Wash-Mid Atlantic

The SAG-AFTRA Washington-Mid Atlantic Conservatory Committee Presents: "Network with the Washington-Mid Atlantic 48 Hour Film Project City Producers"

The 48 Hour Film Project (48HFP) is an annual competition where teams have 48 hours to write, shoot, and edit a short film. Anyone can lead a team, and SAG-AFTRA members can participate in front or behind the camera! This year, 8 cities from the Washington-Mid Atlantic Local are participating: Asheville, NC, Baltimore, MD, Charlotte NC, Greensboro, NC, Hampton Roads, VA, Richmond, VA, Washington, DC, and Wilmington, NC. Join this online event to meet the city producers, learn about the process and guidelines, and ask any questions. It's a fantastic opportunity to network, collaborate, and unleash your creativity. Don't miss out on this exciting filmmaking challenge!

Panelists:

• Ben Bonham is the city producer of the Wilmington 48HFP (September 19-21). He is a seasoned filmmaker with over 10 years of experience in 48HFP competitions, where he has honed his skills in fast-paced filmmaking. A 2018 graduate of UNCW's film program, Ben brought the 48HFP to Wilmington in 2022. Since then, he has since built a career in the film industry and is an active member of IATSE 491. As the Wilmington 48HFP city producer, he brings his passion for filmmaking and deep industry knowledge to the local film community with the drive and ambition to bring bigger and better talent, projects, and opportunity to the lovely coastal city of Wilmington, NC.
• Iris Carter is the city producer of the Greensboro 48HFP (July 11-13). She came on board in 2010 and has produced 18 events including several years of horror projects which have attracted participants from across North Carolina and surrounding states. She also revised and digitized the City Producer's handbook.
• Lisa Giles has been the city producer of the Richmond 48HFP (July 11-13) since 2017, and this summer's project will be her 11th as CP, as she has also been producing the special horror genre competition for Richmond since 2018. She's excited to be celebrating the 48's 20th anniversary in Richmond this year!
• Becky Mezzanotte-Blizard is the city producer of the Baltimore 48HFP (July 25-27). Before taking over as city producer in 2024, she competed in the Baltimore 48HFP from 2009 to 2015. By day, she is the Director of Programming and Outreach for a bunch of Comic Cons and Anime Conventions in the Midwest and Florida. Her free time is spent on the ice.
• Jeannette Rainey is the city producer of the Hampton Roads 48HFP (August 1-3). She is an actor, director, and producer with more than 30 years experience in film and theater. Her stage work includes acting in more than 20 plays and producing more than 130 productions. Her filmography features her work as a producer, actor, camera operator, and director on dozens of independent films and television commercials. 

RSVP: Reservations are required. Please complete form below to RSVP. Please note that you must be logged in to RSVP. 

This event is only open to active SAG-AFTRA members in good standing (paid through April 30, 2025). No guests are allowed. Parents/guardians of performers under 18 years old are welcome.

ADA requests may be included on your RSVP form below. Please note that ADA requests must be received 72 hours before the start of the event.

Please join the Washington-Mid Atlantic Local Conservatory Committee for "If Only I'd Known: Lessons (So Far) From a Life in Acting" a heartfelt and inspiring conversation featuring some of the Washington-Mid Atlantic's leading professional actors. In this engaging panel discussion, our seasoned panelists will share the journeys their careers have taken and the invaluable lessons gathered along the way having face challenges, triumphs, and setbacks in the industry. From the early days of building their careers to the complexities of working on a variety projects, this is your chance to hear firsthand the advice they wish they'd known at the start. 

This unique panel event offers an exclusive peek into the real-world experiences that have shaped the careers of these performers. Wherever you might be in your career, this discussion will provide powerful insights into resilience, growth, and the unpredictable paths to success.

Panelists:

• Towanda Underdue is a SAG-AFTRA award winning actress, poet, writer, producer, voiceover artist, educator and host who works on-camera tv, film, commercials, voiceover, and theater work. Credits include Hulu's "Wu Tang: An American Saga", CBS' "BULL", HBO's "HUNG", Netflix's "House of Cards", Tru Tv's "Forensic Files", Amazon Prime's "Thespian", film's "Stinky Summer", "Last Night at Terrace Lanes", Jest Originals' "NBA Lockout", the web series "Rosemary Street" and commercials with the Kelce brothers and Jesse Tyler Ferguson.
• Gwendolyn Briley-Strand holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from Fordham University and has performed as a professional actor on stage, television and film for over forty years. Her credits include A Christmas Journey to Freedom as Harriet Tubman for Day of Discovery, House of Cards, My One And Only, Something The Lord Made, A Dirty Shame, Line of Fire, The Corner, Species 2, Atif's Journey, Serial Mom, and Homicide Life on the Streets. Her two one woman shows, Harriet Tubman: The Chosen One and Rosa Parks: Such A Time have been performed for thousands of schools and organizations throughout the United States and Canada. She was given the honor of introducing President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, President George W. Bush, First Lady Laura Bush and all the dignitaries and celebrities at the grand opening of the African American Museum of History and Culture in Washington DC. Ms. Briley-Strand is also a voice actor and received the Promax Global Excellence Bronze Award for her voice-over performance in the CNN American Style "Windows" in 2020. She is also the President and CEO of See the Fruits Inc, a company which uses the arts to teach American History.
• Jerry Winsett became a member of AFTRA in 1978 and SAG in 1979, and is also a member of AEA. He worked in New York City and Los Angeles before moving to North Carolina. When SAG opened an office in Wilmington, Jerry became a SAG Councilor for the Carolinas through the Florida region. After the merger, he became a member of the Washington-Mid Atlantic executive board. Jerry has numerous stage and voice over credits and has guest or co-stared on TV in, among others, Newhart, Coach, Life Goes On, and Atlanta. Jerry has appeared in films such as One Crazy Summer, Torque, Bastard Out of Carolina. Jerry also won an ensemble SAG Award for "Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri" where he played the role of Geoffrey the Dentist.
• Janae Palmer Cruz is a passionate SAG-AFTRA actor, working in the New York, Philly, and DC market, who brings heart and versatility to her work in film, television, and commercials. Raised in Gaithersburg, Maryland, Janae's love for performing blossomed at the age of thirteen, which allowed her to dive into acting early on. She has since earned dual degrees in theatre and Dance from Messiah College and refined her craft at the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin, Ireland. Janae's growing list of credits include working as a full-time stand-in and photo double for Natalie Portman on Apple TV's Lady in the Lake, as the stand-in for Shira Haas on Triumph, Kate Mara on Friendship, and Stephanie Nur on Lioness. She has also appeared in Liongate's Where the Scary Things Are, The Special, and They Watch. On television, she has showcased her range in series like True Terror with Robert Englund, Murder in the Family, and Cold Hearted. Her versatility extends to leading roles in independent projects like Coffee, Yellow Roses, and The Fallen. Whether it's acting, dancing, or exploring new creative challenges, Janae is always up for an adventure.
• Katie Killacky is a classically trained actress, born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, with a BFA from the University of Illinois. She has appeared in TV, film and over 30 national and regional commercials. While living in LA, she performed stand up comedy while making her living as a commercial actress. After a decade in LA, she returned to Chicago where she worked as a casting associate and also as a comedy contributor for various publications. She began teaching and found her experience on the casting and writing side of the process gave her invaluable tools to assist her students in auditioning successfully. In 2015, she founded Capital Coaching and she continues to work and study on a national level so that her curriculum is always evolving and stays current with the ever-changing industry and needs of her students. Katie has had co-star, guest-star, and recurring roles on HBO, Apple TV, Showtime, Netflix, Hulu, and other various other networks. When not acting or teaching, Katie is traveling with her kids as they pursue their own acting careers. 

RSVP: Reservations are required. Please complete form below to RSVP. Please note that you must be logged in to RSVP. 

This event is only open to active SAG-AFTRA members in good standing (paid through April 30, 2025). No guests are allowed. Parents/guardians of performers under 18 years old are welcome.

ADA requests may be included on your RSVP form below. Please note that ADA requests must be received 72 hours before the start of the event.

We invite you to come together with your fellow union members from across the region to stand in solidarity at Union Night, hosted by the Maryland State and D.C. AFL-CIO, on Monday, March 10, 2025 at 6 p.m. on Lawyer's Mall (90 State Circle, Annapolis, MD). This evening is all about uniting with our union brothers and sisters to show our unwavering support for the labor movement.

It’s a powerful opportunity to connect, share and listen to stories, and remind ourselves that we are stronger together! Let’s celebrate our strength and commitment to each other and to the future of workers' rights.

Please remember to wear your SAG-AFTRA gear!

For any questions, feel free to reach out to wma@sagaftra.org. We look forward to seeing you there!

Broadcasters who take part should not wear T-shirts or gear affiliated with their employer. For example, "We Are NPR" or a backpack with "Seven On Your Side." When participating in protests and other activities, do not attribute your statements to your employer, NPR or WJLA-TV. Even if you're acting in an individual capacity, others may be aware or become aware of your affiliation with your station/network, and attribute your views to the organization on your gear. (SAG-AFTRA T-shirts are fine!)

SAG-AFTRA members who are employed as journalists or in other similar media related capacities who choose to attend on their own time should review your Employee Code of Conduct and Ethics Handbook ("Employer Policy") regarding your attendance at such events or contact your local union staff with questions regarding your attendance.

Please join the Washington-Mid Atlantic Mental Health Group in March's monthly group session to discuss the challenges that you might face in your personal and professional life. The group session is a safe space where you will have the opportunity to explore your emotions, gain insights, learn about yourself, and, if time permits, get caring, sympathetic and empathetic support from your peers. Active participation in a group session can encourage good mental health and be a great healing tool as you can help others as you help yourself.

Group will be moderated by SAG-AFTRA member Nicole Hakim Yohn. Nicole is a Peer  Recovery Specialist for depression and an experienced group moderator. She has  studied under Craig Hedley CPRS; renowned DBT expert Lane Pederson Psy. D. LP C DBT; EMDR under Megan Boardman LSCW, ACADC, CCT P-11, EMDR-C;  PHD expert in CBT Charles Jacob; DBT under Katelyn Baxter-Musser, MSWCBT, C DBT, C-EMDR, and trauma under international trauma expert Janina Fisher, PHD.

RSVP: Reservations are required. Please complete form below to RSVP. Please note that you must be logged in to RSVP. 

ADA requests may be included on your RSVP form below. Please note that ADA requests must be received 72 hours before the start of the event.

This event is only open to paid-up SAG-AFTRA members in good standing- no guests are allowed. Parents/guardians of performers under 18 years old are welcome. 

This event is not intended to imply an endorsement of any individual or company by SAG-AFTRA. Unless otherwise stated, the views expressed are those of the individual guests, not of SAG-AFTRA. The information provided through these workshops 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.