Scene Around Town

2017 L.A. County Federation’s MLK Breakfast

With the theme Freed to Succeed, labor leaders from all over Los Angeles broke bread together on Jan. 16 to kick off Martin Luther King Jr. weekend at the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor’s annual breakfast at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel. Sen. Kamala Harris and Equal Justice Initiative Executive Director Bryan Stevenson were among the speakers who joined the audience to celebrate the first graduating class of a 12-week training re-entry workforce boot camp that was created in partnership with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition. 

Members and elected leaders share a table at the L.A. County Federation MLK Breakfast on Jan. 16. Back row, from left, SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Local staff member Jacqueline Perez; SAG-AFTRA National Board member and Los Angeles 2nd Vice President Ellen Crawford; Los Angeles Local Board member Ron Morgan; Move L.A. Committee member Shea Scullin; Los Angeles Local Executive Director Ilyanne Morden Kichaven. Front row, Los Angeles Local Board member Cupid Hayes; SAG-AFTRA members Raza Barbara and Burgee Roberts; SAG-AFTRA Secretary-Treasurer and Los Angeles Local President Jane Austin. 

Sen. Kamala Harris with SAG-AFTRA Secretary-Treasurer and Los Angeles Local President Jane Austin at the Jan. 16 L.A. County Federation MLK Breakfast.

2017 Artios Awards

The 32nd Annual Artios Awards on Jan. 19, hosted by SAG-AFTRA member Joel McHale at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, recognized achievements in casting for more than 20 different categories in film, television and theater. Voted on by members of the Casting Society of America, criteria for the awards included originality, creativity and the contribution of casting to the overall quality of a project.

SAG-AFTRA leadership and staff were excited to have joined in the celebration for this year’s winners, which included a special honor for SAG-AFTRA member Annette Bening, who received the Lynn Stalmaster Award for Career Achievement. 

SAG-AFTRA member Mykelti Willliamson, left, with SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris at the Jan. 19 CSA Artios Awards on Jan. 19. 

Elected leaders and staff celebrate casting directors at the 2017 CSA Artios Awards on Jan. 19. Back row, from left, SAG-AFTRA Theatrical Contracts Manager Marissa Leal; National and Los Angeles Local Board member Jenny O’Hara; SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris; National and Los Angeles Local Board member Bill Charlton; Los Angeles Local Board member Kate Linder. Front row, National and Los Angeles Local Board member Jodi Long; Business Representative Sarah Zagha; National Board member Joe D’Angerio; SAG-AFTRA Secretary-Treasurer and Los Angeles Local President Jane Austin.  

SAG-AFTRA Awards Viewing Party

On Jan. 29, more than 1,300 members attended the annual SAG Awards viewing party at this year's new location, the Saban Theater. Organized by SAG-AFTRA’s Los Angeles Local Host Committee, each attendee enjoyed a complimentary popcorn and soda as well as access to a full bar and raffles with prizes. Our largest viewing party yet, the committee has already begun meetings to strategize how they will outdo themselves next year.

The Los Angeles Local Host Committee organized the Jan. 29 event.

The 1,300-member crowd went wild for the Jan. 29 SAG Awards viewing party festivities, which included raffles, games and camaraderie. 

2017 Made in Hollywood Honors 

The Made in Hollywood Honors was established in 2011 in partnership with six major entertainment organizations, including SAG-AFTRA, to celebrate the exceptional film and television productions made in Los Angeles and throughout California. For the 2017 ceremony on Feb. 16 at the Heart of Hollywood Terrace at 1600 Vine, La La Land, Moana and Zootopia were recognized for their artistry and job creation in the state of California. 

Jazmyn Simon, from the hit HBO series Ballers was the perfect emcee for the event, since her show recently moved its production from Florida to California because of the expanded tax credit program that went into effect in 2015. 

L.A. Board of Public Works President Kevin James; La La Land performer Tom Everett Scott; SAG-AFTRA Secretary-Treasurer and Los Angeles Local President Jane Austin; National Board member Joe D’Angerio; Los Angeles Local Executive Director Ilyanne Morden Kichaven; Los Angeles Local Board members Kate Linder and Ben Whitehair; Ballers star Jazmyn Simon; National and Los Angeles Local Board members Woody Schultz and Vivicca Whitsett at the Made In Hollywood Honors on Feb. 16.

SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Local Board member Ben Whitehair; Ballers star Jazmyn Simon; SAG-AFTRA National and Los Angeles Local Board member Woody Schultz; and National Board member and Los Angeles 2nd Vice President Ellen Crawford at the Made In Hollywood Honors on Feb. 16. 

Celebrating Tony Valdez’ 35 Years of Reporting 

On March 25, SAG-AFTRA’s Broadcast Steering Committee honored Tony Valdez for his 35 years of dedicated reporting on Fox 11 Los Angeles at a ceremony at SAG-AFTRA Plaza. He was one of the first journalists to break the TV news color barrier and has been a role model and voice for the community ever since. Thank you, Tony!

SAG-AFTRA Secretary-Treasurer and Los Angeles Local President Jane Austin; Executive Vice President Rebecca Damon; President Gabrielle Carteris; SAG-AFTRA Honors & Tributes Committee Vice Chair and Local Board member Mimi Cozzens; Award recipient and veteran Fox 11 news reporter Tony Valdez; Honors and Tributes Committee Chair and National and Local Board member Jenny O’Hara; Broadcast Steering Committee Chair and National Board member Joe Krebs; and Chief Broadcast Officer Mary Cavallaro at SAG-AFTRA Plaza on March 25.

This item was originally featured in the May 2017 local newsletter.