We are devastated by the loss of life and community from the Los Angeles fires. The first responders risking their lives to save others and those donating their homes, clothing and emotional support are inspirational. We are proud of our Los Angeles broadcast members who helped the community stay informed. If you can help support those affected by the wildfires, please consider a donation to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation.
On a different note, I am pleased to share recent legislative updates. On Thursday, Feb. 13, New Hampshire voted to indefinitely postpone House Bill 238: the so-called “right to work” bill. Thank you to all SAG-AFTRA New England members who contacted their representatives to help defeat this bill. Also to further protect performers who live and work in Massachusetts, through the help of state Rep. Tackey Chan, two bills were filed this legislative session which, if enacted, will protect the use of an individual’s likeness and voice. HD3986 - An Act Relative to the Contracting of Digital Replicas would require a performer’s informed consent in executing a contract for any transfer of rights of that individual’s likeness or voice. HD3987 - An Act Preventing an Individual’s Image and Voice from Exploitation expands on the commonwealth’s current right-of-publicity law by including likeness and voice to covered protections and also adds postmortem rights. I urge you to ask your legislators to co-sponsor these bills and continue to watch for communication on how you can help further these bills.
More and more of our local New England SAG-AFTRA members are being seen in films showcasing at festivals such as the Cannes Film Festival, the Sundance Film Festival, the RoxFilm Festival, the Mystic Film Festival and the Boston Film Festival, just to name a few. Many members have won awards for these locally made films! Congratulations to all! We encourage you to use the hashtag #SagAftraNewEngland on social media when sharing your successes.
Our New England NextGen Committee-hosted holiday party in December was a big success. I particularly loved the karaoke performances at the after-party downstairs, including some fun surprise solos! A great time was had by all. Thank you to the event volunteers who made it a fun night!
Our New England Conservatory Committee has been busy planning exciting events. We started this year on Sunday, Jan. 26, with a daylong Winter Actors Academy followed by a Zoom networking event with all four New England 48 Hour Film Project city producers (Boston, New Haven, Portland and Providence) on Feb. 10. Upcoming events include a new member orientation and a Background Actor 101 session. Make sure to stay on top of upcoming events by checking the SAG-AFTRA app, the local website, the local Facebook page and your emails for updates.
You may have noticed our fantastic team of volunteers at all of our events. What you may not know is that along with the hardworking visible volunteers, there is also a wonderful team of folks who help plan the events by attending meetings and coming up with ideas. If you are interested in participating in planning future activities, please reach out to the local office at newengland@sagaftra.org.
We have the New England Local Screen Actors Guild Awards Awards Viewing Party on Sunday, Feb. 23, at the Somerville Theatre. The party is always a festive night of camaraderie and celebration. You don’t want to miss it. Make sure to register today for the local party. Also, if you’re an eligible voter, please don’t forget to watch the nominated films and television shows and cast your vote for the SAG Awards by the deadline of Friday, Feb. 21.
We are sending support and unity to some of our broadcast stations who are headed into contract negotiations. Thank you to all the station stewards and unit members for working hard to secure fair and equitable contracts for our members.
Wishing everyone a successful 2025. May you reach your goals and congratulate yourself for tasks achieved. Sometimes people move their goalposts before stopping to realize that a few years ago that last goal seemed impossible. Pat yourself on the back for getting through the day with creativity.
In solidarity,
Andrea Lyman
New England Local President
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