Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/72909
For Members content are depriving our members of residuals earnings and royalties, and reducing total profits. That, in turn, undermines motivation for investors to put their money into the kinds of projects that generate work, not only for our members, but for professionals in the entertainment industry as a whole. This typically has greatest impact on middle-class workers such as camera operators, grips, editors, electricians, hairstylists, makeup artists and, of course, actors. SAG-AFTRA leadership has made combatting digital theſt T he rise of the Internet has made copyright infringement easier than ever, and sites that distribute or stream stolen one of its top priorities, and your elected representatives are continuing to push on all fronts. Most recently, SAG 1st Vice President (now SAG-AFTRA Executive Vice President) Ned Vaughn and SAG New York Division Vice President (now SAG-AFTRA New York Local Co-1st Vice President) Rebecca Damon traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with officials who are helping to lead the charge on this issue. During a meeting on March 6, the two thanked John Morton, director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Lev Kubiak, director of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, for their work to fight digital theſt, and discussed ways that members and the union can contribute to this effort. SAG-AFTRA leadership has made combatting digital theſt one of its top priorities. SAG-AFTRA Co-President) Roberta Reardon visited the American Federation of Teachers and gave a presentation on the enormously detrimental effect digital theſt has on working actors in the film and television industry. A 2011 report from the U.S. International Trade Commission On Feb. 8, Vaughn and AFTRA National President (now demonstrated the impact on jobs. It estimated that if China protected intellectual property as the United States does, there would be "approximately 923,000 new jobs for U.S. [intellectual property]-intensive firms." China, for example, hosts many manufacturers that endanger U.S. consumers by counterfeiting brand-name U.S. goods, from smoke detectors to pharmaceuticals, and websites that traffic illegally in U.S. entertainment. It's only one of many countries that do so. Stopping content theſt is a group effort. Rogue websites SAG-AFTRA LEADERS RATCHET- UP DIGITAL THEFT FIGHT BALDWIN PROMOTES FOUNDATION has been named the first-ever ambassador of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation. Baldwin's role as ambassador will raise awareness within the acting community of the Foundation's philanthropic programs, while encouraging the public to provide much- needed contributions. The star of 30 Rock, who was honored at the SAG Awards in January for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series for the sixth year in a row, took the opportunity during his acceptance speech to promote the Foundation's good work. To learn more about the SAG Foundation, sign up for events or to make a tax-deductible donation, visit sagfoundation.org. F ilm and television icon Alec Baldwin VOICE-OVER SUMMIT 2012 OPENS DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY two sets of four weekly discussions led by established voiceover artists (from all the principal areas: animation, trailers, promos, commercials and ADR), casting directors, producers, agents and technical engineers. The curriculum focused on the hottest topics facing the voiceover industry today, from video games, ADR, promos and trailers to technology, commercials, demos and representation. The Voice-Over Summit offered the opportunity for union T he 2012 SAG Foundation Voice-Over Summit benefiting the Don LaFontaine Voice-Over Lab was comprised of actors to learn about the art of voiceover and the tools to get started, as well as hear about the relevant issues from leading experts both in front of and behind the microphone. Since the inception of the Don LaFontaine Voice-Over Lab, the SAG Foundation has been committed to offering actors access to educational programming, technological resources, and networking opportunities in the voiceover industry. that offer easy, fast and free access to infringing content harm everyone in the industry — and are against the law. Find out more at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's website at ice.gov. 16 SAG-AFTRA | Summer 2012 | SAGAFTRA.org combined resources are already being used to assist staff and members with negotiations and ongoing organizing drives, and will be of value as the SAG-AFTRA BSC establishes its goals for the future. The next date for the BSC has not yet been set. BSC continued from page 15 Jason Merritt/Getty Images