SAG-AFTRA on a Mission to Inform and Educate

The 2023 WIFMCO (Women in Film & Media Colorado) Industry Fair this past spring was a terrific event. It was wonderful to see so many actors and filmmakers in one place. Colorado Secretary Meggie Chamberlain accompanied Local Board member Sheila Ivy Traister, who presented What You Need to Know About Unions and Why They are Essential to a Sustainable Film and Television Industry. 

As the title aptly states, our leadership was there to speak about the importance of SAG-AFTRA and our sister unions and their role in creating sustainability within our industry, and how they make it possible for actors and filmmakers to go beyond booking jobs to building careers. 

The audience was very engaged and full of questions, which were answered with passion, clarity and a depth of institutional knowledge about our union and the industry. Some of those in attendance were brand-spanking-new and dreaming of a life in film, while others were accomplished actors, writers, directors and producers looking to take their work to the next level.

As a result of this conversation — and no matter where they were in their careers — they all seemed to grasp the importance of unions in building a sustainable future. The room as a whole was very curious as to how they could engage and get involved.  

A local producer in attendance stated that this was the first time in his long career that someone made a case for unions that actually made sense to him. Within weeks after this workshop, he reached out to staff and signed a SAG-AFTRA contract for his first union shoot as a producer. Now that’s success!

In addition to the SAG-AFTRA-sponsored panel, Traister led a second conversation titled How to Nurture and Grow a Flourishing Acting Career in Colorado and Major Markets Across the Country. It was standing-room only and the conversation on the merits of union membership continued.

SAG-AFTRA members were honored to be invited to participate in the WIFMCO Industry Fair, where they had the opportunity to enlighten a large group of artists on the benefits of becoming members of our union and the power of working with members from sister unions on our sets.