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SAGAFTRA.org | Summer/Fall 2017 | SAG-AFTRA 27 ATLANTA Join the Muriel Moore/Danny Nelson SAG-AFTRA Conservatory to take advantage of monthly speaker and workshop series on the rst and third Mondays of the month, respectively. DETAILS: Conservatory events are free for Atlanta Local members, who are encouraged to bring a canned food item for a local food pantry. Events are announced via email and RSVP is required. For more information, call (404) 239-0131, ext. 11 or email atlanta@sagaftra.org. CHICAGO The Chicago Conservatory organizes workshops, seminars and special events to help members navigate both the artistic and business sides of their careers. sag-aftra conservatories N O MATTER HOW LONG you've been in the industry, every good performer knows you never stop honing your skills. It takes hard work and constant improvement to stay at the top of your game. That's where SAG-AFTRA conservatories come in. Available at locals across the country, conservatories provide training and education, and allow members to broaden their expertise and build their careers through workshops, classes and panels. With more locals organizing conservatory courses than ever before, there's no shortage of opportunities. Don't miss out on what your local conservatory has to oer! The Chicago Conservatory hosted a course covering the steps to audiobook success, where members focused on script preparation, character training and more. Conservatory programs feature industry pros, including casting directors, agents, acting coaches, taxnancial experts and more. DETAILS: Conservatory events are free and announced online at sagaftra.org/chicago and in Chicago's The Activator e-newsletter. To receive The Activator, make sure the union has your email address. Hawaii Say "aloha" to well-known directors, producers, writers, casting directors and actors through the Hawaii Conservatory. DETAILS: Events are announced via email and cost $15 per workshop. For more information, call (808) 596-0388 or email brenda.ching@sagaftra.org. children's literacy and emergency assistance for members, the Foundation offers numerous free classes, workshops and more that can help actors build and maintain successful careers. "It is essential for working actors to continue to take classes, workshops and seminars, both on the craft and on the business," said actor JoBeth Williams, president of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. "Becoming the very best actor you can possibly be depends upon a lifelong love of the craft and continuously learning and honing your skills. Great acting and great careers arise from skill, knowledge, preparation and practice. I always encourage SAG-AFTRA members to take advantage of the cutting-edge facilities and incredible resources the SAG-AFTRA Foundation offers. It only requires members sign up for a free user account on the Foundation's website. It's so easy, and a plethora of opportunities are made available to them. Don't stop learning your craft. Acting is not just a calling, it's a continual practice." Actor Minnie Driver emphasized the importance of the Foundation's offerings when she accepted a grant from the Hollywood Foreign Press on behalf of the Foundation. "Most actors can't afford to go to classes and seminars and pay for all sorts of things, so what the SAG-AFTRA Foundation provides is a brilliant resource for all actors," she said. The Foundation also offers the Casting Access Online program aimed at members outside of Los Angeles and New York. Over the internet, members can upload videos for review by casting directors and use that feedback to improve their performances. Workshops and other programs are also offered through The Actors Fund, an organization that provides services to those who work in the performing arts and entertainment. Visit its website for a calendar of events and an online database of services nationwide for industry professionals. Whether you reside in Los Angeles or New York, or are a member of one of the other 23 locals nationwide, opportunities abound to ensure you remain on your A-game, and provide you with the means to heed Tobolowsky's advice to practice and improve. "When you do things, you get better at doing things," he said. "When you don't do things, when you wait, when you say no to things, you become much better at saying no to things. You become much better at sitting at home. It's amazing how good you become at doing nothing if you are satised with saying, 'You know, I'm going to wait till something better comes along.'"