The following from the SAG/AFTRA Website:

February 14, 2020

In observance of Presidents Day, SAG-AFTRA offices will be closed on Monday, February 17. Regular business hours will resume on Tuesday, February 18.

Presidents Day is celebrated annually on the third Monday of February. It honors and celebrates the life and achievements of George Washington, the first President of the United States (1789-1797) and ‘The Father of his Country’. The day is, in practice, often used to honor and remember all past U.S. presidents, and in particular Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson.

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How about a Stinger?   Remember Don’t Drive with a BUZZ ON!

The formerly neutral AFM Local 47 acknowledged that making a presidential endorsement was “an unprecedented move.”

By Chris Willman February 12, 2020 9:44PM PT
@https://twitter.com/ChrisWillman

Boldly declaring itself “the first musicians union in the country to take a position in the 2020 Democratic primary,” the 7,000-member American Federation of Musicians Local 47 announced Wednesday that it has has endorsed Bernie Sanders for president, a little less than three weeks out from the California primary.

In making the announcement, the union — which largely represents musicians working in film and television — acknowledged that the endorsement was “an unprecedented move for a union historically removed from taking official stances in presidential elections.” Yet it said that support for endorsing Sanders was unanimous among the two boards charged with approving the move, as the motion by the local’s political action committee was taken up and approved by the entire elected executive board.

“Today more than ever, unions and workers are under attack by exploitative forces that are eroding our middle class,” AFM Local 47 President John Acosta said in a statement. “Immediate action and activism is crucial. Bernie Sanders is the best presidential candidate to defend musicians and all workers by protecting jobs and workers’ rights.”

AFM Local 47’s parent union has refrained from making an endorsement so far, like most major labor organizations. In declaring its decision, the local cited more than 20 non-musician unions around the country that have already taken a stand for Sanders, including, locally, United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA).

A statement cited several reasons for endorsing the candidate, including his promise to protect pensions, and a position on tax credit accountability and “not allowing taxpayer-subsidized music jobs to be sent overseas,” on top of Sanders’ vow to double overall union membership.

Although the move was approved by the executive board and not voted on by the 7,000-strong membership, the local emphasized in its statement that the decision “arrived from a member-driven process in which AFM Local 47 musicians organized a political forum and to hear from and speak directly with senior campaign officials. Musicians found Sanders to be the candidate best able to champion the priorities and values of the musicians union.”

The union issued the endorsement on the heels of an Oscars ceremony in which, it boasted in a previous statement, “all five best original score nominees were scored (by) AFM union musicians — four of them with members of AFM Local 47 here in Los Angeles.”

https://variety.com/2020/music/news/musicians-union-afm-local-47-endorses-bernie-sanders-1203502973/

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A Sour Note with some of the members?  Stay Tuned!

Arl

The Ol’ SAG Warchdog

*Headline photo selected by the Watchdog

By David Robb  Deadline February 13, 2020 10:29am

The Time’s Up Foundation has launched an awareness campaign to encourage more women – especially those who have been historically underrepresented in entertainment – to consider careers in behind-the-scenes jobs in film and TV production. The campaign includes a 30-second PSA narrated by Ava DuVernay and a resources guide to help newcomers get started.

“We know that diverse workplaces are safer workplaces, and as part of our commitment to improving safety in the entertainment industry, Time’s Up is advocating to make sets more inclusive and equitable,” said Tina Tchen, president and CEO of the Time’s Up Foundation. “This PSA and our new resources work hand-in-hand to show people the world of possibilities that are out there, and that women are capable of excelling at jobs that have traditionally gone to men.”

Says the resource guide: “On any given film or television set, there’s a wide range of jobs including lighting, sound, stunts, costumes, production designers, and beyond that help bring a story to life. Together, with our Women’s Production Group, we created this Public Service Announcement and complimentary resource page to shine a light on women in production, and to help you explore some of the many on-set careers available to you. We’ve provided job summaries, union requirements, and links to programs and communities that support those who want to build a lasting career in the entertainment industry.”

See the guide in full here: https://timesupfoundation.org/work/times-up-entertainment/shining-a-light-on-women-in-production-a-public-service-announcement/

The idea for the PSA came from the Women’s Production Group, a self-organized community within Time’s Up founded and led by Dana Belcastro, head of physical production for Solstice Studios; Sara Fischer, head of production for Shonda Rhimes’ Shondaland production company; and Debra Bergman, EVP Production at Paramount Television Studios.

“We’re so pleased to see the attention paid to the need for more women directors and cinematographers, but let’s be clear: when it comes to diversifying our sets, you have to also focus on the production roles on set,” Fischer said.

“On any given project, there’s only one director and one director of photography, but there could be 10 grips, 10 electricians, 20 drivers, and 15 carpenters,” Bergman said. “These are good, well-paid jobs that more women should know about and be hired for.”

Last year, the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative released a study that found that of the 265 top-grossing films released between 2016 and 2018, there were zero female gaffers; only one female best boy electric; four female grips; and eight women best boy grips. Only 2.3% of composers, 15% of editors, and 18.3% of production designers were women. And the numbers were even worse for women of color, who accounted for zero directors of photography, 1.4% of editors, 1.5% of production designers, and 1.6% of producers.

The campaign hopes that by “educating women everywhere about job opportunities in production,” it can “move the industry closer to gender and racial parity.”

“Besides what are traditionally women led departments such as makeup, hair, and costumes, I am one of the very few women of color in a leadership position on a television or film set,” said Shawn Pipkin-West, a first assistant director for Raising Dion and Grey’s Anatomy who appeared in the PSA. “I am thrilled to be included in a PSA and to be a part of an initiative that shines a light on talented women in production and opens the doors for even more opportunities for women.”

Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy.

.https://deadline.com/video/times-up-shining-a-light-on-women-in-production-psa/

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There’s still time to check the link above!

Arl

The Ol’ SAG Watchdog

*Headline photo selected by the Watchdog

The following fr0m SAG/AFTRA:

February 12, 2020

Please be advised that Georgia Productions LLC, the producer of the picture entitled Unveiled, is not signatory to any SAG-AFTRA agreement as this company has not executed a basic minimum agreement with SAG-AFTRA. Therefore, all SAG-AFTRA members are hereby informed that no member should accept work or perform any covered work from this company.

As such, SAG-AFTRA members are hereby instructed to withhold any acting services or perform any covered work for this production until further notice. Please note, accepting employment or rendering services on Unveiled may be considered a violation of Global Rule One. Violating this order may result in disciplinary action in accordance with the SAG-AFTRA Constitution.

For more information or if you are otherwise contacted by the company, contact Joshua Vasquez; Manager at Joshua.Vasquez@sagaftra.org or (323) 549-6007.

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Stay Tuned!

Arl

The Ol’ SAG Watchdog

*headline photo from the SAG/AFTRA Website