Houston-Austin

Every actor has heard the expression, “you are enough.” It reminds us we do not need to “push” to express our own humanity in the work we do. Still, to be effective voicing commercials, it is crucial we learn the particular skills and technique necessary to bring our authentic selves to the copy in order to bring an ad writer’s words to life.  We learned the Music of the English Language long before we understood words. We sing it every time we speak, and it is at the heart of everything we do as actors. Connecting this music to scripted works is foundational to understanding commercial copy.

Join actor and voiceover artist Keri Tombazian in her two-day workshop where you’ll spend meaningful time refining new skills and connecting them to skills you already possess. Together, you’ll dive deep into the one thing which, once mastered, is a game changer: copy analysis.  You’ll immerse yourselves in everything from what it means to bring your authentic self to the mic, to how to connect with the music of the English Language and how to identify the writer’s intent, all in a space where everyone is valued.

Learn essential tools of the art - including copy analysis, decoding the spec, identifying point of view, body engagement, mic technique, and how these tools apply to each distinct setting.  

REQUIREMENTS

Attendees are required to attend each of the two classes (below) in this course.

Class 1: Friday, Feb.  11, 2022 from 4 - 7: p.m. PT / 7 - 10:00 p.m. ET
Class 2: Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. PT / 2 - 5 p.m. ET
During this course the instructor will work directly with 12 performers. For performers that will not be working directly with the instructor, there will be opportunities to attend as Auditiors. Auditors are present for the instruction and can ask questions, but will not work directly with the instructor on excercises or demonstrations of the course's material.  

Add your name to the Waitlist if you see the Waitlist button.  SAG-AFTRA Foundation staff will email everyone on the Waitlist about RSVP and Auditor opportunities.

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.

Practice reading commercial copy and get helpful adjustments from the SAG-AFTRA Foundation's VO Lab engineer/booth director and your VO Lab peers. Be ready to offer constructive feedback and support the learning process. VO Lab workout groups are a great way to fine tune your craft and have some fun hearing different perspectives on your takes. Bring two (2) pieces of commercial copy that you want to work on. Copy should be 30 - 60 seconds long. This is a good way to work on commercial VO auditions, prospective demo copy or just to get some voiceover reps and practice in.

REQUIREMENTS

If you are completely new to voiceover, you must complete the VO Lab's Beginner Bundle: Introduction to Commercial VO Workouts class before attending The VO Lab's Commercial Workout. Beginner Bundle classes are posted at different times during the month just like other classes, so check the Program Calendar regularly and look for SAG-AFTRA Foundation email alerts on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Bring two (2) pieces of commercial copy/script that you want to work on.  

• Copy should be 30 - 60 seconds long.  If the copy has specs, include them, as well.
• Provide the VO Lab with a copy of each piece of commercial copy you will be using for the workout.  
• Copy should be in PDF format.  If a PDF is not possible, MS Word or transcribing the copy in email are options.
• Participants will receive an email on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022 by 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET with instructions on how to send the copy to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation.

Participant must be present fior the enitire program  Noon - 3 p.m. PT / 3-6 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.

SAG-AFTRA members will be waitlisted initially until their eligibility is verified and then notified when they are added to the group. Please make sure you understand the requirements and are able to commit to the on-going monthly schedule.

This group is meant for highly productive SAG-AFTRA members ages 65 and over who are looking to stay accountable in pursuing their professional goals. Members will report past and future monthly tasks, have access to peer-to-peer advice, share any knowledge they have gained, and have a partner from the group that they can connect with throughout the month. We hope to offer this select group of members the tools to excel in an industry where senior performers are often overlooked. Members are highly encouraged to attend all Small Group Sessions and several Casting Access classes before applying for this group.

The group will meet on the first Thursday of the month at 10 a.m. PST/ 1 p.m. EST for two hours. 2022 Meeting Dates: Thursday, March 3, Thursday April 7, Thursday, May 5, Thursday, June 2, Thursday, July 7, and Thursday, Aug. 4. Consistent participation is mandatory. By signing up for the March meeting you are committing to attend all 6 of the 2022 meeting dates. Further rules and requirements will be emailed to confirmed participants.

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 the SAG-AFTRA Foundation for a Masterclass Conversation with Francine Maisler and the Casting Team behind Don't Look Up. The panel features casting directors Francine Maisler, Kathy Driscoll-Mohler and Molly Rose. This will be a 30-minute live Q&A on Zoom. This conversation will be moderated by Rochelle Rose, National Director of Performer's Programs for the SAG-AFTRA Foundation and will not be recorded. 

When: 1 p.m. PT / 2 p.m. ET, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022

Questions will only be taken in advance through Google Form Submission which will be provided alongside your registration information. Please submit your questions by end of day, Wednesday Feb. 9.

Synopsis: 

Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence), an astronomy grad student, and her professor Dr. Randall Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio) make an astounding discovery of a comet orbiting within the solar system. The problem — it’s on a direct collision course with Earth. The other problem? No one really seems to care. Turns out warning mankind about a planet-killer the size of Mount Everest is an inconvenient fact to navigate. With the help of Dr. Oglethorpe (Rob Morgan), Kate and Randall embark on a media tour that takes them from the office of an  indifferent President Orlean (Meryl Streep) and her sycophantic son and Chief of Staff, Jason (Jonah Hill), to the airwaves of The Daily Rip, an upbeat morning show hosted by Brie (Cate Blanchett) and Jack (Tyler Perry). With only six months until the comet makes impact, managing the 24-hour news cycle and gaining the attention of the social media obsessed public before it’s too late proves shockingly comical — what will it take to get the world to just look up?!

DON’T LOOK UP is written and directed by Academy Award winner Adam McKay (The Big Short) and also stars Mark Rylance, Ron Perlman, Timothée Chalamet, Ariana Grande, Scott Mescudi (aka Kid Cudi), Himesh Patel, Melanie Lynskey, Michael Chiklis and Tomer Sisley.

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 1pm PST/4pm EST.

SYNOPSIS

This class will cover the basics of making a professional Self-Tape and how to audition remotely using Facetime, Skype, etc.

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 1 p.m. PST/4 p.m. EST.

SYNOPSIS

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.

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.

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.

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 an hour and a half. 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.

A  broadcast quality home studio is a must for anyone working in voiceover today.  Join EIF Staff, Tatiana Grey as she demystifies the process of creating a budget friendly professional home set-up. She will discuss gear purchases, maximizing your space, tips and tools for optimal sound conditions and helpful resources. If you are in the process of building a home studio or just beginning to consider it, this class is a must! All levels welcome but class is designed for beginners.

Requirements

Participants must remain for the duration of the class (Noon - 2 p.m. PT / 3-5 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.