Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/555596
4 SAG-AFTRA | Summer 2015 | SAGAFTRA.org Letters to the Editor EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief Pamela Greenwalt Managing Editor Damon Romine Associate Managing Editor Leslie Simmons Art Director Yvette Youssefia Senior Writer Tom Leupold Magazine Staff Stephon Litwinczuk, Jennifer Lurey, Ulisses Rivera, Ron Thomas, Nicole Thompson, Gwen Walker, Valerie Yaros, Alexandra Tashman (intern) Editorial Subcommittee Liz Zazzi (chair) Assaf Cohen (vice chair) Joe Krebs (vice chair) Jeff Austin Susan Boyd Joyce Angela Bullock Mike Hodge Mary McDonald-Lewis Woody Schultz Rik Deskin (alternate) John Carroll Lynch (alternate) Jenny O'Hara (alternate) Jeff Spurgeon (alternate) Contributors Colleen Aho, Trish Avery, Richard Baldwin, Brenda Ching, Julie Crane, Chelsea Danley, Linda Dowell, Shelley Figures, Marcia Fishman, Melissa Goodman, Krysten Jones, Josh Reese, Bernadine Robbins, Ellen Stoolmacher, Linda Swenson Special thanks to the SAG Foundation. Advertising Sales Ron Thomas (323) 634-8144 2014 ILCA Award Winner for Best Publication Design DON' T FORGET THE GULF The Gulf Coast is a major part of our industry; please start looking our direction from time to time. I really don't understand how our publication so lacks awareness of just what SAG-AFTRA activities are ongoing in Louisiana and Mississippi. Not much in Mississippi, but a new Bruce Willis film is currently gearing up there. Louisiana, on the other hand, has some 60 projects in production, pre- and/or post-. And last year saw 12 Years a Slave, Dallas Buyers Club, among others, and the recently released Jurassic World and Terminator Genisys — not to forget American Horror Story, NCIS: New Orleans and Zoo. There are also numerous commercial spots. And not one word in the On Location section, let alone anywhere else. Eugene Brezany New Orleans Local ALSO KNOWN AS I'm having trouble with my medical plan (SAG-Producers Health Plan). My birth name is John Lotz and my professional name is Jack Lotz. I'm writing to find out how to legally add "aka" (also known as) to my cards so my medical bills won't keep getting rejected. I've been to all the doctors, hospitals and therapists to tell them of my problem: Medicaid won't change my name with an aka unless Social Security does. I know for a fact there are thousands of actors with two names. Surely you can check this out and help a lot of people including myself. It's really getting to me. Jack Lotz New York Local Ed. Note: Staff worked with SAG-Producers Health Plan to remedy Mr. Lotz's issue. While you may not easily be able to change the name on a Medicaid card, health plan participants can have health plan cards issued with their legal name so that both cards match. Members can complete a Performer Information Form online, or call to request one be mailed, to update the name appearing on health, dental and vision ID cards. ARE YOU GETTING SAG-AFTRA EMAILS? Your union communicates with members primarily through email and digital newsletters. If you are not receiving emails from us, go to SAGAFTRA.org right now and register online so you don't miss out on any of the happenings at your union. Make sure SAG-AFTRA emails don't go to spam by adding the email address sagaftracommunications@sagaftra.org and the Internet domains sagaftra.org and sagaftralist.org to your address book and safe or approved senders list. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR must be signed with your full name and local affiliation. Selected letters are limited to 150 words and may be edited for accuracy, space and clarity. Every effort will be made to preserve the author's intended substance. This section is intended for the general membership and with the exception of convention delegates, is not available to SAG-AFTRA's elected officials. Letters are published at the discretion of the National Editorial Subcommittee. SEND LETTERS TO: Letters to the Editor SAG-AFTRA Magazine 5757 Wilshire Boulevard, 7th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90036 Letters may also be faxed to (323) 549-6500 or emailed to magazine.editor@sagaftra.org - 9