Wash-Mid Atlantic

Please join the Washington-Mid Atlantic Mental Health Group in a 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. 

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. SAG-AFTRA members, please bring your membership card or digital card from the app (paid through April 30, 2025) for admittance.

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.

The SAG-AFTRA Washington-Mid Atlantic Local will be conducting wages and working conditions (W&W) meetings in preparation for the negotiation of the SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contract and the SAG-AFTRA Audio Commercials Contract.

Proposals for this negotiation are developed through the involvement of members like you. Make your voice heard and participate in this very important process. This meeting will be held via Zoom and is open to all paid-up SAG-AFTRA members* in the Washington-Mid Atlantic Local. 

You will need to sign a confidentiality agreement to be able to attend any or all W&W meetings either in person or by Zoom. You will receive an auto reply from commercials2025@sagaftra.org with a link to electronically sign the required confidentiality agreement (which only needs to be signed once for W&W attendance).

MEETING DATES:

Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, 10 a.m. - noon - via Zoom. RSVP BELOW. 

Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, 6:30 - 8 p.m. - via Zoom, regional meeting with members of the New England, Philadelphia, Washington-Mid Atlantic and Atlanta Locals. RSVP Here. 

The Zoom link will be included with your registration reply. You must have a Zoom account that identifies you by name to participate.

If you cannot attend a W&W meeting or caucus, please make sure your voice is heard. You may submit proposal recommendations by email at commercials2025@sagaftra.org. Recommendations must be received by Thursday, November 14, 2024.

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

*W&W meetings are open to paid-up SAG-AFTRA members in good standing (paid through October 31, 2024 or April 30, 2025.) No guests are allowed. Parents/guardians of performers under 18 years are welcome. For in person meetings, please bring your membership card or digital card from the app for admittance.

The SAG-AFTRA Locals in Atlanta, New England, Philadelphia and Washington-Mid Atlantic will be holding a regional wages and working conditions (W&W) meeting in preparation for the negotiation of the SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contract and the SAG-AFTRA Audio Commercials Contract. 

Proposals for this negotiation are developed through the involvement of members like you. Make your voice heard and participate in this very important process. This meetings will be by Zoom, and is open to all paid-up SAG-AFTRA members* in these locals. 

You will need to sign a confidentiality agreement to be able to attend any or all W&W meetings either in person or by Zoom. You will receive an auto reply from commercials2025@sagaftra.org with a link to electronically sign the required confidentiality agreement (which only needs to be signed once for W&W attendance).

If you cannot attend a W&W meeting or caucus, please make sure your voice is heard. You may submit proposal recommendations by email at commercials2025@sagaftra.org. Recommendations must be received by Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024.

*W&W meetings are open to paid-up SAG-AFTRA members in good standing (paid through October 31, 2024 or April 30, 2025.) No guests are allowed. Parents/guardians of performers under 18 years are welcome. For in person meetings, please bring your membership card or digital card from the app for admittance.

This session teaches actors to think like a CEO of a successful company, identifying the most important aspects of a creative career and dividing them into virtual “departments.” Learn to deal with issues surrounding mental well-being, finances, creative development, representation, self-submission, image and marketing. Focus will be placed on perception and the stories we tell ourselves that are not constructive and play into fear. This class will give specific answers and an applicable game plan to proceed with purpose and rediscover the joy.

Wendy Kurtzman is an Emmy and Artios nominated casting director with more than 35 years of experience in feature films, movies for television, limited series, and theater. Wendy has worked with many distinguished directors such as Paul Schrader, Diane Keaton, Sally Field, and Roland Emmerich, for whom she cast the blockbuster Independence Day. Currently, she serves as head of C=casting for PhilmCo Media, is on faculty at Pace University and Chapman University, and serves on the Casting Society Board of Directors. Her book, Acting is Your Business: How to Take Charge of Your Creative Career (Bloomsbury Press) is available on all major platforms. Reading the book before taking the workshop is not mandatory, but is encouraged.

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 paid-up SAG-AFTRA members in good standing (paid through October 31, 2024 or April 30, 2025) — no guests are allowed. Parents/guardians of performers under 18 years old are welcome. 

Please join us for The Actor Headshot Workshop taught by master headshot photographer Douglas Gorenstein. Douglas has been New York's premier headshot photographer for over 25 years and served as the official photographer for The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon. Backstage voted him  “Favorite Headshot Photographer in New York.” He has photographed many Oscar, Tony, Emmy and Grammy-Award winning actors and performers.

The Actor Headshot Workshop will cover:

Understanding the industry standards for headshots– Commercial, Legit, TV, Film, & Musical Theater.

Preparing for your headshot session – How to look your best on your big day.

Defining your type – Be sure your headshots make sense for who you are as an actor and how to communicate this to your photographer.

Wardrobe choices – What to wear and what not to wear. Colors, necklines, styles and what they say about you.

Lighting- The pros and cons of natural, studio, & mixed lighting.

Shooting - Indoors vs Outdoors.

Hair and Make-Up – Keeping it real. Curly Hair vs Straight Hair.

How to work in front of a still camera – Tips to make you feel alive, connected and to bring out your personality.

Your rights as an actor and what you should demand of your headshot photographer.

Tips for how to choose your final images.

Retouching – What is acceptable and doable in the retouch process.

Prints – Making sure your 8x10s are done to perfection. Color correction, exposure & contrast. Borders and fonts.

What casting directors and agents look for in a headshot

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 paid-up SAG-AFTRA members in good standing (paid through October 31, 2024 or April 30, 2025) — no guests are allowed. Parents/guardians of performers under 18 years old are welcome. 

Join your fellow SAG-AFTRA members for the 2024 Washington-Mid Atlantic Local Virtual Membership Meeting to hear the latest news and updates. Members will have the opportunity to learn and ask questions of elected representatives and staff. We hope to see you there!

At 7:30PM, we will be joined by special guest Barbara Davis, Chief Operating Officer, of the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund). This is a great opportunity for you to learn about all the programs and services offered to the community by the Entertainment Community Fund.

Barbara Davis has been with the Entertainment Community Fund since 1984. The Entertainment Community Fund is a national human services organization for everyone who works in performing arts and entertainment. The Fund’s programs include social services comprised of mental health, addiction & recovery, HIV/AIDS, senior, and other support services, the Artists Health Insurance Resource Center, The Friedman Health Center for the Performing Arts, The Career Center, the Housing Resource Center and The Actors Fund Home.  Ms. Davis is Secretary & Vice President of the Actors Fund Housing Development Corporation (AFHDC), a subsidiary of the Entertainment Community Fund, which develops affordable housing for arts workers. 

RSVP: Reservations are required by Nov. 8 at 5 p.m. ET. Please complete form below to RSVP. Please note that you must be logged in to RSVP. 

This event is only open to paid-up SAG-AFTRA members in good standing paid through October 31, 2024 or April 30, 2025)  — no guests are allowed. Parents/guardians of performers under 18 years old are welcome.