Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/904648
88 SAG-AFTRA | Fall/Winter 2017 | SAGAFTRA.org On Location THE CHEKHOV METHOD I n July, the Chicago Local hosted a captivating seminar led by actor and director Dawn Arnold to teach members the Michael Chekhov acting technique. Chekhov's method is a way for actors to express personality and to find an inner life for a character before a performance. Actors tap into their creativity to create a character's identity, including imagination, intellect and emotions. At the seminar, members learned what the psychological gesture is and how to work with it. Each member presented a short monologue from a script and answered questions about the characters and the scene while utilizing the technique. Chicago Members practice the Chekhov technique. IT'S SO EASY S tudents and faculty assembled at The Colorado Film School on Sept. 9 to learn how easy it can be to produce a project under the SAG-AFTRA Student Film Agreement. SAG-AFTRA Regional Education & Outreach Liaison Cynthia Williams gave a presentation on the parameters of using the student agreement, as well as information on the low budget and new media contracts. SAG-AFTRA Colorado Local President Sheila Ivy Traister provided anecdotal and practical information from the performer's perspective. All in attendance were thoroughly engaged and asked questions throughout the presentation. Everyone left with a new understanding of the benefits of working with union performers. Sophomore Benjamin Rand met a SAG-AFTRA actor at the event who he subsequently cast in his film. "SAG-AFTRA was amazingly helpful in walking us through their contracts. I would have never expected to walk into a workshop out of curiosity and walk out with a fantastic new lead for my film this semester. I'm eager to cast SAG-AFTRA members in as many future projects as I can," he said. Colorado GEORGIA CALL TO ARTS F ollowing through with the A Call to Arts initiative that began under late SAG-AFTRA President Ken Howard and which continues under the leadership of President Gabrielle Carteris, the Atlanta Organizing Committee is jumping into its second year of reaching out to high schools, universities and specialty performing arts schools to spread the word about SAG-AFTRA. Over 100 schools have been contacted so far, with more being added to the list every day. The 13-member local organizing committee, led by Chair Jon Hayden and Vice Chair Barry Stoltze, share the responsibility of visits. In the coming year, it will be enlisting the help of our New and Young Performers Committee members due to the volume of requests. Depending upon the school and level of exposure to the arts, students are often led through acting or improv exercises, audition best practices and Q&As about pursuing further education and training, all with an eye on developing professional careers and future members. Atlanta Susan Shalhoub-Larkin, left in rear, and Barry Stoltze, right, are shown with students from Central Gwinnett High School in Georgia after a visit. BARRY STOLTZE CELEBRATING LABOR DAY S eattle Local President Rik Deskin and members Washington State Senator Karen Keiser and Gail Harvey volunteer at the Martin Luther King County Labor Council Labor Day cookout and Puget Sound Labor Agency fundraiser. Seattle