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SAG-aftra Reaches Commercials Deal
20 hours ago
After almost two months of negotiations, SAG-aftra has reached a tentative deal on its commercials contracts with the advertising industry. The union and the Joint Policy Committee have been negotiating since Feb. 14 and had to extend talks past the original March 31 deadline. Early on Saturday they announced a tentative deal had been struck. The deal, details of which haven’t been released, now goes to the National Board of Directors for approval at its April 20-21 meeting. After the board approves it, the package will be sent to the membership for ratification thereafter. For now, union leadership would only say they've made “essential gains.” “I couldn’t be more pleased," Roberta Reardon, SAG-aftra national co-president who chaired the negotiating committee. “These contracts provide our members with the solid foundation they need to sustain their careers and families.” David White, the SAG-aftra national executive director and chief negotiator, added: “We worked »
How Shakespeare Can Make Your Child a Better Actor
5 April 2013 3:41 PM, PDT
Last month I asked the great John Lithgow to write an introduction to my new book “How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare.” He agreed (wonderful man that he is), and the result arrived in my inbox a few days later. I knew John was a remarkable actor. I knew he’d won countless awards and played Malvolio in a Royal Shakespeare Company production of “Twelfth Night,” and that his family background involved the theater. But when I read his introduction everything clicked into place. It turns out John’s father ran several Shakespeare theaters during John’s youth, and John has been acting in Shakespeare’s plays since he was knee-high to a grasshopper. So let’s see: thorough knowledge of Shakespeare…can quote Shakespeare passages at will…played Mustardseed in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” when he was 7 years old…and then John turns into one of the savviest, »
IMDb Actor Age Suit Goes to Court
5 April 2013 3:01 PM, PDT
The civil suit launched by Huong Hoang against IMDb’s parent company Amazon goes to court in Seattle April 8 with the actor’s lawyers saying the case is not about money. Since 2011, Hoang, whose stage name is Junie Hoang, has been suing IMDb in federal court for what she says was improperly revealing her age in her online profile. Derek Alan Newman, an attorney with the firm Newman Du Wors Llp which represents Hoang, said the actor wants the website to change its policy about publishing performers’ ages. “It’s not about money; it’s about IMDb changing its policy—the fact that they publish birthrates and refuse to remove or delete birthrates,” Newman told Backstage. The case has raised questions about the importance of youth in the entertainment industry. But Federal Judge Marsha Pechman, who’s hearing the case, has limited the plaintiff’s side from making broad claims about ageism in Hollywood. »
Understanding Union Rules and Labor Laws for Child Actors
5 April 2013 2:30 PM, PDT
Parents of child actors working outside New York and Los Angeles face a dilemma. If their children’s careers develop, they’ll be given the opportunity to join SAG-aftra, but doing so could limit their opportunities to do nonunion work. Still, there are limited legal protections for actors working outside the major entertainment industry centers. “In the other states, SAG-aftra status is more important because there are some safety regulations and things that don’t exist in those states,” said Anne Henry, co-founder of BizParentz Foundation, a nonprofit advocacy group. “When you’re on set and something is amiss, you can call and they’ll respond quickly. That’s a pretty big deal for kid actors.” California and New York have strict labor laws for child performers. In California, work permits are regulated by age and overtime is illegal for child actors. A parent or guardian must be able to »
SAG-aftra Co-Prez Howard Raises Money for Animal Welfare
5 April 2013 11:56 AM, PDT
Bob Barker has some new competition in Los Angeles, at least when it comes to advocating for animal welfare. Ken Howard, SAG-AFTRA co-president, and wife Linda are organizing a fundraiser for the Onyx & Breezy Foundation April 13 at James Costa’s estate in the Hollywood Hills. The Foundation, named in memoriam of founders Mark and Wanda Shefts’ two late black Labrador Retrievers, provides direct grants to applicants with animals in need of food or veterinary care and funds spay and neuter programs. The fundraising event, which is sponsored by Relativity Media CEO Ryan Kavanaugh’s newly acquired FreeHand Dog food company and will feature performances from “American Idol” winner Lee DeWyze and Leslie Odom Jr. of NBC’s “Smash,” is the first held by the Foundation on the West Coast. It was five years in the making. Back in 2008, the Howards and Shefts met at a Humane Society Fundraiser. “They »
Broadway Dreams Foundation Puts Students in Front of CDs
4 April 2013 2:45 PM, PDT
The Broadway Dreams Foundation is holding summer workshops across the country that will give students a chance to hone their musical theater skills in front of casting directors. Craig Burns and Rachel Hoffman of New York-based Telsey + Company are scheduled to be part of the Foundation’s week-long Summer Performing Arts Intensive programs. Both casting directors will be at the Los Angeles and Philadelphia workshops while Hoffman is set to do the Omaha, Neb., event on her own, according to Jake McCoy, a production administrator with the Foundation, which bills itself as the “premier performing arts training program.” “It’s absolutely a possibility for people to get roles out of it,” McCoy told Backstage. “It’s a great networking program. But in this specific week-long program, the goal is training and education.” He noted Ryann Redmond, who starred in the Broadway and touring production of “Bring It On,” is a former student, »
Financing to Possibly Get Easier for Indie Producers
4 April 2013 11:24 AM, PDT
A trio of arts groups is joining forces to make it easier for independent film producers to get financing and distribution. Seed&Spark has teamed up with Big Vision Empty Wallet (Bvew), an online community of artists, and Film Independent, which produces the Film Independent Spirit Awards and Los Angeles Film Festival, to offer a reduced rate on crowd-funding and distribution for indie films. Here's how it works: Seed&Spark, which specializes in crowd funding and streaming distribution, offers discounts on its services to Film Independent and Bvew members. Seed&Spark will also provide individual consultations on how to develop audience-building campaigns to their community members. In return, Film Independent and Bvew will allow Seed&Spark users to redeem their reward points (known as Sparks) for membership discounts. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with the folks at Seed&Spark,” Josh Welsh, co-president at Film Independent, said in a statement. »
A Film Fest Amid the Bayous of Louisiana
3 April 2013 12:20 PM, PDT
The Louisiana International Film Festival and Mentorship Program announced its lineup for its inaugural four-day event, which kicks off April 18 in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. With a slate of over 50 screenings—including three U.S. premieres—the festival will open with Morgan Neville’s music documentary, “Twenty Feet from Stardom,” which focuses on the careers of backup singers, at the Joy Theatre in New Orleans. Liff is featuring a variety of feature films, documentaries, and shorts (and some cult classics) that aim to celebrate the emerging importance of Louisiana to the film industry as well as highlight the distinctive culture of the Pelican State. Festival Programming Director Ian Birnie said in a press release, “The Liff line-up spotlights three themes that reflect the cultural and social history of Louisiana: Francophone films—namely films from France, Quebec, and the Middle East; films that deal with environmental issues—both to honor »
Streisand to Be Honored by Lincoln Center
3 April 2013 11:49 AM, PDT
Ask anyone who is the grande dame of the singing and acting world and the likely answer would be Barbra Streisand. While her pipes have always been better known than her acting chops, Streisand won the Oscar for her film debut in “Funny Girl,” in addition to five additional nominations. She is the also only woman in film history credited with being the writer, director, producer, and star of a major feature film, “Yentl.” In recognition of her work, the Film Society of Lincoln Center will honor Streisand with the Chaplin Award at their April 22 gala. President Bill Clinton will present the award, and the evening will feature performances by Tony Bennett, Kristin Chenoweth, and Liza Minnelli. “She is an artist whose long career of incomparable achievements is most powerfully expressed by the fact that her acclaimed ‘Yentl’ was such a milestone film,” said Film Society of Lincoln Center’s »
SAG-aftra’s Leadership On the Challenges Ahead for the Merged Union
3 April 2013 8:58 AM, PDT
The success of last year’s merger of SAG and AFTRA should be judged on the outcome of the union’s collective bargaining, starting with the pending commercials contracts deal. That’s according to Ken Howard, who was re-elected president of SAG in 2011 on the promise to complete the merger, which both unions’ membership overwhelmingly approved March 30, 2012. SAG-AFTRA’s talks with the advertising industry, which are set to conclude by April 7 in New York, are the first test of the organization’s new collective bargaining power, said Howard, who is now co-president of SAG-AFTRA with Roberta Reardon. “The real reason, far more than any other, for merging these unions was the strength we need to have in collective bargaining,” he told Backstage. “You never want to have two separate unions representing the same workforce because the management will exploit it, one against the other.” In previous negotiations with the Joint Policy Committee, »
Bravo Dives Into Original Scripted Programming
2 April 2013 3:17 PM, PDT
Bravo, the channel best known for putting real housewives acting really badly on television sets across the nation, announced at its upfronts today that it has three scripted programs in development—plus 17 new unscripted programs. The three original shows are “Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce,” in which a self-help author hides her separation from her husband; a drama about a wealthy Upper East Side family whose fortune has been made in the diamond market and the young heiresses who try to unravel a murder mystery, titled, appropriately, “Heiresses”; and period drama “Hugh and Low,” which follows two half-brothers in the 1980s as they open a restaurant together. Among the announced unscripted shows are “Princesses: Long Island,” about young, rich Long Island women who move back to their families’ estates; “City Sisters,” about a group of New York City friends living their lives in New York City; and the self-evident “Newlyweds: The First Year. »
Benefits of Going Without a Car in L.A.
2 April 2013 2:36 PM, PDT
The SAG Foundation wants you to know that there is the possibility of not arriving late to an audition because of traffic. Just go carless. Don’t panic. Lots of people do not own cars, and doesn’t L.A. have a public transportation system? Is that just an urban myth? (It’s not.) Among the speakers at the 7 p.m., April 3 panel who will try to convince you that your money and time could be spent in better ways that sitting in traffic are Ed Begley Jr., Enci Box, Cindy Marie Jenkins, Cathy Reinking, and Alissa Walker. Stephen Box will moderate. The topics up for discussion include the living areas in the greater L.A. region and what makes them special, the speakers’ experiences going car-free, and how to integrate alternative transportation methods into your routine. The event (which coincides with National Walk Day) will also be live streamed »
Upcoming Auditions: April 4-28
2 April 2013 2:04 PM, PDT
Backstage knows you have a busy schedule of meetings, auditions, callbacks, rehearsals, performances, and shoot dates coming up, so we're here to help! Our weekly "Auditions at a Glance" calendars conveniently organize projects by the date and day-of-the-week that the projects' auditions are taking place, to help you schedule your plans. Find this week's upcoming open calls and auditions in the New York Tri-state area, Los Angeles, and nationwide: New York Auditions at a Glance California Auditions at a Glance Regional Auditions at a Glance Plus, don't forget to check out hundreds of additional casting and job notices on Backstage.com to find the perfect gig for you! »
California Auditions at a Glance – April 4-28
2 April 2013 1:59 PM, PDT
The following "Auditions at a Glance" calendar conveniently organizes projects by the date and day-of-the-week that the projects' auditions are taking place, to help you schedule your plans. Click on any of the following links to see the casting and job notices related to the dates and project titles highlighted below. Thu. April 4 'As You Like It' Isc, Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival Universal Studios Hollywood, Characters Fri. April 5 Csudh, 'Rolling Text' Isc, Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival 'Marcus is Walking' Nyfa, Mfa Thesis Project Sat. April 6 Dance Workout DVD Series 'Henry IV' Part 1 Sun. April 7 Luma Performance Art Tour 'The Initiation' Mon. April 8 'Barefoot in the Park' 'Out, Out, Brief Candle' 'The Miracle Worker' Woodminster 2013 Season Tue. April 9 'Alcestis' 'Barefoot in the Park' 'The Miracle Worker' Universal Studios Hollywood, Dancers Wed. April 10 Universal Studios Hollywood, Improv Performers Thu. April 11 Click here to search for auditions. »
New York Auditions at a Glance – April 4-28
2 April 2013 1:58 PM, PDT
The following "Auditions at a Glance" calendar conveniently organizes projects by the date and day-of-the-week that the projects' auditions are taking place, to help you schedule your plans. Click on any of the following links to see the casting and job notices related to the dates and project titles highlighted below. Thu. April 4 Arena Stage, DC 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' 'Annie', Broadway, Adult Singers Brooklyn College, 'Street Dreams' 'Elf', Tour New Musical, Singapore 'Raft of The Medusa' Sva, 'Park Bench' Walnut Street Theatre, Pa Fri. April 5 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' Brooklyn College, 'Street Dreams' East Lynne Theater Company 2013 Season, NJ 'Elf', Tour 'Hello Dolly', Tour, Singers 'Lily & Cosmo Live' New Musical, Singapore 'Oklahoma!' Industry Showcase for Kids & Teens Sat. April 6 Fl & NY, Canobie Lake Park Summer Shows, Nh Lauren Singer Talent Management 'Peter and the Starcatcher', Tour 'Puppy Love' »
Casting Directors Withdraw Audition Tapes From Auction
2 April 2013 1:55 PM, PDT
A planned auction of celebrity actor audition tapes scheduled to take place this week in Beverly Hills will not go forward. A representative for Jane Jenkins and Janet Hirshenson, the two casting directors who had planned to sell 54 VHS tapes of early-career auditions by actors such as Brad Pitt and Sandra Bullock, confirmed to Backstage that the tapes have been withrawn from the auction and will instead be donated to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. "I got an email this morning from Janet and Jane saying that there's a big hoopla over this and that they're going to give it to the Academy," said Darryl Marshak of Marshak/Zachary management company. "The Academy now is the keeper of the tapes, and anyone in there can go in and look at them. They're for the whole world to see once they're at the Academy library." Martin Nolan, executive director of Julian's Auctions, »
Hulu Sale Wouldn't Impact Residuals
2 April 2013 9:55 AM, PDT
A sale of the streaming video service Hulu won’t affect actors’ residual payments, according to SAG-aftra. The site’s board is reportedly shopping around for a potential buyer. Two of Hulu’s parent companies, Disney and News Corp., are also weighing whether to buy each other out, according to Reuters. Comcast also controls non-voting shares in the company, while last October Providence Equity Partners, an initial investor in the site, sold its 10 percent stake back to the company for $200 million. A spokeswoman for Hulu declined to comment on the potential sale of the company. The site, which was launched in 2007, has been billed as the “replacement for reruns.” Hulu says it had more than 450 content partners and approximately $700 million revenue in 2012. In the past, union officials had worried sites like Hulu could lead to an end to residuals for actors. But as a signatory to SAG-aftra’s TV/Theatrical agreement, »
Is Audition-Room Privacy Dead?
1 April 2013 5:35 PM, PDT
A planned auction of 54 VHS tapes featuring early auditions by actors Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sandra Bullock, and many others has touched off a fit of handwringing in the casting community and endangered the age-old idea of the audition room as sacred space.On April 5–6, Julien’s Auctions of Beverly Hills will put the tapes up for sale, some with suggested values as high as $2,000–$4,000. Darren Julien and Martin Nolan appeared on NBC’s “Today” March 29 to publicize the auction and claimed that the tapes were being sold by three casting directors who wished to remain anonymous. But the tapes are widely believed to have come from CDs Jane Jenkins and Janet Hirshenson, who cast most of the projects associated with the auditions. Letterhead from their office can be seen in the catalog for the auction. Kathleen York, whose auditions for the films “Jersey Girl” and “Ransom” are included in the auction, »
Harold Prince to Be Honored by American Theatre Wing
1 April 2013 1:13 PM, PDT
Harold Prince has enjoyed a theater career few professionals could dream up. His hits as a director and producer included “Cabaret,” “Follies,” “Sweeney Todd,” and Broadway’s longest running musical, “Phantom of the Opera.” This September, the American Theatre Wing, famous for staging the Tony Awards, will honor Prince at its annual gala Sept. 16 at the Plaza Hotel. “It’s hard to think of another artist who has made the kind of impact he has to the American Theatre,” said Heather Hitchens, executive director of the Wing, in a statement. “Prince is not only a beloved and accomplished icon, but also a visionary who has consistently pushed the art form forward.” Prince has won 21 Tony Awards, more than any other individual, and he received a National Medal of the Arts in 2000 from President Clinton. Anki Leeds and CeCe Black will serve as co-chairs of the gala, which includes cocktails, dinner, »
Los Angeles Acting Schools and Coaches
1 April 2013 9:23 AM, PDT
What to Look for in an Acting TeacherPicking the right teacher is essential for the student to get the most out of a class; Todd Thaler gives some advice. 5 Classes For Kids in L.A.Child and teen actors can never start studying the craft too early—and these L.A.-area classes may be the place to start. Where to Learn On-Camera Technique in L.A.With these courses in L.A., even the most camera-shy person will understand how to use the lens to his or her advantage. »
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