National Board Member Report

Dear SAG-AFTRA San Diego Local Members,

I hope everyone is doing well. It’s an exciting time in our union. We are starting to see the strength in numbers as our “new joins” rate continues to grow, month after month, and higher than expected. I am constantly proud to see performers of all types in the national boardroom, covered by this new union called SAG-AFTRA. As we tackle each performer’s unique needs for representation, I realize there truly is power in numbers. Whether you are a dancer or sound recording artist, a broadcaster or actor, a stunt performer or voiceover performer, SAG-AFTRA has got your back.

Recently, I listened to a presentation about recording artists and their lack of compensation for their work on terrestrial radio (AM and FM). It’s hard to believe that so many of the great performers who sing the hits are not paid for airplay. New federal legislation called the Fair Play Fair Pay Act of 2015 covers just this issue (by closing the AM/FM performance rights loophole). Check it out for yourself at SAGAFTRA.org, and write your representatives now through our partners at musicfirstcoalition.org to tell them to support the Fair Play Fair Pay Act. 

Thank you for your support of State Assembly Bill 1839, the Expanded Film and Television Job Creation Act. Its passage should help production return to California to take full advantage of film incentives. Most of the actors I have spoken to in L.A. agree that it’s just a matter of time before producers plan to bring back production to our home state. They also believe the additional 5-percent bump for productions shot in California outside the L.A. zone should benefit San Diego as well.

I was excited to attend the dedication of our offices at 5757 Wilshire Blvd. on April 16, renaming the historic L.A. building SAG-AFTRA Plaza. Our iconic symbol of unity is displayed proudly for all to see as they travel on the Miracle Mile in Los Angeles. At a reception following the dedication, I spoke to President Ken Howard, who was so thrilled to see the new SAG-AFTRA logo perched high above L.A.

SAG-AFTRA headquarters on Wilshire Boulevard displaying the new sign.

After the event, I was pleased to meet Rochelle Rose, national director of performers programs for the SAG Foundation. She told me about all the great programs available for performers, free of charge, as a benefit of membership in SAG-AFTRA. I said, great, “When can we have an event in San Diego?” Rochelle told me they were trying to schedule something in early May, however, they had no success in securing the preferred venue at San Diego State University. The next day, I was able to make some phone calls and gather some information. With a little clever conversation, and some luck, the “closed” doors turned into an opening for us! The SAG Foundation Casting Access program came to SDSU on May 9, and I hope many of you took advantage to attend the SAG Foundation’s first event in San Diego!

Until next time, take care and keep smiling San Diego.

By Don Ahles, National Board Member

This item was originally featured in the May 2015 local newsletter.