Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1195764
sagaftra.org / SAG-AFTRA SPECIAL ISSUE 2020 / 46 Kathy, what are you looking forward to this year? Kathy Connell: This has been a really interesting year for both film and television. I'm really excited to see what resonates with our SAG-AFTRA members. I'm also thrilled that we are honoring Robert De Niro with the 56th Life Achievement Award; he's such a powerhouse of acting and a true collaborator on screen and off. Sean, how has attending the show for a number of years shaped your perspective as a producer for the SAG Awards? Sean Hayes: As a past attendee, I've been able to experience the emotion behind the evening: what really goes through an actor's mind — not just about being nominated and being there and thinking about what you're going to say if you win — but all of the crazy nerves that go with it. As a producer, I hope to provide nominees plenty of opportunity to experience the electricity of the SAG Awards and what it means to be in the room and hopefully walk away with an Actor ® statuette. How did this producing collaboration come to be? KC: We were brainstorming new ideas for the show and Bob Greenblatt, who is now with Turner [as chairman of WarnerMedia Entertainment], suggested bringing on Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner. Bob worked with them in the past and loves them. I didn't know Todd, but Sean has won several SAG Awards, so we were open to the collaboration! SH: We were flattered to be asked — it's a unique opportunity. Of course, on every awards show you try to figure out what you can do differently than the year before, to shake it up and keep it interesting for viewers. But it's been a blast so far, working with Kathy and the whole team to come up with whatever that is going to be. Todd, how has it been working together with a new team? Todd Milliner: We make sure that everybody who's a part of our productions — a cast or crew member or a guest on Game Night — is treated with kindness and respect. It's just so much harder when people are mean or a pain in the ass. It's so much easier to be nice. And we have fun! KC: I think that's one of the reasons we loved them when they came in, because that is what our team has always been like. Many of our people have been with the show for decades; it's like a family and they want to come back. In this freelance business, to come back year after year means a lot. We are really enjoying working with the Hazy Mills team. Todd Milliner, Kathy Connell and Sean Hayes S A G A W A R D S Producers Roundtable