Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/16674
members in good standing. For more information, contact Colorado Branch Executive Director Julie Crane at julie.crane@sag.org or (720) 932-8193. Detroit Te Detroit Branch has a newly formed conservatory, which kicked off with a performance capture workshop at the Virtuality Laboratory at Henry Ford Community College. Approximately four workshop events are planned to take place a year, and conservatory members have a vote on future topics, such as effective techniques with monologues, voice acting and improvisation. Te Deal: At a cost of only $8 per workshop, membership in the Detroit Branch SAG Conservatory is automatic upon the member’s first conservatory event. For more information, contact Detroit Branch Executive Director Marcia Fishman at marcia.fishman@sag.org or (248) 351-2678. Hawaii Hawaii’s conservatory has welcomed well-known directors, producers, writers, casting directors and actors to teach when they are on the islands. And because Hawaii is a tropical location, with varied and unique topography, and generous film tax credits, the state attracts about $200 million in production a year. Te chair of the conservatory teaches many of the classes and has been hired on occasion by the studios and production companies as an acting coach. Te Deal: Workshops are ongoing throughout the year, and the best deal in town for Hawaii members. Te cost to join the Hawaii conservatory is $15 annually (January to December), with an additional $5 per workshop (or $15 for non-members). For more information, contact Hawaii Branch Executive Director Brenda Ching at bching@sag.org or (808) 596-0388. Nevada Tis “right to work” state has many non-union actors and the conservatory demonstrates a benefit of union membership. In place for 23 years, and in its current form since 1993, the conservatory meets once a month on Saturdays, bringing in local professionals and those from Los Angeles. Te conservatory covers singing, voiceover, ear-prompting, improvisation, on- camera commercials, auditioning techniques and, of course, acting from many different teachers and high-profile working actors. Te Deal: SAG members can join for $40 a year; $80 a year for non-SAG members. Without a conservatory subscription, events are $20 each. For more information, contact Nevada Branch Executive Director Steve Clinton at sclinton@sag.org or (702) 737-8818. New Mexico New Mexico supports a very active conservatory program. With such a healthy film and television industry here, top-notch casting directors, directors and acting coaches regularly present conservatory workshops. Events are offered almost every month, and every program in the past has been a standing-room-only success. Te Deal: Members are charged a nominal amount per event. Workshops are open to all local members in good standing. For more information, contact West Region Executive Tammy Decker at tamara.decker@sag.org or (505) 268-2127. San Diego Tis conservatory has had guest presentations from acclaimed casting directors, directors, acting coaches and actors such as SAG Award winner David Proval. Te Deal: Te conservatory has events monthly, except during the summer, that are free for local SAG members. Students can pay $12 per session; all others pay $15. For more information, contact San Diego Branch Executive Director Steve Clinton at sclinton@sag.org or (702) 737-8818. San Francisco Te conservatory has been very active, sponsoring presentations and workshops on a variety of topics, including film acting, improvisation, voiceover, teleprompter use, self-marketing, iActor training, auditions, cold readings, and work in independent films. Casting directors offer tips on auditions, and the “Donuts with the DGA” panel is an annual favorite. Dedicated and talented union members as well as members of the production community willingly give of themselves to share their expertise to benefit others. Te Deal: Conservatory workshops run year round, although they are limited in August and December. Te workshops are open to all active local members, and there is generally no cost to participate. Members are notified of upcoming events via e-mail. For more information, or if you have interest in joining the Conservatory Committee or leading a workshop, contact Jessica Bowker at jbowker@aftra.com or (415) 391-7510. Texas Conservatories in Texas consist of Houston Conservatory, Austin Actors Conservatory, and DFW ProACT — all of which offer a wide variety of workshops that feature industry leaders and potential employers, plus actor service information year round. In addition, the statewide Script to Screen program — live professional readings before industry audiences of unproduced film and TV scripts — provides opportunities to showcase members. Producers, directors, casting directors and agents are invited to attend the Script to Screen reads, which conclude with a writer Q&A and industry networking. Script submissions are accepted from professional writers nationwide with only Texas SAG and AFTRA members participating in the reads. Te Deal: Script to Screen is free and open to the public. For more information on any of the conservatory programs, contact Houston Branch Executive Director Trish Avery, either by e-mail at tavery@sag.org or by calling (214) 379-1171. Washington-Baltimore Tis conservatory is nearly 30 years young and going strong. Workshops cover topics such as home studio set up, voiceover techniques, on-camera auditions, the talent payment process, narration, marketing, how to make any job a union job, the Alexander Technique, vocal health, makeup for HD, background acting, hypnosis and helping the producer produce you. Te Deal: Participation in the conservatory is absolutely free to all paid-up active members! On hiatus over the summer, the conservatory kicks off in September for a full season of workshops and events. For more information, visit aftrasagdcbalt.com. To read more about the woman who started it all, Kathleen Freeman, see our “Snapshot” on page 36. SAG.org Summer 2010 - SCREEN ACTOR 19