When Opportunity Comes a-Knockin’

Chaz Grundy
President, SAG-AFTRA Colorado

Let me take a moment to offer my heartfelt thanks to Mr. John Singer for his many years of service and leadership as Colorado’s legacy SAG President, and for agreeing to stay on for the first six months after merger as the Colorado Local’s co-president to help with the transition. With exemplary guidance and directorship, his term helped lead us into an era of a new union and an improved film incentive package for Colorado. 

As the first SAG-AFTRA Colorado Local president, I will be standing on his shoulders to continue the work for our membership. I am humbled by the responsibilities that rest with me. I will graciously look forward to his counsel and experience as we continue to move forward. Yes — as we continue to move forward.

There’s a dirty little secret: Performers love working so much we will do it for free, or almost free. We are so elated to be cast and so eager to please we sometimes undervalue ourselves. So, what is our true value? The work our members do helps drive the economic engines of this country. According to HR&A advisors (an industry-leading real estate, economic development and energy-efficiency consulting firm), New York’s film and television incentive program has generated billions of dollars in economic spending and personal income to the state economy between 2008 and 2011. Georgia’s film incentives have greatly impacted its economy. It is currently producing about 32 film and television shows. Colorado’s increased incentive has been in effect for approximately seven months, and reports coming in say it’s starting to work — as we continue to move forward.

Now here is the thing — most our members aren’t immediately recognizable when they walk down the street. We have to love the craft more than the notion of being famous. It can take some time to succeed in this business, but you have to motivate yourself and keep at it. This business is not fair. We need to show a proven record of being reliable and providing a consistent body of work. This will help make us more valuable to agents, producers and casting directors — as we continue to move forward.

Master the art of the audition. A few months ago, Colorado Local Vice President Sheila Ivy Traister presented the Shoot, Post & Upload conservatory. This workshop demonstrated how actors could film, edit, compress and upload an audition. 

Attend industry events. Local Board member Linda Lee facilitated the coordination of the Industry Mixer & SAG Awards Viewing Party, where industry professionals (directors, producers, agents, etc.) were invited. The SAG-AFTRA Colorado Local supported the recent CINEMA Day festivities, and many of our members were in attendance.

Invest in great headshots. I know this can be expensive, but they’re an investment! Post clips of your work. To my understanding, sometimes casting does not have the time to look at reels, but rather at clips that corresponds to the character in their project — as we continue to move forward.

I have been entrusted to not only help continue the best of the legacies, but also to advance the possibilities. Resilience is what defines our character. And, our character is determined not by our leaders, but by our membership. I ask the Colorado membership to stand with me and we will demonstrate our resilience — as we continue to move forward! 

When opportunity comes a-knockin’, don’t be in the backyard looking for four-leaf clovers.