SAG-AFTRA and Seattle Local Represent at Anchorage Film Festival

SAG-AFTRA Seattle Local Executive Director Brad Anderson, SAG-AFTRA Seattle Board member from Alaska Ron Holmstrom, Alaska Governor Bill Walker, First Lady Donna Walker and SAG-AFTRA National Board member Abby Dylan at the SAG-AFTRA presentation given at the 2014 Anchorage International Film Festival on Dec. 13.

This year’s Anchorage International Film Festival (AIFF) included an informational meeting with SAG-AFTRA Seattle Local Executive Director Brad Anderson and SAG-AFTRA National Board member Abby Dylan. The event was coordinated by Seattle Local Board member from Alaska Ron Holmstrom.

Billed as SAG-AFTRA - Who We Are and What We Do, the event included a first hour strictly for actors and the second being directed toward indie filmmakers. Both hours of the event were well-attended. Not only was there a good turnout of actors, filmmakers and other crafts people, but attendees also included Alaska representatives of sister unions IATSE and Teamsters, along with Alaska AFL-CIO President Vince Beltrami.

The very informative two hours proved quite popular, with many good Q&A exchanges with the attendees. With the Alaska film industry struggling in recent years, there has been excitement generated around the state pertaining to a major feature, Hunter Killer, set to begin filming in the tiny coastal town of Whittier, Alaska this spring. Calls for Alaska cast and crew have already gone out, so union actors in attendance were fired up about the possibility of roles in the film, and newer and younger performers remain hopeful about the prospects of being able to join our union.