Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/216003
Scene Around PERFORMERS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE SPOTLIGHT ALEXANDRA WYMAN/INVISION FOR MEDIA ACCESS AWARDS/AP IMAGES As part of its continuing commitment to diversity in casting, SAG-AFTRA teamed up with its industry partners Oct. 17 for the 2013 Media Access Awards, an event that raises awareness about performers with disabilities and celebrates their inclusion in TV and film production. RJ Mitte, who starred as Walter White Jr. on Breaking Bad, received the SAG-AFTRA Harold Russell Award; Anna Gunn, who played his mother on the show, presented him with the award. Jenni Gold, producer, writer and director of CinemAbility, a documentary that examines disability themes in entertainment, was honored with the SAG-AFTRA Disability Awareness Award. Although she was unable to attend, she sent her thanks in a prerecorded message. Switched at Birth's Ryan Lane received the RJ Mitte Diversity Award, presented by Mitte. "It's about deafness and people who can't walk and people who want to be involved as actors, so I hope this will help their dreams come true, because it did the same thing for me," Lane said of the inspirational awards. Click here for photos RJ Mitte, left, and Ryan Lane. At right, from left, Marlee Matlin, Executive Vice President Gabrielle Carteris and Secretary-Treasurer Amy Aquino at the 2013 Media Access Awards. SAG-AFTRA HOSTS API CONFERENCE FOR CREATIVE CONTENT SAG-AFTRA hosted C3: Conference for Creative Content, Visual Communications' annual filmmaker conference, at its Los Angeles headquarters Oct. 26. More than 100 filmmakers attended the full day of panels and workshops focusing on Asian Pacific Islanders in the media. The day included topics such as race and media, writing diverse characters for television and special effects. One of the highlights of the event was a sneak preview of the upcoming Martin Scorsese-produced film Revenge of the Green Dragons and a discussion of online Web series with staff from SAG-AFTRA's New Media Department. SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Local Board member and actorcomedian Parvesh Cheena made opening remarks.