Update from the SAG-AFTRA Seattle Local President

Hello, brothers and sisters in Alaska, Idaho, Montana and Washington. Though we’re called the Seattle Local, we are together.  

Welcome to winter 2018!

Much has transpired since our last membership meeting in May. The day after our local gathering, I had the opportunity to go to Washington, D.C., as chair of the SAG-AFTRA National Military Personnel & Families Support Committee to sponsor the GI Film Festival. I met with various legislators on Capitol Hill, including Secretary of the U.S. Air Force Heather Wilson. 

In June, SAG-AFTRA Seattle was out in full force for the SIFF diversity panel and the film industry party. SAG-AFTRA helped to get the Washington State film incentive renewed for 10 years. We also continued to organize work with our Corporate/Educational waiver.  

In August, we held elections. Locally, I am honored to serve with National Board member Abby Dylan; Vice President, Actors & Performers Laura Kenny; Vice President, Broadcasters Deborah Horne; and Board members-at-large Dick Arnold, Robert Fuentes, Adam Gehrke, Rachel Glass, Ron Holstrom, Cole Hornaday, Linda Kennedy, Steve Reeder and Maggie Stenson. Nationally, I look forward to working with Gabrielle Carteris as president and Jane Austin as secretary-treasurer. In November, we welcomed newly appointed Local Secretary Ashley Cozine.

Regionally, SAG-AFTRA Portland (Oregon) and Seattle (Alaska, Idaho, Montana and Washington) sent a delegation to the Washington State Labor Convention, at which we passed a resolution to support using SAG-AFTRA talent in digital media productions.

On the national level, I had the opportunity to represent the Seattle Local at the SAG-AFTRA National Board meetings in Los Angeles in June and in July. With those meetings, we ratified a new TV/Theatrical Contract. 

In September, the SAG-AFTRA Seattle Local attended the Martin Luther King County Labor Council Labor Day cookout. We had an information table and we handed out SAG-AFTRA swag.

Also in September, we prepared for the SAG-AFTRA convention, and in October we sent a delegation to the convention in Los Angeles. Convention delegates approved a resolution we authored regarding background actors. Click here and log in to view it.

In November, we held a new member orientation and hosted SAG-AFTRA member — and winner of the 2017 Best Female Narrator Audie Award — Tavia Gilbert for a workshop on audiobook narration.

In December, we sponsored the Anchorage International Film Festival, and we had our annual membership and holiday party at Naked City Taphouse. 

I hope all members had a fantastic holiday and happy new year! 

In solidarity, 

Rik Deskin
SAG-AFTRA Seattle Local President