Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1546062
sagaftra.org | Summer 2026 | SAG-AFTRA 71 Members Gather in Mississippi for Coffee & Camaraderie For the first time, a SAG-AFTRA member mixer was held in the coastal Mississippi town of Gulfport on May 9, bringing members together for conversation and community. New Orleans Local Mississippi Board member Ritchie Montgomery hosted the event with help from Mississippi Committee members Summer Selby and Ward Emling. Members Karl Tony Lawrence, Kylee Brown, Perry Pezzarossi and G. Tremain Merrell also attended and enjoyed the opportunity to connect face to face, share industry experiences and strengthen ties within the Mississippi performer community. ● Preparing for the Next Audition On March 21, the Nevada Local hosted a hands-on workshop at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas focused on self-tape and in-room auditions. Presented by casting director Stacey Pianko, attendees learned how self-tapes are typically reviewed and what helps a performance feel clear and confident on camera. ● CHEKESHA VAN PUTTEN Nevada Background Singers in the Spotlight The Nashville Local was honored to welcome acclaimed singer-songwriter and Chair of the SAG-AFTRA National Singers Committee Janice Pendarvis for a special screening of 20 Feet from Stardom at the National Museum of African American Music on May 16. This Academy Award-winning documentary brings long-overdue recognition to the backup singers who have shaped some of the greatest moments in music history. Following the screening, Local Vice President, Singers and Recording Artists, Bob Bailey moderated an intimate and impactful conversation, offering deeper insight into the artistry, influence and untold stories of these unsung voices. ● Nashville Gallup Film Festival Delights and Inspires New Mexico Local President Talia Pura, right, attended the Gallup Film Festival with Local member and recent Emmy nominee Ryan Begay. Held in May, the festival connected hundreds of students from across the Four Corners region to help inspire the next generation of performers and storytellers. ● New Mexico Inside the World of Background Work On May 14, the SAG-AFTRA San Francisco-Northern California Local's Background Committee hosted a Lunch & Learn Workshop. Member and second assistant director Marcy Guiragossian and Local Board member and Background Committee Chair Joseph McGinley held an informative discussion at the Local office about what to expect when working as a professional background actor on a SAG-AFTRA signatory production. Members, who joined both in person and virtually, engaged in robust conversation spanning topics such as on-set etiquette, set structure and understanding union support and resources for background actors. ● San Fran- NorCal New Orleans