Working Actors Talk Growth of Roles and Career Development in New England

On March 1, 2022, in partnership with the Massachusetts Production Coalition, a virtual panel of SAG-AFTRA members discussed their experiences working as actors in New England, including keeping up with their craft, how they manage their careers, what’s changed during COVID and how SAG-AFTRA is their advocate.
 
Naheem Garcia, a 30-year SAG-AFTRA member, moderated the discussion, which highlighted the increased number of principal roles being cast with New England-based talent. The growth of opportunities for New England union members has taken familiar faces in the local community to screens big and small in increasingly significant roles. Garcia, whose first union-covered job was in the 1980s, had recent local credits in Free Guy, Kevin Can F**k Himself, Christmas on Ice and The Holdovers.  
 
“It is exciting to see all the TV coming to New England. People are working. The industry is blossoming,” said local member and panelist Rebecca Gibel. Gibel, who moved from New Mexico to New England for school in 2007, joined the union in 2016 when her opportunities and earnings began to grow. “I do not think it is a coincidence that moving to New England and being local here correlated [with my career acceleration],” said Gibel, whose recent local credits include CODA, Don’t Look Up, Salem’s Lot and Bridge and Tunnel. “Producers are coming back to do second and third productions here. Productions are understanding that the New England talent pool is deep and deepening. They are looking local and saying, ‘I can book local talent because they can actually act!’”
 
Discussing how the panelists get their work and how they prepare, Boston-based local member and panelist Chris Everett said making connections, being up to date with casting, working with an agent and a lot of word of mouth has helped her. Everett began acting at the age of 14. She began in theater and then moved to TV and films. “I got my union card in 2006. I was so proud of getting my card! I cried. It’s been a long road, but I am staying on it!,” said Everett. “Don’t give up on your dream and know your worth.” Her recent credits include Don’t Look Up, The Good House and Kevin Can F**K Himself, and she is currently waiting for the release of About Fate later this year.
 
“There are many ways to find jobs in this industry, but a phenomenal way is through getting to know people, networking and being friendly,” said local member and panelist Rafael Silva. Originally from Brazil, Silva grew up in Boston and earned his SAG-AFTRA eligibility via work on Little Women. He started acting in elementary school and church plays. His recent local credits include Don’t Look Up and Godmothered.
 
Panelist and local member Daniel Washington offered these three succinct points: “Education is king, always show up and don’t wait.” He added, “Our market is smaller but we get a lot of opportunities in New England. We are able to build our resumes.” Washington started out as a dancer in Ghostbusters before transitioning to acting. His recent local credits include The Tender Bar, I Care a Lot and The Sleepover. Washington will soon be seen as Gary Houston in the upcoming Whitney Houston biopic. He said, “Acting is my life, but acting is not my whole life. I have family. I have friends. I skate, I dance, I make music. Explore your life, because that is part of growing as an actor.” 
 
Gibel encouraged the virtual audience to register with every regional casting agency, practice their craft via student films, take classes and make their own content. 
 
Silva advised the audience to live their life fully and be present. Gibel added that you should read everything you can, see everything you can and make things.  
 
The two-hour session covered self-taping, cold-read strategies, acting insights, moving from background work to principal work, working in multiple markets, agents and managers, acting resources such as the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, challenges on set, working during COVID, how actors use social media and the benefits of union membership. The entire session can be watched on Vimeo here.

Photo: Clockwise, from top left, SAG-AFTRA Local member Naheem Garcia, members Chris Everett and Rebecca Gibel, Local Executive Director Jessica Maher, and members Daniel Washington and Rafael Silva. Garcia moderated the March 1, 2022, Working Actor virtual panel.