also explore the movement qualities of Laban Efforts (e.g. think more like a dancer; develop movement categories to physicalize characters). Performers will find this class helpful with dialect work and when creating distinguishable character voices, as well.  Essentially, these tools will help you design your speech to suit the speaker and when being directed, they will make applying performance notes more fluid. All levels of voiceover performers are welcome.

INSTRUCTOR BIO

Amanda Quaid

Amanda Quaid teaches speech, dialects, voice, and breathwork to actors and others from all walks of life. She offers group classes and private coaching.

REQUIREMENTS

• Participants must be present for the entire program  Noon - 1 p.m. PT / 3-4 p.m. ET.
• Late arrivals will not be admitted.

Click here for details and to RSVP.

The products and services noted herein are provided as an informational service to SAG-AFTRA members and are administered by entities independent of SAG-AFTRA. Any questions must be handled by the provider. This information is not intended to serve as an endorsement nor is any warranty or guarantee implied.

REAPER (Rapid Environment of Audio Production, Editing & Recording) was created as a multi-track music production DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), but thanks to its customizability and affordable price it has become popular for voiceover and audiobook recording, as well.  In fact, REAPER is Audible Studios' DAW of choice.  It is also one of the DAWs their subsidiary ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange) recommends for recording and producing audiobooks from home based studios.  Join us to learn how to improve your self-recording workflow using this incredibly flexible DAW.  REAPER is Mac and PC compatible; visit reaper.fm/about.php#technical for exact specs.

INSTRUCTOR BIO

James Romick

James Romick has been a member of SAG-AFTRA since 1980.  Between acting gigs in the mid 1980s, James also studied audio engineering at The Institute of Audio Research in NYC when editing analog magnetic tape with a splicing block and razor blade was the norm. Although he has a working knowledge of many different DAWs, James is a REAPER devotee and offers one-on-one sessions via Zoom on how to set it up and configure it for voiceover and audiobook production.

REQUIREMENTS

• Basic knowledge of REAPER is required for this class. Participants should arrive with the DAW installed and open on their computer.
• Free Reaper trial can be found here: https://www.reaper.fm/download.php

Participants must be present for the entire program  1-3 p.m. PT / 4-6 p.m. ET.

Click here for details and to RSVP.

The products and services noted herein are provided as an informational service to SAG-AFTRA members and are administered by entities independent of SAG-AFTRA. Any questions must be handled by the provider. This information is not intended to serve as an endorsement nor is any warranty or guarantee implied.