Scene Around Town Winter 2020

“Celebrating Performers with Disabilities” – SAG-AFTRA national leaders joined the SAG-AFTRA National Performers with Disabilities Committee to present the annual SAG-AFTRA Harold Russell and SAG-AFTRA Disability Awareness Awards at the 2019 Media Access Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Nov. 14. This year’s recipients were actor Nyle DiMarco and the Ruderman Family Foundation.

“Labor Unions Celebrate Veterans” – SAG-AFTRA leaders, including L.A. MOVE Committee Vice Chair Shea Scullin, National and Local Board member Jane Austin and L.A. Board member and MOVE L.A. Co-Chair Ellen Crawford represented SAG-AFTRA at the L.A. County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, 5th Annual Veterans Day Breakfast on Nov. 8. The breakfast, which took place at the Bob Hope Patriotic Hall in Los Angeles, featured keynote speaker Hector Barajas, a military veteran and founder of the Deported Veterans Support House.

“A Word from Alfred Molina” – Renowned SAG-AFTRA member Alfred Molina, right, discusses his career, the business and the importance of the union with SAG-AFTRA L.A. Conservatory Committee member Michael Bradley at a conservatory panel at SAG-AFTRA Plaza on Nov. 26. The L.A. Conservatory provides more than 30 classes per month, opportunities to participate in AFI student films and projects, industry panel discussions and volunteer-run self-taping all for $45 per year. To learn how to get involved, call the SAG-AFTRA L.A. Conservatory at (323) 856-7736.

“In Memory of King” – A delegation of SAG-AFTRA leadership represented SAG-AFTRA at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast, organized by the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. The event, which took place at the Westin Bonaventure downtown, drew nearly 1,000 city and labor leaders and began with a speech from U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris.
Attendees were, back row, from left, Executive Director Ilyanne Morden Kichaven; SAG-AFTRA Vice President, Los Angeles Clyde Kusatsu; Los Angeles Board of Public Works President and L.A. Chief Film Liaison Kevin James; SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Board member and MOVE L.A. Co-Chair Ellen Crawford; SAG-AFTRA MOVE L.A. Vice Chair Shea Scullin; and SAG-AFTRA member Kim Estes. Front row, from left, SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles President Patricia Richardson, SAG-AFTRA MOVE L.A. Co-Chair Gaye Nelson and SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Local Board member Tiffany Yvonne Cox.

“Operation Gratitude” – SAG-AFTRA National Board member and L.A. Military Committee Chair Jane Austin, right, represented SAG-AFTRA on Dec. 14 for Operation Gratitude. She joined volunteers to assemble care packages for military and first-responder heroes stationed overseas who can’t be with their families, and for their children at home.

“Casting Background Actors” – Casting Director Terence Harris, fourth from left, shares casting tips for performers at the Background Actors Education & Outreach Subcommittee panel ‘The Nuts and Bolts of Background Actor Casting,’ held at SAG-AFTRA Plaza on Dec. 16. He was joined by, from left, SAG-AFTRA National and Local Background Actors Committee Chair and panel moderator Ron Ostrow, Assistant Director Colleen Casey Shariat, Assistant Director Luke Maxcy and Casting Director Rich King.

“Creatives Network in the New Year” – SAG-AFTRA L.A. Conservatory members and American Film Institute fellows came together for a 2020 New Year mixer to build valuable relationships, discuss upcoming projects and nosh at the AFI campus on Jan. 11. Actors brought headshots to share with AFI fellows for casting in AFI projects.
SAG-AFTRA L.A. Conservatory Committee members Zeke Alton and Victoria Hoffman, L.A. Conservatory Program Manager Bethalyn McKie, SAG-AFTRA L.A. Local President Patricia Richardson, committee members Caryn West and Kevin Gardner, and SAG-AFTRA L.A. intern Jovi Davis gather for a photo to celebrate a job well done.