Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/918838
F rom his birth in a fiery furnace to the spotlight at one of the world's premier awards events, The Actor ® never takes a break. The Actor, as the SAG Awards statuette is known, embodies community, honor and excellence — so when his big night comes, he has to look his best. Whether it's sharing the stage with the world's best-known actors or being introduced to breakthrough performers attending the show for the first time, the little guy needs to be in top shape when he's onstage. Just like actors, who have makeup artists and stylists, the Actor has a team of 10 artisans who get him all glammed up for the spotlight. His journey begins at the American Fine Arts Foundry in Burbank, where this team of magic-makers spend weeks crafting the statuette, starting with over 1,000 pounds of raw material. The 5,000-year-old process of wax casting, which started in India, has made its way to Burbank, California, where the artisans of the foundry make the Actor statuettes. The process includes more than 93 pounds of wax, 225 pounds of ceramic, 100 pounds of granite and 750 pounds of bronze. Over a three to four-week period, the bronze Actors, weighing about 12 pounds each, are created for the show. Since the first awards show in 1995, there have been over 1,000 statuettes made, each unique and individually handcrafted. From a blob of metal to a polished bronze masterpiece, follow along step by step on the next few pages to see how The Actor is made.