SAG-AFTRA Visits Beijing

SAG-AFTRA elected and staff leadership were guests of the China Film Association during the Beijing International Film Festival in April. Participants appeared on industry panels, delivered keynote addresses and shared information with Chinese media and entertainment industry leaders. SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris, National Executive Director David White and Chief Communications & Marketing Officer Pamela Greenwalt joined producer Richard Gladstein on the trip, which included cultural exchanges with the China-U.S. Television and Film Development Forum, the Chinese Film Financing Summit, Mountaintop Productions and the Beijing Academy of Film.

SAG-AFTRA’s representatives addressed hosts and international film industry luminaries on topics including U.S. collective bargaining law, the global entertainment and media industry, globalization of film talent, filmmaking, crisis communications, member education and training, and legal and governmental issues. The visit provided a rare chance to meet face to-face with insiders in one of the world’s largest entertainment industries. On Aug. 16, members of the China Film Association visited SAG-AFTRA Plaza in Los Angeles and met with the union’s leadership. The visitors learned about the history of the union, organizing strategies and toured SAG-AFTRA headquarters.

Photo: SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris speaks at a panel on the first day of the China-U.S. Television and Film Development Forum.

This item was originally featured in the fall 2019 issue of SAG-AFTRA magazine.