North Carolina 2009:01

January 29, 2009

IN MEMORIAM: PAT HINGLE
Photo credit: Wilmington Star-News

Carolina Members Mourn a Local Mentor and Staunch SAG Supporter

Carolina members are deeply mourning the loss of world-renowned actor Pat Hingle, a local mentor and loyal SAG supporter. Pat passed away January 3 at his home in Carolina Beach, just outside Wilmington, N.C. He is survived by his wife, Julie, two sisters, five children and 11 grandchildren.

Audiences everywhere knew Pat for his six-decade career of critically and commercially acclaimed roles, including Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Benjamin Franklin in 1776, Commissioner Gordon in Batman and Judge Fenton in Hang ’Em High. Carolina members worked alongside him in countless local films: Norma Rae, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Maximum Overdrive and independents The List and Undoing Time. But Wilmington members counted Pat as a close friend. They shared the stage in local productions of Our Town and Tuesdays with Morrie, and stood shoulder to shoulder on SAG picket lines during the 2000 Commercials strike. (See tribute from Council Member Jerry Winsett, below).

When SAG strove to increase membership to open a local office, Pat was a passionate speaker at organizing events. He transferred his membership affiliation from New York to North Carolina, leading the way for many Hollywood-transplanted members to follow suit. Sadly, several years later, when national budget constraints forced SAG to shutter its office, you can bet Pat was one of the first on the phone. He gave us hell—but, as always, he was only concerned for his fellow members. Pat, himself, was frequently sought after and well cared for on set.

Noted actor Peter Jurasik worked with Pat during their formative Hollywood careers, then settled in Wilmington as well. He recalls, “Everyone in North Carolina knew Pat as the great raconteur, but what I remember most is our early work together. Pat loved being an actor, and that passion and intensity always came through. His energy was infectious, and above all, he had a tremendous work ethic.”

His irrepressible enthusiasm now stands as his local legacy. Always eager to aid young actors, he created a guest artist endowment in 2007. The program enables students to work with visiting professional actors at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

It gave us some comfort to know that before his passing, Pat received long overdue honors from the Guild. In 2008, as part of SAG’s 75th Anniversary, he was bestowed the Film Achievement Award at the WiFi Gala Event, which recognized his contribution to the Wilmington film industry. In spite of health complications, Pat still showed up, full of fire, and—as always—with one more story to tell.

We will miss those stories, and we mourn the man who cared intensely for his craft and his fellow actors.

Memorial contributions may be made to the UNCW
Pat Hingle Theatre Guest Artist Fund, UNCW, 601
South College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403.

Pat Hingle joins a SAG picket line during the
2000 commercials strike.

SAG COUNCILOR PAYS TRIBUTE TO PAT HINGLE

He Worked Tirelessly to Promote and Advance Our Union
By Jerry Winsett
Council Member

It was 1975 when I first met Pat Hingle. He was doing a production of “Grave Undertaking” in New Jersey and we met backstage. Pat was so engaging—he loved to talk about the craft of acting. And the Guild!

Pat has been one of our union’s most outspoken members and ardent supporters. He always had time to discuss “the business” of acting with interested professionals, be they old-timer or newcomer. He was very encouraging to the journeyman actor, reminding them of just how important the Guild is to them.

Pat walked the picket line with us in Wilmington during the 2000 strike. He never missed a meeting and worked tirelessly to promote and advance our union.

Pat Hingle was a rare gem of a human being, a consummate actor and one of SAG’s proudest members. He will be missed. God bless you, Pat, and our love to your family. Peace

GREETINGS FROM THE FROZEN CAROLINAS

By Peter Jurasik
SAG Member

Despite some unseasonably cool temperatures this month, the general outlook for both current and future film and TV production in our area remains sunny with a strong possibility for continued warming trends—and you don’t have to take that forecast as a fact from me alone.

This past November, I was invited to host a panel discussion as part of Wilmington’s own local film festival, Cucalorus, regarding the general health of our business around the Carolinas—aptly named “The State of the State.” The panel itself hosted seven influential members of our local industry, including North Carolina State Sen. Julia Boseman; Aaron Syrett, director of the N.C. Film Office; Bill Vassar, executive vice president of EUE/Screen Gems; Johnny Griffin, director of the Wilmington Regional Film Commission; Lou Buttino, chair of the Film Studies Department at UNCW; Dale Williams, a local producer; and representing our own SAG membership, actress and producer Hilarie Burton. It turned out to be an evening with lots of good information for anyone connected with our industry, but I especially recommend it for SAG members in the Carolinas—the overview of how the various components of the work in our area come together and the importance of SAG membership staying engaged with all of the other aspects of our industry is informative and educational to hear and understand but, even more so, vital to keeping the process working and healthy. Doing so produces a simple and happy bottom line: more work for SAG actors and actresses! If you’d like to check it out, visit www.cucalorus.org and click on “State of the State.”

When I first came to the Carolinas way back in 2000, one of the things I loved about the local industry was that if you ever needed to talk to your SAG representative, you simply had to stroll into the SAG office on 2nd Street in downtown Wilmington. Today, because of changes to the union and to our local industry, we’re no longer so lucky. However, this December, we were fortunate enough to have one of our South Region executives, Jason Tomlinson, come pay us a visit on our home turf. The meeting was held at a local pool hall/watering hole and the easy atmosphere helped establish an open and communicative environment. A number of issues were touched on but the central discussion focused on the possible SAG strike, the full range of issues involved therein, the authorization, etc., and while the attendance was small, the discussions felt passionate and heartfelt. No matter how you feel about the issues and the possibility of a strike, just like our state and national elections, participation and involvement are its lifeblood. I can’t encourage membership enough—get informed and vote! And thanks to Jason for his visit and the light he helped to shine on our many questions.

Lastly, as we look to the year ahead with high hopes for more good union work for all of us in the Carolinas, we, the local SAG members, are keenly aware that we walk forward without one of our most important SAG members as a part of our group. On January 3, Pat Hingle passed away, and though he is honored elsewhere in our newsletter, I wanted to simply acknowledge the man, the actor and his strong and constant support to all of us and our union with his many years of active SAG membership. He will be missed by many.

May 2009 be your very best year ever!

Peter Jurasik has been a SAG member since 1973. His report fills in this month for Jerry Winsett's normal update.

PRODUCTION UPDATE

The Guild has been contacted by the following productions about becoming signatory to one of Screen Actors Guild’s collective bargaining agreements. Please be advised 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.

North Carolina  

Adventures of Roger and Tatum – Theatrical
Turnip, LLC
Location: Raleigh-Durham
Start Date: To be determined

Hope's Wish – Theatrical
Dean River Productions, LLC
Location: Charlotte
Start Date: To be determined

South Carolina

Civil – Ultra Low Budget
Wild Oak Films, LLC – Ultra Low Budget
Location: Cleveland, Lyman, Inman, Hopkins and Pickens
Start Date: February 24, 2009

iActor: ONE CLICK COULD CHANGE YOUR CAREER

Simple, functional, convenient and free, iActor—SAG’s revolutionary online casting directory—is an essential career and production tool. iActor is the only online casting directory that exclusively features SAG members and automated Station 12 cast clearance.

Available to all casting directors working on signatory productions, iActor allows casting professionals to search through members’ headshots, résumés and media by any combination of terms, such as gender, ethnicity, special skills or credits.

By creating their résumés and adding their headshots, SAG members will be at the fingertips of the industry’s top casting professionals. Members even can use the service to e-mail résumés to casting directors directly, any time of the day or night. To sign up, simply log on to SAG.org. It could change your career.

SAG FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS

Apply today to find out whether the Screen Actors Guild Foundation can help you or a family member with your education or career transition. The 2009 John L. Dales Scholarship application for eligible SAG members and children of members is available now at SAGFoundation.org. Click on Scholarships to view eligibility requirements. There are two types of scholarships, standard and transitional, and the application deadline is March 16, 2009. For more information, contact Davidson Lloyd at (323) 549-6649 or dlloyd@SAG.org.

The Screen Actors Guild Foundation is a humanitarian, educational and philanthropic organization that offers substantive assistance to Guild members and the greater community through its programs. For more information, or to make a charitable donation, please visit SAGFoundation.org.

I AM PWD CAMPAIGN

The Performers With Disabilities Tri-Union Committee of Screen Actors Guild, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and Actors’ Equity Association launched a major disability rights campaign to increase the visibility and equal employment opportunities for actors, broadcasters and sound recording artists with disabilities throughout the entertainment and news media—I AM PWD (Inclusion in the Arts & Media of People With Disabilities)—with an announcement October 6 at news conferences in Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C., to coincide with National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Florida Branch President and Co-chair of the Guild’s National Performers with Disabilities Committee Steve Gladstone observed, “The struggle for inclusion for performers with disabilities is not unlike the struggle for civil rights in the 1960s. Because we exist on our sidewalks, in our grocery stores, back alleys, court rooms, dance halls and in lovers’ triangles, we belong on our big and small screens. We are ordinary folks who are assumed different, but indeed are the same as anyone else.”

Robert David Hall, national chair of the Tri-Union Performers with Disabilities Committee, said, “I’m fortunate to have a good career as an actor and creative artist. The normal struggles any performer faces, however, are complicated tenfold by our industry’s reluctance to include people with disabilities in the full landscape of entertainment. In the 21st century, media is the world’s common cultural environment. Society’s values and priorities are expressed and reflected in film, television, theatre, news and music. If you aren’t seen and heard, you are invisible. People with disabilities are largely invisible within the arts and media landscape. I AM PWD will awaken the general public to the lack of inclusion and universal access for people with disabilities by uniting with a network of industry, labor, community and government allies.”

SAG’s National President Alan Rosenberg says, “Screen Actors Guild is committed to inclusion of all actors, and will work tirelessly to advocate and seek visibility and equal employment opportunities for performers with disabilities, as they are an integral part of the diverse landscape of the Guild membership and the American Scene.”

AEA President Mark Zimmerman says, “Actors’ Equity acknowledges that the growth and vitality of our collective industry is dependent upon the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion, and wholeheartedly endorses the I AM PWD campaign. The Theatre should, and must, reflect the true diversity of our society.”

“Our responsibility as union members is to challenge any and all roadblocks to inclusion and access in the workplace,” says AFTRA President Roberta Reardon. “AFTRA has led the fight against all forms of discrimination on so many fronts throughout our history and I am proud to be part of this important day in announcing this landmark disability rights campaign. Now is the time to stand together to combat discrimination and truly integrate our brothers and sisters with disabilities into the promise of the American Scene.”

The mission of the Tri-Union PWD Committee is to serve as the means to enhance the status and promote the advancement of performers with disabilities; nurture members’ knowledge and skills; improve members’ professional careers through the sharing and dispersing of information; promote the profession as a whole; further the understanding of the profession and foster understanding and respect for the disabled performers within; develop and improve working standards; and assist in the continuing development of ethical standards for practitioners in the industry.

Over the course of the three-year I AM PWD campaign, the group will reach out to the entertainment and media industries, the general public, political and legislative leaders and to national and global civil rights, labor and community allies in an effort to urge the entertainment industry to open up equal opportunities for disabled performers.

Interested allies are urged to join the I AM PWD network of supporters by signing up at IAMPWD.org.

UNCLAIMED RESIDUALS: GET YOUR MONEY!

Screen Actors Guild is facing a dilemma: getting performers or their heirs to collect their unclaimed residuals. A surplus of unclaimed residuals sits unable to be sent out. Although the Guild knows to whom these funds belong, it can’t send the checks to these performers, in most cases because the Guild doesn’t have the correct mailing information for the residuals recipients. Some residuals checks belong to nonmembers or one-time actors, many of whom aren’t even aware they have residuals coming to them. In an effort to reduce this surplus, the Finance Committee is embarking on a marketing campaign to get the word out to possible residuals recipients. The campaign, called “Get Your Money,” will reach out to SAG members and non-SAG members through internal publications and online campaigns. If you would like to see whether you have residuals owed to you, visit SAG.org/GetYourMoney. Enter your name and “Get Your Money!” Have questions or want to speak with a residuals representative? E-mail residualtrust@sag.org, or call (800) 205-7716 or (323) 549-6535.

CHECK OUT thesagshop.com

Visit thesagshop.com for the latest in must-have, union-made merchandise. Buy gifts and accessories that demonstrate your good taste and your union pride.

CONTRACT 2009

Express your thoughts on all of the contracts being negotiated this year. Send your responses, comments and questions to Contract2009@sag.org.

HOW TO CONTACT US

Have a question about contracts, talent agents or your dues status? Need to file a claim? South Region Executive Jason Tomlinson is ready to assist.

Contact Us

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

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