May We Introduce … 

Over 900 actors, broadcasters, voiceover artists and performing artists populate the SAG-AFTRA Portland Local. In this and future newsletters, we take a moment to introduce our Portland members to each other. 

Portland Local Board Member Kristina Haddad

How long have you been a SAG-AFTRA member? 
I have been a member of SAG-AFTRA since 1996, when it was just SAG — time flies!

How did you earn your SAG-AFTRA Card?
I was cast in an independent film called Without a Map directed by Peter Turman, who won Best New Director at AFI Fest for the film. I played the “girl that got away.” Ha, ha!

I will never forget the day I went to the Wilshire Boulevard SAG office and walked out with my SAG card. I remember the folder with various papers and forms and I was over the moon. Every actor I knew who wasn’t yet in the union was striving for this same goal. Perhaps the most vivid memory I have was the moment that I changed my resume from SAG-eligible to SAG! I later joined AFTRA through a voiceover job for a video game. 

What does SAG-AFTRA membership mean to you?
It’s a badge of honor. It’s something I worked hard to achieve — and I view it as a critical marker for all actors. I have experienced how the union protects actors and serves not only as an advocate for our well-being, but as a fierce watchdog in an industry that can easily take advantage of talent.

Why did you decide to serve on the Portland Local Board?
I decided to serve because I realized that I had to choose: Either sit back and complain about the lack of union work or take action. That, combined with the knowledge that I would be serving on the board with some extraordinary talents and leaders, inspired me to serve. Now, as a board member, I want to ensure that more actors enjoy the privileges of being in the union. I want to push to create a robust SAG community, lifting all actors and helping to increase membership, which I believe translates into an increase in demand for projects produced under a SAG-AFTRA contract. Education is a top priority for me. Often projects forego the union because there is a lack of understanding around the process. I want to work to remove those barriers. I feel there is tremendous untapped potential to push local projects to the next level by going union and in so doing, create a thriving film community that takes advantage of the enormous talent pool here locally.

Any parting thoughts you’d like to share with your fellow SAG-AFTRA members?
I’m honored to be on the board and I’m honored to be in a union with so many incredible artists. It’s something that I don’t take for granted. As an actor for over 30 years, I’ve been fortunate to work with the incredible artists that make up the membership of the SAG-AFTRA community. And, I guess a final thought, I’m learning, too; I’m excited to learn as much as I can and bring that information forward. 

—    For the Portland Local newsletter