Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/129167
On Location MENTORS REACH OUT TO BROADCAST STUDENTS New York From left, Rick Sommers, formerly WLTWFM and SAG-AFTRA broadcast liaison; Marc Ernay, WINS/Total Traffic; Bob Heussler, WFAN; Andrew Torres, WINS; Dave Carlin, WCBS-TV; and Sean Adams, WCBS-AM LOCAL HOSTS 10TH ANNUAL FILMMAKERS/ACTORS FORUM Arizona-Utah I n conjunction with the Sundance Film Festival, Arizona-Utah National Board member Anne Sward moderated the 10th Annual Filmmakers/Actors Forum held at the contemporary museum he Leonardo. he irst panel focused on Utah, with Marshall Moore, director of the Utah Film Commission, and two local producers, Jef Perkin and Michael Brewer. Moore shared how well the production incentive was doing to attract ilms to the state. Perkin and Brewer spoke about the importance of continuing studies in acting, producing and directing, and the ease of hiring SAG-AFTRA members for independent projects. he second panel featured SAG-AFTRA National Director, New Media Mark Friedlander and SAGIndie National Director Darrien Michele Gipson. Friedlander and Gipson discussed what it takes to produce your own movie or webisode with top SAG-AFTRA talent. hey also covered how new media is impacting the industry, and included new avenues for producing content and alternative funding for distribution. he forum wrapped up with an interactive discussion with ilmmakers and actors. MEMBERS, STAFF VOLUNTEER AT FOOD BANK O n April 13, the New York Local held its Ninth Annual Broadcast Mentoring Program. he program is run by Helen Martinez and Sean Taylor, assistant executive director/ house counsel from the New York Local Broadcast department. Each year, students from NYU, St. Francis College, Seton Hall University, Baruch, CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, St. John's, Montclair State University and other schools come to be mentored by SAG-AFTRA members working as disc jockeys, sportscasters, and radio and TV newspersons. he students learn not only tips on how to break into a career in broadcast but how important SAG-AFTRA will be at every step of their careers. he mentoring program takes place over two sessions. he irst session, students are introduced to the program and the mentors speak about their experiences early on in their careers. During this session, students are also given the opportunity to have their résumés reviewed by the mentors. he second session, which took place in late April, gave the students the opportunity to have their demo reels reviewed by a panel of mentors. 42 SAG-AFTRA | Spring 2013 | SAGAFTRA.org Chicago S AG-AFTRA Chicago Local members and staf spent a recent morning volunteering at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. here was a lot to do: repacking bulk products, assembling boxes with assorted food, checking expiration dates, labeling or sorting. No one is more motivated to get the job done than a group of volunteers, who spent the morning sorting and boxing more than four tons of fresh pears. "It's real hands-on work," said Eric Chaudron, Chicago Local executive director. "We get so much from this wonderful city. It's gratifying to be able to give something back. he GCFD does great work and it's important to support their eforts." he GCFD is a nonproit food distribution and training center providing food for hungry people, while striving to end hunger in Chicagoland. It distributes donated and purchased food through a network of 650 pantries, soup kitchens and shelters to 678,000 adults and children in Cook County every year.