Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1433871
118 SAG-AFTRA | Fall/Winter 2021 | sagaftra.org Halloweentown Celebrates Oregon Film Incentive Increase P ortland Local members saw months of phone calls, emails and outreach to state legislators pay off on July 19, when Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed House Bill 2433 into law. The bill, which increases Oregon's film incentive fund to $20 million and extends the program another six years, provides certainty as well as additional funding for productions shooting in the state. "Living in St. Helens, Oregon, I see how much economic activity incentives like this bring," said Local President Michelle Damis. "Halloweentown was shot here over 20 years ago, but tourists from all over visit every fall to celebrate the movie and the holiday." ● Portland Set dressing from Halloweentown. MICHELLE DAMIS Safety Summits See Results O n Aug. 12, the San Francisco Bay Area Union Coalition hosted its annual Broadcast Safety Summit. This gathering of station management, member leaders and public safety officials began more than five years ago in response to a rise in crimes targeting journalists. Through discussion and incident review, the group has agreed on best practices to keep SAG-AFTRA members safe in the field. Local stations now use unmarked vans, offer guards to accompany reporters, and minimize late-night and early-morning live shots, among other measures. Members of the group planned to share their findings at the national level when they gather with their counterparts across the country for a national summit. ● ● San Francisco- NorCal Labor Takes Center Stage in D.C. O n Labor Day, Washington-Mid Atlantic Local members gathered to show off their SAG-AFTRA pride and support their union brothers and sisters from IATSE, AEA, SDC, US829 and AFM at Working in DC's production of Working: A Musical, presented in conjunction with the Labor Heritage Foundation. This celebration of workers in America took place outside, in front of the AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, D.C., and put a spotlight on unions and the labor movement. ● From left, member Dana Scott Galloway, WMA Local Board member Ilona Dulaski, WMA Local Board member Melissa Leebaert, WMA Local President Kathryn Klvana and member Amr El-Bayoumi. Washington- Mid Atlantic