Members in Salem Organize Local Commercials Forum

On July 24, SAG-AFTRA New England Local members and North Shore business leaders gathered at Cinema Salem in Salem, Massachusetts, for a presentation followed by a panel discussion on how local businesses can use professional union talent for their commercials, corporate-educational, and other audiovisual needs. This included how to support the local creative economy and how to grow brands by working with union talent. The panel included SAG-AFTRA New England Local members Maria Wilkins and Karen Scalia, SAG-AFTRA Senior Business Representative Benjamin Shallop, and local business owner Dan Fury of the Black Cat Curiosity Shoppe in Salem. Wilkins and Scalia detailed their experiences as actors working in local commercials. Fury discussed his positive experience working with the New England Local office and local union members under the New England Corporate/Educational Code.