Louisiana 2008:05

HELLO EVERYONE

Welcome to the inaugural issue of Les Bon Temps, the Louisiana newsletter for Screen Actors Guild. A newsletter for our region has been long overdue, and I am happy to say that we now have our very own. For those of you I have not yet been able to meet, my name is Jason Tomlinson, and I am the South Region executive based in New Orleans. I encourage all of you to provide me with feedback as to what types of things you would like to see in the newsletter. We will be posting production updates and membership information as well as any national Screen Actors Guild stories germane to our area. Additionally, if any of you would like to contribute any articles or stories concerning the film community in Louisiana, please let me know. I can be reached at jtomlinson@sag.org or (504) 585-7324.

Sincerely,
Jason Tomlinson
South Region Executive

FROM YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE

By Peter Gabb

It is a privilege to serve as a councilor in this area. We've come a long way since the 1970s with The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, when the movie industry finally got serious about using local actors as actors. We've had a lot of ups and downs since.

We all need to work at raising and maintaining consciousness in our community that the movie business means big business and is a true economic engine for the state, and we have to be proactive about keeping that business. Also, let's continue to encourage actors to be SAG members, not just to guarantee an appropriate pay scale for themselves, but also reasonable working hours and safety. I myself worked in a film that ran out of funds, and because of SAG, I was paid in full.

Thank you for this opportunity and laissez les bon films roulez.

SAVE JUNE 21 FOR SAG'S 75TH GALA CELEBRATION

New Orleans will join the nationwide celebration of Screen Actors Guild’s 75th Anniversary on June 21, 2008. Please keep this date open to join your fellow members and industry professionals to commemorate this special moment in Guild history. The event will be held at the Robert E. Nims Center at 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, 2008. The Nims Center is located at 800 Distributors Row Suite 201 Harahan, LA 70123.

RULE ONE KEEPS THE UNION STRONG

By Leslie Krensky
South Region Director

Joining Screen Actors Guild means more than just proudly carrying the card. It means you have the strength of a union with more than 120,000 actors behind you. Each performer who joins the Guild is making a statement that he or she is a professional actor entitled to the wages and working conditions of a professional, and one who refuses to settle for less than a union contract. Every individual who joins the Guild agrees to abide by a code of rules and regulations governing membership. Primary among these is the regulation known as Rule One. It is what makes a union strong.

Rule One of the Screen Actors Guild Constitution and By-Laws states the following:

“No member shall work as a performer or make an agreement to work as a performer for any producer who has not executed a basic minimum agreement with the Guild which is in full force and effect.”

This rule means that when performers join the union, they are agreeing to only render services under a Screen Actors Guild contract when employed for a production that falls within the Guild’s jurisdiction. The Guild’s jurisdiction includes, but is not limited to:

Television Commercials – including commercials made for local, regional, and national broadcast or cable use, and commercials made for use in foreign countries. There are also contracts that cover commercials made for Internet and new media
Industrial Programs – including sales and training programs made for local exhibition and for the Internet
Student Films
Short Films
Low Budget Films
Feature Films – films exhibited in movie theatres including productions made to attract financing for feature film production
Television Productions – including pilots, series, and movies for broadcast, cable, and pay television, promos for television programs and networks and productions made to attract financing for television production
New Media Productions - including webisodes, mobisodes, and podcasts
Interactive Productions – including video games
Music Video Productions
Animated Productions – whether produced for theatrical release, television exhibition, or use in any other medium

Abiding by Rule One is essential for your own protection as well as to keep the union strong. Working under a SAG contract is the only way to make sure you receive professional wages and working conditions for each production and to ensure that you are protected against unauthorized use and reuse of your performance.

Rule One enforcement is essential to the Guild’s ability to enforce its contracts and organize new employers. Producers sign contracts with the Guild and obligate themselves to standard rates, working conditions, pension and health contributions, and residuals because they know they must to get the best performers. If members are willing to work non-union, there is no reason for producers to sign contracts.

Because of the vital importance of Rule One, a violation can subject a member to disciplinary proceedings which can result in a variety of penalties–ranging from a reprimand to a fine to suspension or expulsion from membership.

Protect yourself and the union by upholding SAG Rule One. If you have any questions about Rule One, please contact Assistant South Region Director Melodie Shaw at (800) SAG-0767, option 5, ext. 236, or via e-mail at mshaw@sag.org.

PRODUCTION UPDATE

The South Region Office distributes to members with an e-mail address in the Guild’s database a list of all upcoming theatrical and television production in the 12 states in the South Region, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. As a further service to the membership, here is a list of potential upcoming theatrical and television production in the Louisiana Region. For the full update, please visit this SAG.org page.

The Guild has been contacted by the following productions about becoming signatory to one of the Screen Actors Guild collective bargaining agreements. Please be advised that these producers may not have completed the signatory process at this time. It is the responsibility of each member to confirm that each producer has signed the applicable contract before making an agreement to render services. Failure to confirm the signatory status before rendering services may lead to disciplinary charges being filed. If you have any questions, please contact the office at (800) SAG-0767, option 5.

Alabama

Saints of Mt. Christopher, The – Ultra Low Budget
Bases Loaded Unlimited, LLC
Location: Mobile, AL.
Start: April 2, 2008

Louisiana

12 Rounds – Ultra Low Budget
WWE Films Productions
Location: New Orleans, LA.
Start: February 25, 2008

Chameleon, The – Theatrical
Chameleon Productions, LLC
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Start: May 5, 2008

Chess – Theatrical
AMP Development, LLC
Location: New Orleans, LA.
Start: April 7, 2008

Cirque du Freak – Theatrical
Cirque Productions, LLC
Location: New Orleans, LA.
Start: February 18, 2008

Darkest Evil – Modified Low Budget
Haunted House Productions, LLC
Location: Lafayette, LA.
Start: April 7, 2008

Final Destination 4 - Theatrical
Avery Pix, Inc.
Location: New Orleans, LA.
Start: February 27, 2008

Goodie Two Shoes – Theatrical
Goodie Two Shoes Productions
Location: Shreveport, LA
Start: April 28, 2008

I Hope They Have Beer in Hell – Theatrical
Beer in Hell, LLC
Location: Shreveport, LA
Start: July 7, 2008

I Love You Phillip Morris – Theatrical
PM Films, LLC
Location: New Orleans, LA
Start: May 15, 2008

Mardi Gras – Theatrical
Mardi Gras Louisiana, LLC
Location: New Orleans, LA
Start: May 15, 2008

Patriots – Theatrical
Patriot Productions, LLC
Location: New Orleans, LA
Start: April 18, 2008

Robosapien Rebooted – Theatrical
Rebooted Productions, LLC
Location: Shreveport, LA.
Start: March 17, 2008

Scratching the Surface – Low Budget
Opine Entertainment
Location: Louisiana (non-specific)
Start: TBD

W – Theatrical
Prescott Productions, LLC
Location: Shreveport, LA
Start: April 21, 2008

Wonderful World – Low Budget
Wonderful Worlds, LLC
Location: Shreveport, LA.
Start: October 17, 2007 – June 2008

Mississippi - There are no upcoming productions to report.

WHAT CASTING DIRECTORS WANT AND WHAT MEMBERS NEED TO KNOW

Join us for an Upcoming iActor Training Session that could change your career.

When: Friday, May 30
3-6 p.m.
Place: Loyola Law Library, Morris Bart Computer Lab, Second Floor
7214 St. Charles Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70118
(Take the elevator located in the law school library to the second floor. The Morris Bart computer lab is located immediately to your left after exiting the elevator. Click here for a map.)
RSVP Required: Please contact Jason Tomlinson at (504) 585-7324 or via e-mail at jtomlinson@sag.org.

Note: Make sure that you are registered with SAG.org and that your username and password are working correctly before the training. This will save valuable time and make the process much simpler.

iActor Training Session:

iActor, the Guild’s casting database, is free and exclusively for members–making it the place to be for professional performers like you. Casting directors are turning to the latest technology to cast from online sources, so don’t get left behind.

Display your résumé, headshots, audio clips and video reels. And if you feel behind the times, or can’t tell a cut from a paste, don't worry. SAG staff is here to walk you through this painless process. We’ll help you upload your information on to the site and navigate you through all the easy-access features.

iACTOR - WHAT CASTING DIRECTORS WANT YOU TO KNOW

Casting directors are on iActor daily, digitally sourcing and then clearing talented Screen Actors Guild members for work in SAG-signatory productions. They find particular value in iActor's ability to offer access to regional SAG actors, no matter where you live. We are getting great feedback on iActor's content-rich database. But they have some notes for you.

Many of you aren't listing a contact number on your résumés, so that means they can't reach you for an audition. The number one rule from the casting community is that contact information is a crucial element of your iActor résumé. It's just as important as a beautifully presented headshot, up-to-date credits and a full representation of your skills and talents.

Please make sure to list your current contact information, either a service number or your representative's, so you won't miss that important work call.

We've also noticed that many of you aren't marking your résumés "viewable," so as far as the casting community is concerned, you aren't seen. It's extremely important to complete the final step in completing your iActor résumé. You have to mark it "viewable."

iActor liaisons are ready to help you at
(800) SAG-0767 or webhelp@sag.org.

NEW 75TH ANNIVERSARY GEAR AVAILABLE

Visit thesagshop.com for the latest in must-have, union-made merchandise. Check out the new Screen Actors Guild 75th anniversary items, including T-shirts and polos. Get ready for warmer weather with a new camisole or cap, and demonstrate your good taste and union pride.

HOW TO CONTACT US

Have a question about contracts, talent agents or your dues status? Need to file a claim? We are ready to assist. Contact the office by:

Telephone: (504) 585-7324
E-mail: jtomlinson@sag.org
Fax: (504) 585-7326
Mail: 1100 Poydras Street, Suite 2900
New Orleans, LA 70163