The Original Website of Screen Actors Guild
Houston 2011:12
President's Message
Robert Nelson
Houston Branch President
National Board Member
Holiday greetings. As we close out this year and look forward to the next, the Houston Branch is buzzing with activity. I invite everyone to mark your calendars for the next membership meeting on January 6, 2012 at the Rainbow Lodge in Houston (see below). It is a great opportunity to see old friends and meet new members, and I encourage everyone to attend.
The annual Screen Actors Guild Awards show is coming up on January 29 and viewing parties will be held in Houston and Austin, so come out and enjoy an evening of entertainment and fun, and see if your favorite nominee gets to take home the statuette.
Our next Script-to-Screen offering will be coming up in early February, and this is one you don’t want to miss. Written and produced locally, The Empress of Texas is going to be a fantastic opportunity to showcase local Houston talent to local producers, and I encourage everyone to submit when the casting notice comes out for this reading.
When January rolls around, it will be time to start thinking about renewing your membership with the TXMPA. Sometimes we only think about the important work that they do when our biannual legislature is in session, but they do much more than that. They keep in touch with these important legislators all year round to keep them up to date with what is important to the film industry, particularly regarding film incentives. The only way to keep the attention of the folks in Austin is with a strong membership, so I encourage you to renew your membership and, if you aren’t a member, to join the TXMPA.
SAG & AFTRA Membership Meeting and Mixer
Where: Rainbow Lodge, 2011 Ella Blvd. @ TC Jester, Houston, TX 77008
When: Friday, January 6, 2012, 7–9 p.m.
Dressy casual
Appetizers and cash bar
Get connected and find out what’s happening in South Texas!
* Contracts update
* SAG Awards viewing parties
* Houston Conservatory
* Austin Conservatory
* Latest on merger!
RSVP by January 4, 2012 to Sheila Cooper by email or at (800) 724-0767, ext. 7 or (214) 379-1171
AFTRA and SAG members only. A valid membership card is is required for entrance. The meeting is open to all members and parent/guardians of young performers under 18 years old. Only active, paid-up members of the Branch/Local are eligible to vote at the meeting.
AAC announces its 2012 schedule. Join the Conservatory now for only $25 and get a year’s worth of priceless knowledge and opportunity.
• January 29 – SAG Awards viewing party at ND @ 501 Studios
5:30 p.m.: Pre-show mixer
6 p.m.: Red carpet
7-9 p.m.: Live TNT Broadcast
• February 25-26 – Two-day workshop, 1-4 p.m. both days
Saturday, February 25 – VO Techniques with Randy Morrison (limited to 20 participants)
Sunday, February 26 – Home voiceover studio (presenters TBA)
• April 15 – HD photography makeup seminar, 1-4 p.m.
• May 20 – Divisek casting and headshot photographer workshop, 1-4 p.m. (limited to 20 participants)
• June 23-24 – Two-day CD workshop (limited to 20 AAC member participants)
Saturday, June 23 – CD TBD, 1-4 p.m.
Sunday, June 24 – CD TBD, 1-4 p.m.
• July 22 – Script-to-screen live read, 7-9 p.m. Free to public. Venue TBD
• August 26 – AAC presents A Conversation With..., 7-9 p.m. Venue TBD
• September 12 – Our script-to-Web team to do “how to” panel, 1-4 p.m.
• October 31 – Halloween party, 7-10 p.m.
• November 11 – CD workshop, 1-4 p.m. (limited to 20 participants)
*Unless otherwise noted, all events to take place at Mediatech Institute, 200 Academy Drive, Suite A, Austin, TX 78704. All events subject to change; check for up-to-date schedules at the Austin Actors Conservatory Facebook page.
ONLINE SAG PRODUCTION CENTER: Your 24/7 resource for rates, contracts, forms and more!
SAG STAFF: Your resource for answers and facilitation with the human touch!
Sunday, January 29, 2012
For the second year in a row, Texas SAG members will host industry-wide SAG Awards show viewing parties to benefit the Texas Motion Picture Alliance. Last year, more than 400 people attended the parties in Houston, Austin and Dallas.
Now that people know how much fun it is to dress up, walk the red carpet and propose a toast to SAG and TXMPA, even more industry people are expected this January.
All three Texas viewing parties will feature hors d‘oeuvres, drinks, “pick the winners” contests plus a few surprises throughout the night. Each of the cities will be linked via videoconferencing during commercial breaks, demonstrating the broad reach of SAG members throughout Texas and adding local significance to the live national broadcast.
Viewing parties are open to the public and all are welcome. For advance tickets, visit: Houston, Austin or Dallas.
For more information on any of the viewing parties, contact Trish Avery at trish.avery@sag.org or (214) 379-1171.
Screen Actors Guild Awards® Ballots and Screenings
The 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® nominations were announced on December 14. As a reminder, to be eligible to vote, your November 2011 dues must have been paid by December 16, 2011.
Online final balloting will be available to all eligible members. Any member who would like to request a paper ballot may do so by calling toll free, (877) 610-8637. Please have your SAG ID number ready when calling. Final ballot information — including requested paper ballots — will be mailed to all eligible members on December 30, 2011. For a complete calendar of dates and deadlines, click here.
Tthe SAG Awards office is working with studios to finalize their plans for the final voting phase. We will notify members of any “for your consideration” offers via email on January 9, 2012.
Although most screenings are in Los Angeles and New York, please know that other screenings are taking place in major metropolitan areas. If you are interested in receiving email invitations to these film screenings, please go to sagawardsRSVP.org and register.
If you have questions about member screenings, nominations or final voting, please contact the Awards Office at awardsinfo@sagawards.org.
DALES SCHOLARSHIP APPS AVAILABLE
The Screen Actors Guild Foundation is once again happy to announce availability of applications for the John L. Dales Scholarship.
Just one of the nonprofit foundation’s many free programs offered to assist, educate and inspire Guild members in their careers, lives and communities, the John L. Dales Scholarship Fund has helped qualified Guild members and their children reach their educational potential by providing more than $6 million in scholarships for study at accredited institutions of higher learning.
Two types of scholarships are available. Standard scholarships benefit eligible members and children of eligible members for college education. Transitional scholarships are designed to assist SAG members seeking further education to change careers.
Dales Scholarships are awarded specifically toward education at accredited and licensed universities, colleges, junior colleges, adult specialty schools or trade/vocational schools. Printable applications, as well as further details including eligibility guidelines, are currently available by clicking here. Submissions must be postmarked no later than March 15, 2012, to qualify.
