Press Releases 2009

Los Angeles (October 11, 2009) — Screen Actors Guild members, SAG’s National LGBT Actors Committee, and SAG staff marched with thousands of activists from around the country today in Washington D.C. as part of the National Equality March, which coincided with National Coming Out Day.

Los Angeles - Casting bias facing SAG members who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) was the central topic of a spirited panel discussion co-sponsored by the SAG National LGBT Actors Committee and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) on October 7, 2009. Held in October to commemorate National Coming Out Day, this is the third SAG event of its kind to explore the unique challenges and opportunities of LGBT actors

Los Angeles (October 7, 2009) — Screen Actors Guild announced today that members of the Guild, SAG’s National LGBT Actors Committee, and SAG staff will join grassroots activists from around the country in Washington D.C. October 10-11, 2009. Thousands of fair-minded Americans are expected to come together in our nation’s capital this weekend for Equality Across America’s National Equality March.

Hollywood Board of Directors Re-elects Anne-Marie Johnson 1st Vice President;
New York Board of Directors Elects Mike Hodge 2nd Vice President

LOS ANGELES (September 30, 2009)—Newly minted Screen Actors Guild National President Ken Howard made his first public appearance in his official capacity Monday night. The event was a SAG American Indian membership caucus hosted by SAG National President’s Task Force on American Indians, and SAG Affirmative Action & Diversity.

Howard’s remarks demonstrated his strong, personal commitment to diversity within the entertainment industry, which also has been an ongoing historical mission of Screen Actors Guild.

Month to Feature Special Events, Release of Diversity Casting Reports

Los Angeles (September 29, 2009) — Screen Actors Guild announced today that it has declared October “Diversity Awareness Month.” For decades, SAG has been a leader in advocating diverse hiring of underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, women, seniors, LGBT actors and performers with disabilities in the entertainment industry.

Los Angeles - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), Directors Guild of America (DGA), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada (IATSE), Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) today released the following statement:

Guild Also Announces Results of National Board Elections

Los Angeles (September 24, 2009)—Screen Actors Guild today announced results of elections for its top two elected positions. Ken Howard will serve as Screen Actors Guild president and Amy Aquino will serve as secretary-treasurer. Both will serve two-year terms beginning September 25.

AFL-CIO Convention Delegates Pass Resolution 18 Endorsing the
I AM PWD Campaign of AEA, AFTRA and SAG

Pittsburgh (September 16, 2009) – I AM PWD — the Inclusion in the Arts and Media for People with Disabilities campaign of Actors’ Equity Association, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and Screen Actors Guild — was today endorsed by the 2009 AFL-CIO Convention delegates through Convention Resolution 18, entitled “Unions Should Give People with Disabilities a Voice and a Face.”

46th Annual Accolade to be Presented During the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® Simulcast on TNT and TBS on Saturday, January 23, 2010

Los Angeles (August 26, 2009) - Screen Actors Guild announced today that members have approved a two-year successor contract to its Basic Cable Live Action agreement by a vote of 93.71% percent to 6.29% percent. The agreement is effective retroactive to June 10, 2009 and will expire concurrently with the Guild's Theatrical Motion Picture and Television agreements on June 30, 2011.

Los Angeles (August 18, 2009) -- Screen Actors Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) today reached agreement on the terms of new, two-year contracts covering Screen Actors Guild members working in Television Animation and Basic Cable Animation.

Los Angeles (August 12, 2009) - Screen Actors Guild today released the following statement:

We are pleased by the decision of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, its Chair-CEO John Shaffner, CBS and show executive producer Don Mischer to continue the Emmys’ practice of providing full recognition to the nominees and recipients within the live telecast.

We look forward to this year’s show.

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Los Angeles (August 10, 2009) – Screen Actors Guild today released the official list of candidates for its upcoming national officer and national board elections. National president and national secretary-treasurer positions are up for election, both of which carry two-year terms. Approximately 1/3 of the total 69 national board seats are open for election this year.

SAG Interim National Executive Director David White sent the following letter to Academy of Arts and Sciences Chair John Shaffner:

August 6, 2009


John Shaffner
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

Academy of Television
Arts & Sciences

5220 Lankershim Boulevard
North Hollywood, CA  91601

Dear John:

Los Angeles (July 25, 2009) – The Screen Actors Guild National Board of Directors today opposed by a vote of 51.74 percent to 48.26 percent the closure of the Motion Picture & Television Fund Long Term Care Facility.

The Board received presentations from representatives of the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF) and the Resident-family coalition Saving the Lives of Our Own.

Los Angeles (August 5, 2009)—Screen Actors Guild today announced election results for the Houston Branch elections.

Candidates elected from the Houston Branch include:

Kit Gwin - Secretary/Treasurer - two-year term
Bob Boudreaux - Member at Large - two-year term
Bonnie Gallup - Member at Large - two-year term
J “Sonny” Opiela - Member at Large - two-year term
Pamela Denise Weaver - Member at Large - two-year term

Los Angeles (August 5, 2009) - Screen Actors Guild today announced election results for the Nevada Branch elections.

Candidates elected from the Nevada Branch include:

Charles Di Pinto - Council Member at Large - two-year term
Scott Mirne - Council Member at Large - two-year term
Arttours Weeden - Council Member at Large  -  two-year term

Los Angeles (August 5, 2009) - Screen Actors Guild today announced election results for the Dallas/Ft. Worth Branch elections.

Candidates elected from the Dallas/Ft. Worth Branch include:

Suzanne Burkhead - Vice President - two-year term
Brian Dakota - Member at Large - two-year term
Ada Lynn - Member at Large - two-year term
Marco Perella - Member at Large - two-year term

Los Angeles  (July 30, 2009) - Screen Actors Guild today announced results for the Colorado Branch elections.

*Candidates elected from the Colorado Branch include:

David Hartley-Margolin - National Board Member - three-year term
John Singer - President - three-year term
William A. McLain - Vice President - three-year term
Nancy Flanagan - Recording Secretary/Treasurer - three-year term
Denis Berkfeldt - Council Member at Large - three-year term

Los Angeles, CA (July 25, 2009) – The Screen Actors Guild National Board of Directors today voted an overwhelming 95 percent to 5 percent to recommend a successor agreement to the 2006 Basic Cable Live Action Agreement, which covers dramatic television motion pictures, excluding animated television motion pictures, produced for initial exhibition on a basic cable service.

The tentative agreement, which would expire concurrently with the TV/Theatrical agreement on June 30, 2011, includes:

Los Angeles, CA (July 23, 2009)---The I AM PWD (Inclusion in the Arts & Media of People with Disabilities) national disability rights campaign – a civil rights initiative jointly created by members of Actors Equity Association, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and Screen Actors Guild – announced today that it was honored to present the keynote address at the National Summit on Careers in the Arts for People with Disabilities hosted by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., on July 22-

Los Angeles  (July 21, 2009) - Screen Actors Guild today announced election results for the Portland Branch elections.

*Candidates elected from the Portland Branch include:

Mary McDonald-Lewis - National Board Member - three-year term
Robert Blanche - President - three-year term
Chrisse Roccaro - Vice President - three-year term
Wendy Martel - Secretary-Treasurer - three-year term
Karen Moulder - Council Member at Large - three-year term

Los Angeles (July 21, 2009) - Screen Actors Guild today announced election results for the Utah Branch elections.

Candidates elected from the Utah Branch include:

Anne Sward - President - two-year term
Paul Mulder - Vice President - two-year term
Kathy Jarvis - Secretary - two-year term
Tracy Scott - Treasurer - two-year term
Cheryl Gaysunas - Council Member at Large - two-year term
Joyce Cohen - 1st Alternate Council Member - one-year term

Los Angeles (July 17, 2009) - SAG President Alan Rosenberg issued the following statement on July 17, 2009:

As we all know, the current path of American health care is unsustainable. Health care costs are out of control for even those with insurance, and most workers without coverage can’t afford the skyrocketing rates for even the barest minimal coverage. 

Los Angeles (July 15, 2009) -- The 18th Annual Union Plus Scholarship Awards have been announced and two Screen Actors Guild family members are among the recipients:

Los Angeles (July 1, 2009)—Screen Actors Guild joins the world in mourning renowned actor Karl Malden, who died today. He was 97.

“Karl was an actor’s actor, the embodiment of professionalism, which included National Board service to this union,” said SAG National President Alan Rosenberg. “We will remember the many indelible characters he created, and his screen legacy will continue to move us, educate us and enrich our lives.”

Los Angeles, CA (June 25, 2009) – Screen Actors Guild released the following statement on the deaths of Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson: Already saddened by the recent passing of the wise and witty Ed McMahon, Screen Actors Guild members are today mourning the deaths of television legend Farrah Fawcett and entertainment icon Michael Jackson.

SAG, AFTRA & EQUITY PRESENT 2009 IVY BETHUNE TRI-UNION DIVERSITY AWARDS
TO GEORGE TAKEI, CHERYL BURKE, CHARLIE HILL AND DR. VICTORIA ANN LEWIS
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EVENT: Monday, June 29, 2009 – East West Players Theater in Downtown Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES (June 23, 2009) – Screen Actors Guild today announced that longtime SAG members  George Coe and Sumi Haru have been selected to receive the Hollywood Division’s prestigious Ralph Morgan Award. Coe has served on the Guild’s National Board of Directors for eight of the last nine years, as well as from 1967 to 1973. He is a member of SAG’s National Executive Committee and National Agents Relations Committee. Haru has been a SAG National Board Member since 1975, serving as national vice president, national recording secretary and, in 1995, as acting president.

***MEDIA ALERT***

African American Images in Hollywood:
How Did We Get Here? Are We Far Enough?
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Event: Thursday, June 18, 7-9 p.m. -- James Cagney Boardroom

Los Angeles, (June 7, 2009) - The Equal Employment Opportunities Committees of Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), and the Ethnic Employment Opportunities Committee of Screen Actors Guild (SAG)  are delighted to announce the 7th annual Ivy Bethune Tri-Union Diversity Awards, honoring actor and activist George Takei; actor, writer and teacher Dr. Victoria Ann Lewis; dancer Cheryl Burke; and stand-up comedian/storyteller Charlie Hill. The event will be held on June 29, 2009 at 7 p.m.

Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker to Welcome SAG Leaders

Atlanta, GA (June 2, 2009) – The leadership of the Screen Actors Guild Regional Branch Division (RBD) will meet for their annual board meeting June 6-7 in Atlanta, Georgia. The RBD includes 20 Branches spanning from Boston to Hawaii. Nearly 24,000 Screen Actors Guild members who work in film and television live in the regional branches.

Alec Baldwin, George Clooney, Sally Field and Tom Hanks Sign Statement of Support for a
YES Vote on the Tentative TV/Theatrical Agreements

Los Angeles, (May 29, 2009) - Screen Actors Guild today announced the names of 500 members who are among the first to sign SAG’s new “Statement of Support” in securing ratification of the tentative TV/Theatrical agreements. The signers include Academy Award™ winners George Clooney, Sally Field and Tom Hanks.

Los Angeles (May 21, 2009) —In nationwide voting completed today, members of the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists have overwhelmingly approved new three-year successor agreements to the 2006 Screen Actors Guild Television Commercials Contract and the2006 AFTRA Television and Radio Commercials Contracts .

SCREEN ACTORS GUILD MEMBERS APPEAR IN “I’M VOTING YES” VIDEO
Members Encourage Solidarity on Tentative TV/Theatrical Agreement, Ballots Mail Tuesday

***MEDIA ALERT***

SAG Members Join Forces with Hundreds of
Northrop Grumman Employees on Aircraft Assembly Line
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Event: Saturday, May 16 -- Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems

Washington, (May, 14, 2009) - The stars of stage and screen – actors, musicians, Broadway performers, comedians, writers and crew – are coming out in support of the Employee Free Choice Act through a new online video called “Artists4WorkersChoice.”  Many have Oscar, Grammy, Emmy and Tony awards and nominations, and they have one thing in common – they’re all union members, and they all share the experience of working every day for a living, struggling to find jobs and pay the bills.

Musical Gala United Singers and the Composing Community

May 5, 2009 (Los Angeles) --- The Screen Actors Guild Hollywood Singers Committee paid tribute to award-winning “Hairspray” composer and lyricist Marc Shaiman on Monday night at the Writers Guild Theater. SAG’s “Meet the Composer II” event celebrated the achievements of Oscar-nominated, and Emmy and Tony Award-winning Shaiman, as well as the contributions of the SAG singers’ community to the art of film and television.

Screen Actors Guild Honors Members Featured in SAG Films at the
25th Annual Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival

SAG to Announce New Report on the
Asian Pacific Islander Market and the Entertainment Industry

Los Angeles, (April 27, 2009) –Screen Actors Guild members were at the forefront of Saturday’s community picket that defended the rights of carwash workers.

***MEDIA ALERT***

Boycott Part of Ongoing Protest Against Deplorable Working Conditions at Four Area Carwashes
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Event:  Saturday, April 25, 12-2 p.m. – Vermont Hand Wash

Los Angeles (April 19, 2009) - The Screen Actors Guild National Board of Directors today voted 53.38 percent to 46.62 percent to approve and recommend to members, new, two-year successor agreements to the 2005 Producer-Screen Actors Guild Codified Basic Agreement and 2005 Screen Actors Guild Television Agreement.

The proposed agreement, covering actors in motion pictures and television delivers 3.5% effective annual increases comprised of a 3% wage increase and a .5% pension and health contribution increase upon ratification, and a 3.5% wage increase in year two.

LOS ANGELES AND NEW YORK (April 18, 2009)-Meeting by videoconference plenary in Los Angeles and New York, the Joint SAG-AFTRA National Board today voted unanimously to approve and recommend to members, new three-year successor agreements to the 2006 AFTRA Television and Radio Commercials Contracts and the 2006 Screen Actors Guild Television Commercials Contract.

Screen Actors Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers Reach Tentative Agreement on TV/Theatrical Deal

LOS ANGELES (April 17, 2009) – The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and Screen Actors Guild today announced that the parties have reached tentative agreement on successor agreements to the Producer-Screen Actors Guild Codified Basic Agreement.

LOS ANGELES (April 06, 2009) -– The key deadlines and events leading up to the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® -- the night that actors honor their own -- were announced today by SAG Awards® Committee Chair JoBeth Williams. The prestigious industry event annually honors outstanding performances in motion pictures and primetime television, including the distinctive ensemble awards.

May 4, 2009 Gala To Unite Singers and The Composing Community

Los Angeles, (April 2, 2009) - The Screen Actors Guild Hollywood Singers Committee announces the forthcoming “Meet the Composer II” to be held on Monday, May 4, 2009, at the Writers Guild of America Theater, 135 S. Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills, California. A 6:30-7:30 p.m. cocktail hour with wine and hors d'oeuvres will be followed by an onstage presentation with composer Marc Shaiman and special performances featuring SAG singers and special guests.

JOINT NEWS RELEASE OF SCREEN ACTORS GUILD (SAG) AND
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TELEVISION AND RADIO ARTISTS (AFTRA)

Los Angeles, (March 31, 2009) - Attention conference attendees: Kindly ignore that blood-curdling scream. It’s just a professional voice actor demonstrating the many ways to die in a videogame. 

SAG Awards® will be Simulcast on TNT and TBS on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010

LOS ANGELES (April 22, 2009) -– The 4,200 Screen Actors Guild members who will determine the nominees for the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® for this year’s outstanding performances in film and primetime television were drawn by random sample today, announced SAG Awards® Committee Chair JoBeth Williams.

Los Angeles, (April 6, 2009) – Connie Stevens, secretary-treasurer of Screen Actors Guild, was honored on Sunday, April 5, with the American Spirit Award from the Caucus for Television Producers, Writers and Directors at their Annual Caucus Honors Dinner in Beverly Hills.

“I am grateful to the Caucus for Producers, Writers and Directors for presenting me with this honor,” Stevens said about the award. “I am humbled to be recognized by my peers for my service to the entertainment community.”

Los Angeles, (March 31, 2009) – "As Mr. Worth and the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace know, and as the Wall Street Journal recently confirmed, the Employee Free Choice Act does not remove the secret ballot provision from the process.

It does give all workers the opportunity to join a union without the threat of employer coercion or intimidation.

Los Angeles (March 27, 2009) — Screen Actors Guild today announced that Damon Romine has been named director of communications effective April 1, 2009.  Romine comes to the Guild from the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) where he served as director of entertainment media.

Los Angeles, (February 21, 2009) – The Screen Actors Guild National Board of Directors today voted 73% to 27% to “reject the AMPTPs last, best and final offer dated February 19, 2009.”

We entered this round of negotiations sending an unmistakably clear message that we were ready to make a deal. In an effort to put the town back to work, our negotiator agreed to modify the Guild’s bargaining position to bring the Guild in line with the deals made by our sister unions.

American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), Directors Guild of America (DGA), Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) today released the following statement:

Screen Actors Guild and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers to Meet

Los Angeles (February 10, 2009) --  Screen Actors Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have agreed to meet on February 17 and 18, at the AMPTP offices in Sherman Oaks, California.

We will have no further comment about the meeting.

Contact:

Jesse Hiestand, AMPTP
(818) 935-5941
Jesse@tw.amptp.org

Pam Greenwalt, SAG
(323) 440-2892

On Saturday, February 7, the Joint National Board of Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists met in videoconference plenary in Los Angeles and New York and approved by an overwhelming majority a package of proposals for the changes to the AFTRA Television and Radio Commercials Contracts and SAG Television Commercials Contract. The SAG and AFTRA Commercials Contracts will be bargained under the terms of the Phase One Agreement that applies to the Commercials Contracts negotiations only.

Los Angeles, (February 5, 2009) – Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Chalfant today denied in full the request for a temporary restraining order seeking to invalidate the SAG national board majority’s written assent of January 26, 2009.

The Judge denied the order on the grounds that the Plaintiffs had no probability of success on the merits of their claims.

Los Angeles, (February 3, 2009) -- Attorneys for Screen Actors Guild specially appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court this morning in response to notice of an ex parte application for an injunction regarding the written assent of January 26, 2009.

After hearing from attorneys for plaintiffs Alan Rosenberg, Anne-Marie Johnson, Diane Ladd, and Kent McCord, as well as SAG counsel, the court held that the notice and application for the injunction, as well as the underlying complaint, were procedurally defective and refused to issue the injunction at this time.

Los Angeles, (February 2, 2009) – Screen Actors Guild today notified the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers that the Guild had received a notice of intent to file a complaint tomorrow.

In light of this circumstance, both parties have agreed to a postponement of their meeting and will reschedule at a later date.

Screen Actors Guild has no further comment on the notice of intent received today or the postponement of tomorrow’s meeting.

XXX

Los Angeles (January 28, 2009) --  Screen Actors Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers will meet February 3 and 4, at the AMPTP offices in Sherman Oaks, Calif.

We will have no further comment about the meeting.

The Screen Actors Guild National Board of Directors by written assent today terminated the employment of Doug Allen and appointed former Guild general counsel David White to replace him as interim national executive director. The board further appointed longtime Guild senior advisor John T. McGuire as chief negotiator.

The board also disbanded the TV/Theatrical Negotiating Committee and directed that it be replaced with a Taskforce directed to complete these negotiations on behalf of the board of directors.

All actions are effective immediately.

LOS ANGELES (Jan. 25, 2009) - Screen Actors Guild presented its coveted Actor® statuette for the outstanding motion picture and primetime television performances of 2008 at the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® in ceremonies attended by film and television’s leading actors, held Sunday, Jan. 25, at the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center. The 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® was simulcast by TNT and TBS at 8 p.m., ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT and 6 p.m. MT

Los Angeles and New York (January 25, 2009)—The National Boards of Directors of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) have worked with the AFL-CIO to establish a framework in which the two unions will negotiate the AFTRA Television and Radio Recorded Commercials Contracts and the SAG Television Commercials Contract under the rules of an expanded Phase One Agreement.

Los Angeles and New York (January 25, 2009)—The National Boards of Directors of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) have worked with the AFL-CIO to establish a framework in which the two unions will negotiate the AFTRA Television and Radio Recorded Commercials Contracts and the SAG Television Commercials Contract under the rules of an expanded Phase One Agreement.

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Screen Actors Guild has taken no action to suspend the national board of directors’ October 19 resolution regarding the strike authorization referendum.

Los Angeles (January 16, 2009) -- Screen Actors Guild today announced that in light of the over 800 productions signed to Guaranteed Completion Contracts, SAG’s National Board of Directors has determined that the GCCs have served their purpose and has decided to discontinue offering GCCs.

Screen Actors Guild will continue signing independent productions to the terms of the 2005 Codified Basic Agreement for Independent Producers.

About SAG

Los Angeles (January 15, 2009) -- Screen Actors Guild today released the following message for distributors and Screen Actors Guild signatories in response to press reports that studio-affiliated distributors have raised concerns about their potential obligations as distributors of motion pictures produced under Guaranteed Completion Contracts in the event of a SAG work stoppage.

SAG’s message to distributors was mailed today from the office of SAG National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Doug Allen. The message follows:

“January 15, 2009

Screen Actors Guild acknowledges the passing of Ricardo Montalbán, who died January 14 at 88. Montalbán was a dedicated Screen Actors Guild member who served on the National Board (1960-71; third vice president, 1965-68 and 1969-71) and Guild committees. As a founder of Nosotros, he was an early activist for realistic portrayals of Latin characters on screen, which dovetailed with SAG’s own evolving diversity efforts. He was awarded the 1993 Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award for his work both on and off camera. 

It has come to the Guild's attention that some distributors of Guild-covered projects have expressed concerns about risks associated with distributing projects covered by GCAs in the event of a Guild work stoppage. As you know, one of the benefits of being signatory to a Guild GCA is the assurance that any work stoppage would not affect the continued production of the picture.

Los Angeles, (January 13, 2009) -- SAG National President Alan Rosenberg sent the following message to Screen Actors Guild national board members and alternates today:

A Message From SAG President Alan Rosenberg regarding the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

The following message is the second in a series of responses to members questions at recent Town Hall meetings and sent to us via email. Please watch for additional messages over the coming weeks.

Know the Facts!