Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/681774
For Members 16 SAG-AFTRA | Spring 2016 | SAGAFTRA.org SXSW GOES POP P unk icon Iggy Pop headlined a March 16 showcase, co-presented by SAG-AFTRA and Broadcast Music Inc., at this year's South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas. Pop, a SAG-AFTRA member since 1970, recently collaborated with Queens of the Stone Age frontman and fellow SAG-AFTRA member Josh Homme. The duo headlined this memorable showcase just two days before releasing their new album, Post Pop Depression, and it was one of their first live performances together, kicking off U.S. and European tours. The concert took place at Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theatre, one of Austin's newest, largest, state-of-the-art venues. "We were ecstatic to be partnering with BMI to present these music icons," said SAG-AFTRA Vice President, Recording Artists and singer/songwriter Dan Navarro. "The added bonus is this all took place in front of a standing-room- only crowd in one of Austin's coolest venues. This was an amazing night for everyone." In addition to songs from Post Pop Depression, the duo, along with their assembled band, performed a full 90-minute concert that included classics spanning Pop's legendary solo career. In additon, the SAG-AFTRA Foundation presented a highly anticipated conversation with SAG-AFTRA member Gaby Hoffmann on March 13. Moderated by Austin-based filmmaker Kat Candler, a packed audience listened to Hoffmann discuss her career, from early roles in Field of Dreams and Uncle Buck to her present-day hailed performances in Girls and Transparent. Speaking with Candler for almost an hour, Hoffmann shared valuable insights and personal experiences about her process, the craft and industry, and took questions from eager audience members during an open Q&A following her talk. During the March 11-20 film, music and interactive conference, now in its 30th year, attendees visited the SAGindie and SAG-AFTRA trade show booth, where SAGindie and SAG-AFTRA New Media representatives answered questions and provided information on how independent producers can become SAG-AFTRA signatories in order to utilize the talents of SAG-AFTRA members in their productions. On March 14, SAGindie also co-hosted its annual film industry reception with the Directors Guild of America. Iggy Pop and Josh Homme perform at South by Southwest. O n Feb. 10, President Obama sent the WIPO Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances to the U.S. Senate for approval. The treaty is the result of a long-running multinational effort to grant full, worldwide recognition of audiovisual performers' rights. "SAG-AFTRA's elected leadership and staff, as well as representatives from our industry partners and delegates from around the world, have worked tirelessly for more than a decade to reach this point. The Senate should move quickly to ratify this treaty, bringing us closer to equal rights for performers regardless of media and across national boundaries," said SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director David White. As stated by Obama, the treaty "advances the national interest of the United States in promoting the protection and enjoyment of creative works." Audiovisual performers have been left out of any international protections for far too long, and it is time for the United States and other countries to join in protecting their rights, just as the rights of performers in sound recordings have been protected for many years. On Feb. 29, the United States Patent & Trademark Office submitted to the Senate Foreign Relations and Judiciary Committees the legislative implementation package for the treaty. "This is an issue of fair treatment and basic protection for actors and performers at all levels in our industry, and SAG-AFTRA and our more than 160,000 members stand strong in supporting the prompt ratification of the Beijing Treaty. SAG-AFTRA hopes the Senate will take this opportunity to make a powerful statement in favor of creativity and fairness," said SAG-AFTRA Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel Duncan Crabtree-Ireland. WIPO TREATY GOES TO SENATE ERIKA GOLDRING/BMI "We were ecstatic to be partnering with BMI to present these music icons. The added bonus is this all took place in front of a standing-room-only crowd in one of Austin's coolest venues. This was an amazing night for everyone." — Dan Navarro