Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/72909
WHEREVER THERE'S NEW MEDIA, SAG-AFTRA IS THERE A edge of new media and seeking ways to develop business in emerging and evolving media forms to ensure that work in this area is covered under a union contract. As part of these efforts, SAG-AFTRA New Media participates in key industry conferences and provides member education and outreach workshops. So far, 2012 has proven to be a busy s the industry evolves, SAG-AFTRA is dedicated to staying on the cutting year for SAG-AFTRA. On Jan. 12, prior to merger, SAG sponsored the inaugural International Academy of Web Television Awards, which took place at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The awards served as a platform to honor outstanding individuals in the Web television community, as well as a networking and outreach platform for the industry. Also in January, former SAG sponsored the International CES Conference, and New Media department staff participated on two panels. On Jan. 21, SAG-AFTRA National Director of New Media Mark Friedlander, moderated a GLAAD panel titled The Kindness of Strangers: Funding LGBT Film through Social Media. The panel was part of the Sundance Film Festival and featured key LGBT indie filmmakers. In addition, the union co-sponsored the Sundance Tweet House, a celebration of the importance of real-time Web and social media. On Jan. 31, legacy SAG launched a workshop series to educate active and budding producers on how to best utilize the union's new media agreements. "New media has never been more important," said Friedlander. "It has grown into its own viable industry and is beginning to affect our traditional areas of business as well. New media has made it possible for more people than ever to tell their stories, creating more employment opportunities for SAG-AFTRA members." In March, SAGIndie sponsored the South-By-Southwest (SXSW) Interactive Conference, where representatives provided education and outreach to members, pre-union talent and industry executives. In addition, the former AFTRA Houston, Dallas/Ft. Worth and Los Angeles Locals co-sponsored a panel and mixer with the creators of the union- covered program FCU: Fact Checkers Unit and its signatory producer SXM Productions. The discussion and Q&A, titled Making a Hit Web Series, featured the two stars and creators of the program, Peter Karinen and Brian Sacca, as well as the writer/director Daniel Beers and producer and CEO of SXM Productions, Thomas Bannister. SAG-AFTRA representatives were also present at several other new media conferences, including the National Association of Television Program Executives Conference, the Los Angeles Games Conference, Variety's Entertainment and Technology Summit, Digital Hollywood and the Produced By Conference. SAG-AFTRA members receive discounts to events and conferences that the union sponsors by itself or in partnership with others, so please visit SAGAFTRA.org for the latest event discounts. SAGAFTRA.org | Summer 2012 | SAG-AFTRA 17