Dallas-Fort Worth

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.

When: July 29, 4 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. CT / 2 p.m. MT / 1 p.m. PT

Click here to RSVP.

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

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.

Before attending, it is recommended you watch the panel discussion here.

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.

Headshots are an actors' calling card, but is it a professional picture that matches with how the buyers see you? Does your picture accurately communicate the product that is being sold? In this session we will discuss what your headshot is communicating and if that matches with what is coming into the audition room.

Please email copies of the headshots (MAX 2) that are submitted the most to thebusiness@sagaftra.foundation, by 7 p.m. the evening prior to the class. The class may not get through all headshots. 

If you have taken The Branding Workshop, please bring a typed copy of your branding sentence. It is not required that you take The Branding Workshop before you take this session.

When: July 30, 4 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. CT / 2 p.m. MT / 1 p.m. PT

Click here to RSVP.

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

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 2 - 3 hours. Participants must stay for the whole time.

Before attending, it is recommended you watch the panel discussion here.

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 include a Q&A and a PREPARED READING SESSION with an experienced casting professional.

Actors will choose a MONOLOGUE that most appropriately represents them. Monologues can be from film/television/theatre. Monologues should be no more than 2 minutes. 

Howard Meltzer is a veteran Casting Director whose career spans from Broadway to Television to Film. 

Howard is probably best known for casting 100 episodes of the hit Disney Channel series "Hannah Montana", which made Miley Cyrus a household name. In addition, Howard discovered a young Demi Lovato in Texas and brought her to the attention of Disney Channel. In addition, Howard cast the pilot "Girl Meets World", the pilot and series"Best Friends Whenever" (Disney Channel),and the pilot and series"Lab Rats" (Disney XD).

Based in Los Angeles, he has worked for Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, Warner Brothers Television, 20th Century Fox, Dreamworks, Paramount, Sony, NBC Universal, CBS and FBC. Feature Films include: Lonely Boy, The Impossible (USA Casting).

Originally from NYC, he cast the Broadway productions: The Graduate, Fortune’s Fool, Gore Vidal’s The Best Man, Elaine May’s Taller Than A Dwarf, Honour, Epic Proportions, Annie Get Your Gun (Revival), Fosse, Chicago (Revival), Annie (1997 Revival), Grease (1998 Revival) to name a few.

Howard is a Governor for the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and, a former Vice President of the Casting Society of America.

Howard has been nominated 21 times for the prestigious Artios Award for casting and has won three times.

When: July 28, 6 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. CT / 4 p.m. MT / 2 p.m. PT

Click here to RSVP.

REQUIREMENTS

You must have completed a Casting Access Application prior to registering for this class.

Please note that the 90-day frequency restriction applies to this workshop. Your last frequency-restricted workshop must have taken place no less than 90 (ninety) days prior to this event to be eligible to register

 Only those participants who have received a telephoned or e-mailed confirmation message from staff will receive a link inviting them to the session. Waitlisted individuals who have not received such confirmation will not be sent the link to join the class.

 

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.

Please note:  this class is aimed toward VO actors active and experienced with a DAW.  This is an advanced-intermediate level class.

When: July 28, 3 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. CT / 1 p.m. MT / Noon PT

Click here to RSVP.

REAPER (Rapid Environment for Audio Production, Engineering, and Recording) is a digital audio workstation (DAW).  

While REAPER can be used for all areas of VO, it is currently gaining momentum in the audiobook industry.  

This workshop will cover:

Customization and Configuring for Voiceover work.

Shortcuts, editing techniques, frequently used buttons and FX.

Recording considerations: redundant functionalities, layout templates, setting preferences.

The pro's and con's of this DAW versus others.

James Romick - After paying his dues performing in Dinner Theatres, Regional Theatres and Stock Theatres in the Midwest and up and down the I-95 Corridor from Maine to Miami, doing extra work and small roles in numerous films and on TV, studying audio engineering at the Institute of Audio Research here in NYC, and performing on Broadway for nearly 23 years, James has settled into semi-retirement at his home in New Jersey.

“For me, voiceover sort of came in through the back door. When I came to NYC back in 1980, there were only a handful of guys making a living at VO, and it was still that ‘big announcer’ style. Making a demo was expensive. Cassettes and duplication services were not cheap either. And there weren’t as many opportunities as there are today. So, I stuck to the live stage.”

“Now, with the advent of relatively inexpensive recording equipment, computers, software and the like, nearly anyone can dabble at being a VO artist. I’m pretty handy at basic construction, so I built myself a small home studio recording booth, outfitted it and dove in. Now I’m doing something I never thought I’d be doing in a million years. AudioBooks. 80 and counting."

“IMHO, REAPER is the nearly perfect DAW for VO recording. I’ve been using it and configuring it for nearly 4 years now and discover new things about it all the time."

 

REQUIREMENTS

This is an advanced - intermediate level class.  Attendees must have previous and active DAW use.

Participants are encouraged to have REAPER open to follow along.

The current version of REAPER is available for Microsoft  (XP and newer) and macOS (10.5 and newer):

www.reaper.fm

Zoom link will be sent via email the day of the class.

 

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.

WATCH HERE

Tuesday, July 28, 12:30 p.m. PT / 1:30 p.m. MT / 2:30 p.m. CT / 3:30 p.m ET

Moderator: Camryn Manheim, Actor and SAG-AFTRA Secretary-Treasurer

Panelists:
Christine Bruno, Actor 
Ryan Haddad, Actor
Anita Hollander, Actor
Nic Novicki, Actor
Lauren Ridloff, Actor
Marilee Talkington, Actor
Russell Boast, Casting Director

Additional panelists to be confirmed. 

Please join us for Performers with Disabilities: Inclusion, Authenticity & Allyship, part of SAG-AFTRA’s series of livestream conversations exploring the intersection of storytelling, inclusion in the entertainment industry and equal opportunity for all. 

In recent news there’s been a push for more diversity across ethnicities, gender and sexual identity or orientation, with members across the industry advocating for more inclusion. However, there has been far less dialogue around the need for greater inclusion of performers with disabilities in productions in general, as well as authenticity in storytelling around characters who have disabilities.

This conversation will look at where we are now, where we need to be and how we can foster changes that move the industry forward toward greater inclusion and authenticity. 

This event is open to the public and does not require registration. Click HERE to watch. 

Email your questions or comments for panelists to PTEOE@sagaftra.org. Please note that, unless otherwise requested, your name may be read aloud during the program if your question is selected. Due to time limitations, not all questions will be addressed during or after the program.

This program will be recorded and may be later shared in whole or in part on SAG-AFTRA’s website, podcast and social media channels.

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.

This is a great time to get things done and you might have a question or two that's keeping you from taking the next step. Perhaps you're picking up where you left off in one of our classes or trying to finish up your project or just trying to get a little confidence going, this is your chance to get help during this online forum where members will submit questions so that we can address them as efficiently as possible while at the same time helping as many of you as we can. We welcome all questions from all levels of experience.

Once you have signed up, you will be sent a link to submit your question(s).

When: 12:45 p.m. ET / 11:45 a.m. CT / 10:45 a.m. MT / 9:45 a.m. PT

Click here to RSVP.

NOTE: This is a THREE HOUR class.

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.

The Healing with The Actors Fund Groups will provide non-Black POC entertainment professionals a space to affirm experiences, discuss the impact of racial injustice within the industry and community as a whole, while fostering a place for restorative dialog and compassion. This group will also process disproportionate ways Covid-19 has affected non-white communities and provide support and resources for each other.

When: The first session is Thursday, Jul 30, 2020, 3 - 4:30 p.m. ET

Click here to RSVP via email.

Must be able to attend all sessions. New York Residents only.

Group will meet virtually for 8 weeks, bi-weekly starting July 30.

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.

 

"I consider Voiceover as the 4th or 5th Phase of my 40+ year acting career. But never in my wildest imagination did I ever think that I would be recording and producing AudioBooks at home in my den from a vocal booth that I designed and built myself, stocked with some professional grade recording equipment and a spiffy DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) on my computer. But thus far, I have recorded and produced some 60+ AudioBooks with many more waiting in the queue.

While I do not, by any measure, claim to be an expert in the field. I have fairly successfully navigated the pitfalls and reaped the rewards of producing AudioBooks from my home studio. Make no mistake, AudioBook Narration and Production is a marathon, not a sprint. And, quite frankly, it is not for everyone. It not only takes time, effort, energy, patience, technique and vocal stamina, but also a financial commitment to obtain the best recording equipment, training and coaching that your budget will allow.

So, before you go out there to order your $10K StudioBricks Vocal Booth, or go to B&H and for that $3600 Neumann U87 Ai Condenser Microphone and that $300 Audient iD14 Audio Interface, and sign up for that $80 per month Subscription for ProTools, and spend bundles more on private coaching and classes, come and get an idea of whether AudioBook Recording and Production is really right for you." - James Romick

When: July 23, 3p.m. ET / 2 p.m. CT / 1 p.m. MT / Noon PT

PLEASE NOTE: This is a lecture only.  No readings will take place.

Click here to RSVP.

If you have previously attended this class, you will be removed from the RSVP list.

 

James Romick - After paying his dues performing in Dinner Theatres, Regional Theatres and Stock Theatres in the Midwest and up and down the I-95 Corridor from Maine to Miami, doing extra work and small roles in numerous films and on TV, studying audio engineering at the Institute of Audio Research here in NYC, and performing on Broadway for nearly 23 years, James has settled into semi-retirement at his home in New Jersey.

“For me, voiceover sort of came in through the back door. When I came to NYC back in 1980, there were only a handful of guys making a living at VO, and it was still that ‘big announcer’ style. Making a demo was expensive. Cassettes and duplication services were not cheap either. And there weren’t as many opportunities as there are today. So, I stuck to the live stage.”

“Now, with the advent of relatively inexpensive recording equipment, computers, software and the like, nearly anyone can dabble at being a VO artist. I’m pretty handy at basic construction, so I built myself a small home studio recording booth, outfitted it and dove in. Now I’m doing something I never thought I’d be doing in a million years. AudioBooks. 80+ and counting."

 

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.

The DLF and EIF VO Labs are the same.  Regardless of your location, VO Lab programs are available to all VO Lab eligible SAG-AFTRA and AEA members across the country and abroad.

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, aspects of sound, file formats, sample rates/bit depths, audio interfaces, microphones, voiceover recording and editing demonstration using Twisted Wave software.

When: 12:30 p.m. PT / 1:30 p.m. MT / 2:30 p.m. CT / 3:30 p.m. ET

Program Duration: 2 Hours

Click here to RSVP.

REQUIREMENTS

• Check-in time is currently 12:15 PM (Pacific) / 3:15 PM (Eastern), but is subject to change.  If check-in time changes, you will be notified by email and you will be required to respond to that email for confirmation.
• Attendees must be present for the entire program, which is 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM (Pacific) / 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM (Eastern) in order to receive VO Lab eligibility. 
• Ability to log into program by computer equipped with a camera or by cell phone equipped with a camera. Program will take place using Zoom (conferencing application) .  Camera is needed in order for participants to view presentation materials
• Completed VO Lab Application.
• Valid/Current SAG-AFTRA or AEA membership card.
• Note taking materials (laptop, pens, pencils, paper) recommended.

 

Join us for a remote Zoom discussion with Casting Director Gayle Pillsbury. This is an "Ask Me Anything" style Q+A. Member participation encouraged. This discussion will not be recorded. 

When: 4 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. CT / 2 p.m. MT / 1 p.m. PT

Click here to RSVP.

RSVP-ed members will receive the Zoom link by email one hour prior to the start of the program, and will be able to ask questions through Zoom's chat function.

Gayle Pillsbury - Credits include: PRETTY LITTLE LIARS, SNEAKY PETE, BURN NOTICE, TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES, WHITE COLLAR (Artios Award nomination), SUITS, THIRD ROCK FROM THE SUN, and many more.

Moderated by Rochelle Rose, National Director of Performers Programs, SAG-AFTRA Foundation.