SAG/AFTRA Merger Documents Available! (Please REPOST)

SAG-AFTRA Merger Documents Now Available

SAG-AFTRA Merger Documents Now Available

January 31, 2012, 8:08pm

Filed in: Member Alert

Dear SAG and AFTRA Members:

As you know, merger referendum ballots are scheduled to be mailed on or about February 27 – but members of both unions now have access to the complete merger documents online. Full printed merger documents will also be mailed to each voter with the referendum ballot, which will be due for return on March 30. This will give each member ample time to make a thoughtful and well-informed decision.  Please click the below links to view the SAG-AFTRA Merger Agreement, SAG-AFTRA Constitution and the Pension & Health / Health & Retirement Feasibility Report.

CLICK HERE TO REVIEW THE SAG-AFTRA MERGER AGREEMENT.

CLICK HERE TO REVIEW THE SAG-AFTRA CONSTITUTION.

CLICK HERE TO REVIEW THE P&H/H&R FEASIBILITY REPORT.

As a reminder, watch for the launch of the new joint website to provide members all the information they’ll want to consider before casting their votes. The website will include complete merger details, FAQs, and a comprehensive calendar of events to alert members nationwide to informational meetings and other opportunities for learning about the plan. Watch your email later this week for details of the website launch.

After more than a year of intensive work, we are extremely proud to bring you this historic opportunity. We also want to acknowledge the ceaseless dedication of the AFTRA and SAG members and staff who came together as the Group for One Union (G1) to produce this remarkable plan. We look forward to sharing all the details and answering any questions you may have. Finally, we are confident that SAG and AFTRA members will embrace this singular chance to harness the true power of unity, and that SAG-AFTRA will protect members and shape the entertainment and media industries for decades to come.

In unity,

Ken Howard, President
Screen Actors Guild

Roberta Reardon, President
AFTRA

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
http://www.sag.org/sag-aftra-merger-documents-now-available

My DIRECTORIAL debut

My DIRECTORIAL debut

I may now add to my list of hyphenations, DIRECTOR (Stage)! 

Earlier this month my good friend Hettie Lynne Hurtes asked if I would be interested in directing, “Acting Of The Clones.”  This is a play that takes a look into future Hollywood written by Tom Misuraca and starring Hettie and her husband Randy Roberts.  I jumped at the opportunity.

Mid month Hettie, Randy and I met to read, block, work with props and get the piece performance ready.   I was very lucky because I was working with two very good actors that are not new to the stage and very open to ideas and change.

As we worked thru the morning I found myself really liking the role of director.  Not because of ego but more vantage point.  As an actor I’ve done drama, comedy and a bunch of musical theatre on stage. I’ve always been directed and now I’m on the flip side.  It was a wonderful afternoon full of personal discoveries and satisfaction knowing that my prior acting experiences equipped me to do the job. 

“ACTING OF THE CLONES” was performed at Drama West Fest at the Edendale Library in Los Angeles on January 28th.  It went splendidly and the playwright, who was present, was pleased…….phew!

I recommend every actor take a stab at directing.  It will open your eyes up to the bigger picture!   

# # #tfl

REDBOX favorite : COLUMBIANA

REDBOX favorite!

COLUMBIANA (2011) staring Zoe Saldana

A young woman, after witnessing her parents’ murder as a child in Bogota, grows up to be a stone-cold assassin.

ZOE SALDANA as Cataleya Restrepo

Amanda Stenberg – Cataleya @10 years old

Zoe Saldana has just made my A-LIST of Female Action movie stars!

Her character and choices are smart, physical, focused and sexy………….

THIS IS A MOVIE TO SEE!

Here’s my FEMALE ACTION STARS “A-LIST” movie stars to date (in no particular order):

Jodie Foster in FLIGHTPLAN (and just about every other movie she stars in)

Angelina Jolie in SALT (and just about every other movie she stars in)

Rachel McAdams in RED EYE

Keira Knightley in PIRATES OF THE CARIBEAN: CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL

Sigourney Weaver in ALIEN (the entire series)

One closing note, I was very impressed with Amanda Stenberg’s performance in Columbiana.  To be such a strong, confident actor at such an early age with such screen presence tells me we have a big STAR in the making.

# # #tfl

And the WINNER of the 2012 SAG trophy is………..

Okay, I’ll admit it.  The Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild and Oscars are my SUPER BOWL, my FASHION WEEK and my OLYMPICS! 

From experience, I believe the whole is greater because of the sum of its parts and that’s why I really enjoy the SAG AWARDS.  This awards show is about Actors recognizing actors with a focus on “OUTSTANDING” (not BEST) and ENSEMBLE performances. 

I give two thumbs up to everyone involved in the creative process and for bringing such great entertainment to screens and stages this past year. 

Here are a few highlights from the 2012 SAG AWARDS:

MOTION PICTURE

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE

“THE HELP”

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

JEAN DUJARDIN, “THE ARTIST”

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

VIOLA DAVIS, “THE HELP”

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER, “BEGINNERS”

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

OCTAVIA SPENCER, “THE HELP”

TELEVISION

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES OR MINISERIES

PAUL GIAMATTI, “TOO BIG TO FAIL”

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES OR MINISERIES

KATE WINSLET, “MILDRED PIERCE”

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

STEVE BUSCEMI, “BOARDWALK EMPIRE”

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

JESSICA LANGE, “AMERICAN HORROR STORY”

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE IN A COMEDY SERIES

ALEC BALDWIN, “30 ROCK”

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE IN A COMEDY SERIES

BETTY WHITE, “HOT IN CLEVELAND”

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A DRAMA SERIES

BOARDWALK EMPIRE

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A COMEDY SERIES

MODERN FAMILY

OSCARS NEXT! HOST: Billy Crystal

Sunday, February 26, 2012@4pm PST

# # #tfl 

SAG and AFTRA Merger Referendum Ballots ~ 2/27/12

ARE YOU UNION DUES CURRENT?

If not then it's time to take care of that! If you want to VOTE you must be a Member in Good Standing.............

Please take a moment to read what Mr. Bergen so kindly sent out via Facebook:

Bob Bergen repost:

‎***** A Message for all union actors*************

Dear Member,

This weekend, the SAG and AFTRA National Boards took a decisive step to strengthen our future by overwhelmingly endorsing a plan to merge Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. If members approve the merger, the new union will be called SAG-AFTRA.
...
The vote of the unions’ National Boards came after more than a year of focused effort to hear from members about their needs for stronger union representation and to develop a merger plan to meet those needs. With the enthusiastic approval of our boards, the decision now rests in the hands of AFTrA and SAG members.

Merger referendum ballots are scheduled to be mailed on or about February 27th – but all members of both unions will have access to the complete merger documents within the next couple of days on the SAG and AFTRA websites. Full printed merger documents will also be mailed to each voter with the referendum ballot, which will be due for return on March 30th. This will give each member ample time to make a thoughtful and well-informed decision.

We’re also excited to announce that on Friday, February 3rd, we will launch a new joint website to provide members all the information they’ll want to consider before casting their votes. The website will include complete merger details, FAQs, and a comprehensive calendar of events to alert members nationwide to informational meetings and other opportunities for learning about the plan. Watch your email later this week for details of the website launch.

After more than a year of intensive work, we are extremely proud to bring you this historic opportunity. We also want to acknowledge the ceaseless dedication of the AFTRA and SAG members and staff who came together as the Group for One Union (G1) to produce this remarkable plan. We look forward to sharing all the details and answering any questions you may have. Finally, we are confident that SAG and AFTRA members will embrace this singular chance to harness the true power of unity, and that SAG-AFTRA will protect members and shape the entertainment and media industries for decades to come.

In unity,

Ken Howard
SAG National President

Roberta Reardon
AFTRA National President

SOURCE:Bob Bergen

 # # #tfl

DRAMA WEST FEST @ the Edendale!

DRAMA WEST FEST @ the Edendale!

WANTED: Writers/Editors/Actors and AUDIENCE MEMBERS!

If you have new short films, drama, docs, or TV pilots, 1 act plays or you are an actor submit to Drama West as follows:

          Actors submit resumes and head shots to Hettie Lynne Hurtes, Casting Director

         Short films (drama, docs), or TV pilots up to 30 mins and/or 1 act plays to

         Catherine Stanley, Producer

Casting for March/April 2012 has begun.  It looks to be a VERY busy creative year!

PLAYS/FILM presented 1/28/12

DATE ‘N SWITCH

BY FELIX  RACELIS

Acted and directed by:

            J. Christopher Sloan

            Kate Torri

            Jackson Thompson

NOT JEWISH

BY DALLAS BANCROFT

Directed by Hettie Lynne Hurtes

           

Actors:  Raf Mauro

              Smokey Miles

                       

AFTER THE PROLOGUE

BY CAROL S. LASHOF

Acted and directed by:

            Lisa Glass

            Holger Mancada

                       

ALLERGY SHOT

BY MICHELLE KHOLOS BROOKS

Directed by Susan Stangl

Actors:  Sandy Kinder

              Dana Vigran

              Susan Stangl

TEN WEST

Stephen Simon and John Monastero

BEDTIME STORY

BY DAN BORENGASSER

Acted and directed by:

            Jace Kent

            Bud Sabatino

            Shawn Boyd

            Brian Katz

             

ACTING THE CLONES

BY TOM MISURACA

Directed by: Tom F. Leary

Actors:  Hettie Lynne Hurtes

              Randy Roberts

FILM SCREENING

            “PYRAMIDS OF ATHENS” by Yolanda Markopoulou

            Special Selection of Orlando, ION and Drama International Film Festivals

Introduction by Vera Mijojlic, Founder and Director of the South Eastern European Film Festival


# # #tfl

OSCAR BEST PICTURES 2012 SHOWCASE (AMC Theatres)

See All of Oscar's Favorites

See all the Best Picture nominees on the big screen at this special event just in time for the Academy Awards®. Over the past five years, tens of thousands of movie aficionados have attended the AMC Best Picture Showcase. It's a communal, day-long event for the true movie lover. It's your chance to discuss the nominees with other guests, see some of the year's most honored films and win a few cool prizes during intermissions.

Event Details

With nine Best Picture nominees, we are splitting the event up into two special days:

Saturday, February 18:

11:00AM: War Horse
1:40PM: Moneyball
4:10PM: The Tree of Life
7:30PM: The Descendants

Saturday, February 25:

11:00AM: Hugo 3D*
1:20PM: The Help
4:00PM: Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
7:15PM: The Artist
9:05PM: Midnight in Paris

Pricing:

Day One Ticket Pass (February 18 – 4 Films): $30
Day Two Ticket Pass (February 25 – 5 Films): $40
Two-Day Ticket Pass (February 18 & 25 – 9 Films): $60. Available only at the box office of participating locations.
All Best Picture Showcase attendees will receive a $5 AMC Gift Card on each event day upon check-in. Additionally, all AMC Stubs members who purchase an event ticket in advance to the event day(s) will receive $5 AMC Stubs Bonus Bucks, valid on the BPS event days – limit four $5 credits per account. Guests will also receive an event-exclusive AMC Best Picture Showcase poster featuring the artwork of all nine Best Picture nominees, while supplies last. See participating theatres below.

AMC Best Picture Showcase Marathon

Be one of the many who have earned their Marathon stripes! This year, in seven markets, we will host a Best Picture Showcase Marathon, showing nine nominees in sequence:

Saturday, February 25:

11:00AM: Hugo 3D
1:20PM: The Tree of Life
3:55PM: The Help
7:20PM: The Artist
9:20PM: The Descendants
11:30PM: Midnight in Paris
1:20AM: War Horse
4:00AM: Moneyball
6:20AM: Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Tickets for this special event are $60 and include a $10 AMC Gift Card. Like the Two-Day Event experience, AMC Stubs members who purchase an event ticket in advance to the event day(s) will receive $5 AMC Stubs Bonus Bucks, valid on the BPS event days – limit four $5 credits per account. See participating theatres below in the right-hand column.
No outside food or beverage will be allowed for this event.

FOR PARTICIPATING THEATRES AND MORE INFORMATION:
http://go.amctheatres.com/bps

Copyright your image?

Science and technology are moving at lightning speed! So, I ask you...... have you ever thought about how cloning may effect your future earnings?  WHAT!?!

I invite you to view a staged reading of Thomas J. Misuraca’s, “Acting of the Clones.”  It’s a short play that gives you a look into future Hollywood. 

Saturday, January 28, 2012 @ Edendale Library 2011 W. Sunset – 2pm

There is no admission charge/ valet parking @ Taix’s next door $3

“Acting of Clones”

By Thomas J. Misuraca

Starring Hettie Lynne Hurtes and Randy Roberts

Directed by Tom F Leary

DRAMA WEST PRODUCTIONS

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=190912220973219&set=a.106536849410757.10335.100001633274359&type=1#!/groups/53492013060/

# # #

BOOK SALE- The Actors' Network - 1/27/12-1/29/12 11am to 5pm

The Actors’ Network is having a CITY-WIDE (open to the public) actor Book Sale THIS Friday, Saturday and Sunday; January 27, 28 and 29; from 11 AM to 5 PM! Over 3000 books from How-To, Stage plays, Monologues, Scene books, Cinematic hard covers, Screenplays and more ranging from .50 - $2.00 maximum. With the advancement in technology, The Actors' Network has a studio full of books that need new homes. Facebook, Tweet and tell your actor friends to stock up.

The Actors' Network is responsible for the longest on-going performer's business information and education curriculum in the history of entertainment! http://www.actors-network.com/

1069 N. Fairfax Ave.
West Hollywood, CA 90046 (Essentially the SW corner of Fairfax/Santa Monica Blvd.)
Map/parking/directions:  www.actors-network.com/directions <http://www.actors-network.com/directions> 
STREET PARKING ONLY!

The Actors' Network: "Experts in the business of acting, since 1991."
We are the only organization of its kind...in the world.
info@actors-network.com     http://www.actors-network.com/
1069 N. Fairfax Ave., West Hollywood, CA 90046
323-848-6700 Wk        323-848-9111 Fax

Monthly Calendar: http://www.actors-network.com/monthlycal
Facebook Fan Page: www.facebook.com/pages/The-Actors-Network/21701709744
Facebook Group Page: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9147841010
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/#!/tanhwd
Industry Interviews: http://www.actorbizguru.com/
Co-Author Kevin E. West: http://www.gettingthejob.com/

While you're there- sign up for the free ORIENTATION and tell them TOM F. LEARY referred you!

SAG/AFTRA MERGER BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

SAG-AFTRA Merger Means Tougher Admissions, Potentially Costlier Membership (Exclusive)

1:48 PM PST 1/24/2012 by Jonathan Handel

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sag-aftra-merger-dual-membership-cost-284453

84th Annual Academy Awards - Sunday 2/26/12 (7EST/4PST)

And the NOMINEES are:

Actor in a Leading Role

Demián Bichir in "A Better Life"
George Clooney in "The Descendants"
Jean Dujardin in "The Artist"
Gary Oldman in "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy"
Brad Pitt in "Moneyball"

Actor in a Supporting Role
Kenneth Branagh in "My Week with Marilyn"
Jonah Hill in "Moneyball"
Nick Nolte in "Warrior"
Christopher Plummer in "Beginners"
Max von Sydow in "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close"

Actress in a Leading Role
Glenn Close in "Albert Nobbs"
Viola Davis in "The Help"
Rooney Mara in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"
Meryl Streep in "The Iron Lady"
Michelle Williams in "My Week with Marilyn"

Actress in a Supporting Role
Bérénice Bejo in "The Artist"
Jessica Chastain in "The Help"
Melissa McCarthy in "Bridesmaids"
Janet McTeer in "Albert Nobbs"
Octavia Spencer in "The Help"

Animated Feature Film
"A Cat in Paris" Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli
"Chico & Rita" Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal
"Kung Fu Panda 2" Jennifer Yuh Nelson
"Puss in Boots" Chris Miller
"Rango" Gore Verbinski

Art Direction
"The Artist" Production Design: Laurence Bennett; Set Decoration: Robert Gould
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" Production Design: Stuart Craig; Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
"Hugo" Production Design: Dante Ferretti; Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo
"Midnight in Paris" Production Design: Anne Seibel; Set Decoration: Hélène Dubreuil
"War Horse" Production Design: Rick Carter; Set Decoration: Lee Sandales

Cinematography
"The Artist" Guillaume Schiffman
"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" Jeff Cronenweth
"Hugo" Robert Richardson
"The Tree of Life" Emmanuel Lubezki
"War Horse" Janusz Kaminski

Costume Design
"Anonymous" Lisy Christl
"The Artist" Mark Bridges
"Hugo" Sandy Powell
"Jane Eyre" Michael O'Connor
"W.E." Arianne Phillips

Directing
"The Artist" Michel Hazanavicius
"The Descendants" Alexander Payne
"Hugo" Martin Scorsese
"Midnight in Paris" Woody Allen
"The Tree of Life" Terrence Malick

Documentary (Feature)
"Hell and Back Again" Danfung Dennis and Mike Lerner
"If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front" Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman
"Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory" Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs
"Pina" Wim Wenders and Gian-Piero Ringel
"Undefeated" TJ Martin, Dan Lindsay and Richard Middlemas

Documentary (Short Subject)
"The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement" Robin Fryday and Gail Dolgin
"God Is the Bigger Elvis" Rebecca Cammisa and Julie Anderson
"Incident in New Baghdad"James Spione
"Saving Face" Daniel Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
"The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom" Lucy Walker and Kira Carstensen

Film Editing
"The Artist" Anne-Sophie Bion and Michel Hazanavicius
"The Descendants" Kevin Tent
"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
"Hugo" Thelma Schoonmaker
"Moneyball" Christopher Tellefsen

Foreign Language Film
"Bullhead" Belgium
"Footnote" Israel
"In Darkness" Poland
"Monsieur Lazhar" Canada
"A Separation" Iran

Makeup
"Albert Nobbs" Martial Corneville, Lynn Johnston and Matthew W. Mungle
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" Edouard F. Henriques, Gregory Funk and Yolanda Toussieng
"The Iron Lady" Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland

Music (Original Score)

"The Adventures of Tintin" John Williams"The Artist" Ludovic Bource
"Hugo" Howard Shore
"Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" Alberto Iglesias
"War Horse" John Williams

Music (Original Song)
"Man or Muppet" from "The Muppets" Music and Lyric by Bret McKenzie
"Real in Rio" from "Rio" Music by Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown Lyric by Siedah Garrett

Best Picture
"The Artist" Thomas Langmann, Producer
"The Descendants" Jim Burke, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, Producers
"Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" Scott Rudin, Producer
"The Help" Brunson Green, Chris Columbus and Michael Barnathan, Producers
"Hugo" Graham King and Martin Scorsese, Producers
"Midnight in Paris" Letty Aronson and Stephen Tenenbaum, Producers
"Moneyball" Michael De Luca, Rachael Horovitz and Brad Pitt, Producers
"The Tree of Life" Nominees to be determined
"War Horse" Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, Producers

Short Film (Animated)
"Dimanche/Sunday" Patrick Doyon
"The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore" William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg
"La Luna" Enrico Casarosa
"A Morning Stroll" Grant Orchard and Sue Goffe
"Wild Life" Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby

Short Film (Live Action)
"Pentecost" Peter McDonald and Eimear O'Kane
"Raju" Max Zähle and Stefan Gieren
"The Shore" Terry George and Oorlagh George
"Time Freak" Andrew Bowler and Gigi Causey
"Tuba Atlantic" Hallvar Witzø

Sound Editing
"Drive" Lon Bender and Victor Ray Ennis
"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" Ren Klyce
"Hugo" Philip Stockton and Eugene Gearty
“Transformers: Dark of the Moon" Ethan Van der Ryn and Erik Aadahl
"War Horse" Richard Hymns and Gary Rydstrom

Sound Mixing
"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce and Bo Persson
"Hugo" Tom Fleischman and John Midgley
"Moneyball" Deb Adair, Ron Bochar, Dave Giammarco and Ed Novick
"Transformers: Dark of the Moon" Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers, Jeffrey J. Haboush and Peter J. Devlin
"War Horse" Gary Rydstrom, Andy Nelson, Tom Johnson and Stuart Wilson

Visual Effects
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" Tim Burke, David Vickery, Greg Butler and John Richardson
"Hugo" Rob Legato, Joss Williams, Ben Grossman and Alex Henning
"Real Steel" Erik Nash, John Rosengrant, Dan Taylor and Swen Gillberg
"Rise of the Planet of the Apes" Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, R. Christopher White and Daniel Barrett
"Transformers: Dark of the Moon" Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Matthew Butler and John Frazier

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
"The Descendants" Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
"Hugo" Screenplay by John Logan
"The Ides of March" Screenplay by George Clooney & Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon
"Moneyball" Screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin. Story by Stan Chervin
"Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" Screenplay by Bridget O'Connor & Peter Straughan

Writing (Original Screenplay)
"The Artist" Written by Michel Hazanavicius
"Bridesmaids" Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig
"Margin Call" Written by J.C. Chandor
"Midnight in Paris" Written by Woody Allen
"A Separation" Written by Asghar Farhadi

So there's still plenty of time to GO TO THE MOVIES and plan your OSCAR party!

The 84th Annual Academy will be presented on Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 4 p.m. (PST) / 7 p.m. EST.  

STORY SOURCE: By Frank Nestor /January 24, 2012

18TH ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD Awards (1/29/12)

18^TH ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD Awards

Please don’t forget to VOTE and tune in!

VOTES MUST BE IN BY 12 NOON (PST) – FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2012

VOTING INFORMATION:

http://www.sagawards.org/filmoffers

VOTE:

https://www.ivsballot.com/sagawardsinfo/

http://www.sagawards.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/18th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards

Watch the results of your votes announced live at the 18^th Annual SAG Awards Sunday, January 29^th on TNT and TBS at 8pm ET, 7pm CT, 6pm MT and 5pm PT. 

Choose “HAPPINESS, SATISFACTION, CONTENTEDNESS”

It’s hard to believe that these days we must actually “schedule” time for ourselves in our day planners.  How did we let ourselves get to this point?

For many years Bonnie Ware worked in palliative care.  In conversations with people faced with their own mortality she learned that these are the five most common regrets:

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

2. I wish I didn't work so hard.

3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

Two years ago I would have to admit that I was living with all five regrets.  Luckily for me in 2009 I came to the proverbial “FORK IN THE ROAD” and I chose to significantly change my life’s path. I now strive to make conscious, wise and honest choices that will lead me towards happiness, satisfaction and contentedness.  I’ll admit I’m still having trouble with #2 and #5 but I’m working on it!

I’ll leave you with this quote from Ms. Ware’s article,  “Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.”  

FULL ARTICLE: Top 5 Regrets of the Dying (Bonnie Ware/Huffington Post 1/21/12) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bronnie-ware/top-5-regrets-of-the-dyin_b_1220965.html

# # #

SAG&AFTRA cards in hand, full tank of gas and in very high spirits!

It’s hard to believe that YEAR 1 of my journey to become a working actor has come to an end.  I started my journey in January 2011, SAG AND AFTRA cards in hand, full tank of gas and in very high spirits!  Seventeen years outside of the industry had passed so I really had no clue as to how difficult, fun, exasperating, exciting, challenging, expensive, overwhelming and life-altering an experience this would be.  WOW, it has been quite a year!

My 2011 (goals): discovery, classes, equipment & tools, study, reconnecting, and developing new relationships.

As I was lying in bed this morning I thought how do I credit those that were so influential and helpful?  Apologies to anyone I may have inadvertently left off the credits! Then it came to me……… display it like CREDITS rolling at the end of a movie!

2011

Drama West

Catherine Stanley

Hettie Lynne Hurtes

Drama West Buddies

Cyndi Stafford Photography

Laurel and John Jones

Mary Lynn Wissner

VOX, Coaching, Innovative, AKA &Tree Falls Post

MJ Lallo

Coaching, Commercial, Animation, Brian Nefsky (Disney) and Tom Rector (Phelps)

Richard Steele

Writing for the Stage – Playwright

The Actors’ Network – Kevin E. West

Power Group 10

Actors’ Network Buddies

Brandi Ford – Power buddy

Adam Michael Rose – Dialect Coach

David H Lawrence XVII

VO2GOGO-Education/Coaching, Commercial Demo

VO2GOGO buddies

Loren Kling – Voice Over Business Group

VOBG buddies

Actors Access

Greg Crowder Photography

AFTRA

Matthew Jay

Voice Over Workout Group/Voice Trax West

WOG buddies

Screen Actors Guild

Sacred Fools/Fast & Loose

Karen Amsler (Hair)

David McKeag (Trainer)

SUPPORT TEAM

Susan D. Welsh

Royce Bell

Lindy Burke

Margaret M. Hoskins

Shirley Knudson

Kameal Krukenberg

Rue Lannon

Lisa Peskay Malmsten

Miriam Margolis

Gillis Monroe

Barbara Munoz

Suzanne E. Narducy

Cynthia Stafford

Priscilla Silver

Dr. Richard Tebbano

Edward Villanueva

# # #

A RISING STAR!

EXTRA!  EXTRA!
I've now seen Jessica Chastain in several different movies and she's one actor to watch!  Her range, depth of character and ear for accents/dialects put her on my "A-LIST!"  
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1567113/

# # #

Meryl Streep is OUTSTANDING in the "IRON LADY!"

FROM THE STALLS

 (19 January 2012)

MOVIE: “The Iron Lady”

RATING: 5 (out of 5) STARS!

NO SPOILER ALERT necessary - I’ll just say that Ms. Streep’s performance is outstanding.  Equally impressive were ALL the supporting cast members with a special shout out to Mr. Broadbent.  From the actor’s point of view – I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!

IMDb - The Iron Lady (2011)

www.imdb.com/title/tt1007029/

The Iron Lady Movie - Official Blog

www.theironladymovie.co.uk

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