Portland Local Is Front and Center at Local Film Festivals

As the weather turns dark and rainy in the Pacific Northwest, residents head indoors and look for ways to occupy themselves during the dreary months. Thankfully, Portland offers several film festivals to locals and visitors — and SAG-AFTRA is at those festivals too, educating filmmakers about the benefits union talent can bring to their production and about new contracts that make it even easier to hire SAG-AFTRA members.

The Portland Local sponsored the Portland Film Festival and the Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival in October and November. These sponsorships allowed the local to offer discounts on festival passes and tickets to SAG-AFTRA members, but more importantly, it gave our union the chance to engage with attendees at both festivals.

At the Portland Film Festival, which ran from Oct. 23–28 in southeast Portland, Local Vice President Kirsten Foe had a challenge for Northwest producers at the festival’s opening night toast: “Instead of wondering when someone else is going to bring the next great project to town,” she said, “create your own! It has never been easier. With simple SAG-AFTRA contracts that fit every budget and technology that is more affordable and capable than ever, what are you waiting for?”

After that call to action, SAG-AFTRA’s influence at the festival was undeniable, with its logo prominently displayed in both workshop spaces, a SAG-AFTRA contracts presentation, panels featuring Portland’s top acting teachers and agents, a stunt and safety workshop, and an information table on the festival floor.

The Local also had an information table at the Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival’s Northwest Film Summit on Nov. 3. Local members who manned the table engaged with a steady flow of producers and directors interested in finding out more about using SAG-AFTRA talent, as well as performers looking for information on joining the union.

SAG-AFTRA was also part of the Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival’s NW Exposure Short Film Competition. Portland Local members read scripts that were submitted to the contest before the writers and a live audience.

Finally, Local Board member Michelle Damis moderated a panel discussion at the Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival focused on industry unions, which included representatives from SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, the Teamsters, the Directors Guild of America and the Writers Guild of America.

Throughout both festivals, the message to filmmakers and producers was clear: SAG-AFTRA is here, and the union is ready to work with you.

Top Photo: Portland Local members Todd Robinson and Jeff Rosick discuss the union with an attendee at the Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival. Photo by Harold Phillips