Runner Featured in BORN TO RUN Dies
Saku E turned me on to the amazing book BORN TO RUN last year. I was devastated when Justice L sent me this notice. http://m.apnews.mobi/ap/db_6776/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=E8bKYDRM. If you read the book and fell for Caballo Blanco like I did, it’s a very sad day. We love you, Micah True!
MY SECRET LIFE – A STREET ART EXHIBITION
Bunker Hill Magazine is proud to sponsor the new Street Art exhibit My Secret Life, opening with a private reception on Wednesday, April 11th from 7-11PM; this opening reception will be accompanied by live music and complimentary drinks. The exhibition will be open daily from 10AM-6PM, with extended hours of 6-10PM during the Downtown Art Walk on April 12th.
Security Tips
From Karla, an actress and host:
Women! Take a self-defense/security awareness class!
I have had correspondence from a stalker who is threatening my life.
The LAPD TMU is on the case as is a private investigator BUT… there are a LOT of things I should have done but was ignorant about. Even still I need more info on how to stay safe.
I should’ve had a PO Box. I should never have used my home address for anything. Now the potential stalker may have my home addy because my useless website provider posted it ONLINE for the world to see by accident.
My web show has been amazing and brought me over 2 million hits a week- and with those hits come the web trolls.
ALSO- my particular website does not track IP addresses. Actors should ask that when they sign on. ALSO I used a ‘contact form’ which means the emails basically cannot be traced.
JUST some thoughts:)
Take a self defense class.
In the meantime, I buy a baseball bat.
SAG/AFTRA Merger Info
Y’all, please get yourselves educated with regard to the proposed union merger. This just in from Angela O:
I know this is not what anyone wants to read right now, but this proposed merger has not answered certain questions that are crucial to our Health and Pension Plans – our future.
Please take the time to read:
IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO THIS.
-No P&H impact study was commissioned prior to the drafting of this merger plan.
-This merger plan does not end the splitting of P&H contributions. In fact, it codifies it.
In the Merger Agreement Document, on p.g. 18, it states;
Contributions to Benefit Funds: (2) the amount of contributions to each of the union’s Taft Hartley benefit plans and cooperative funds remains as close as possible to the levels received during the 12-month period prior to the Effective Date.”
-The splitting of contributions actors have been experiencing for the past few years will continue immediately after merger, for an indeterminate amount of time.
-The board and officers of both unions have no answers with regard to where our P&H contributions based on residuals will go, if they plan on freezing the plans and creating a new plan, where will our contributions based on initial compensation go, what will the accrual rate be? They have no idea If our premiums will increase or benefits decrease. They do not know if an actor will be allowed to blend his/her AFTRA and SAG pension credits in order to be vested. They do not know.
* If we merge, our employers could demand during the next round of negotiations, 2013(commercials) and 2014(tv/theatrical), that actors give up some form of residual payments in order to fund a new P&H plan.
In 1960, the Screen Actors Guild had to give up, for ever, all residual payments, for all movies made prior to 1960 in order for employers to agree to fund the new P&H plans. That means all the actors who were in movies made in 1960 and before, re-running on television, dvd’s or on new media, never received a residual payment. The producers could easily demand the same terms after the merger and probably will. It would take a strike to try to stave this off…and the present SAG leaders along with AFTRA would never give the members that option. The chances are good, that with the new union’s constitution that precludes the one vote per member option and allows voting by convention, we will have lost our opportunity to vote as individual members.
-Employers who are members of the AMPTP (Association of Motion Picture and TV Producers) will still be able to choose AFTRA or SAG as the union covering their new prime time, basic cable/ pay cable pilots, series orders, movies of the weeks, and direct to video movies until summer of 2014.
Merging the unions will not end the flow of television work moving over to AFTRA until 2014. The split earnings continues until there is a new plan, which could take 3 or 5 or 10 or 20 years. Who knows! Because they have no study! THE UNIONS HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT WHAT TO DO ABOUT OUR PLANS, AND MERGER WON’T SOLVE THE PROBLEM!
-Merger and merging of the plans could also open the door for the funds trustees to change our defined benefit plans In economics, a defined benefit pension plan is a major type of pension plan in which an employer promises a specified monthly benefit on retirement that is predetermined by a formulabased on the employee’s earnings history, tenure of service and age, rather than depending on investment returns.to defined contribution plans. Compared with defined-benefit plans, which offer employees an annuity at retirement, defined-contribution plans are riskier for employees, because the employee bears the risk of underperforming assets and extended longevity..ie a 401K.
-This merger will not prohibit AFTRA broadcasters from working on non union basic cable news networks, (ESPN, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, Headline News, Fox News). These AFTRA members will continue to make hundreds of thousands of dollars, paying no dues based on those earnings and no contributions made to the P&H funds.
-If merger passes, Hollywood, the largest division generating the largest amount of revenue for the union, will not hold the majority on the national board even if it generates over 50% of the vote. This was intentionally done to “to keep Hollywood in its place.”
-If merger passes, the elected may receive a salary. At present, AFTRA President Roberta Reardon has recently been awarded a salary of $3,500 a month through (not a vote by members) but by convention delegates and officers. This is a first for any President of either guild….and it won’t be the last. The camel’s nose is now under the tent.
SAG’s current constitution prohibits payment..but that is the present constitution, not the new proposed constitution which does allow for salaries for the board and officers.
Learn More About SAG/AFTRA Merger
I know y’all have all kinds of questions about your union status give the merger situation, and I, unfortunately know nada. SO you might want to learn More About the Proposed Merger of SAG and AFTRA at a Special Meeting on Feb. 9!
IMPORTANT SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE
Shape the Future of Your Union:
Learn More about the Proposed Merger of SAG and AFTRA
Featuring SAG National President Ken Howard, AFTRA National President
Roberta Reardon, SAG Secretary-Treasurer Amy Aquino, SAG 1st VP
Ned Vaughn, and AFTRA 2nd National VP Gabrielle Carteris
All paid-up AFTRA and SAG members in good standing are urged to attend an important educational/informational meeting in Los Angeles to learn the facts and impact of the merger.
On Jan. 27 and 28, the national boards of SAG and AFTRA overwhelmingly approved the merger agreement to form one union. Now the decision is in your hands. Ballots will be mailed on Feb. 27 to all eligible AFTRA and SAG members to vote on this historic change for your union. Learn the facts, so that you can cast an informed vote.
What: SAG and AFTRA informational meeting to discuss the terms of the proposed SAG-AFTRA new union.
When: Thursday, Feb. 9
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Where: Museum Square Building (AFTRA and SAG Headquarters)
5757 Wilshire Blvd. Promenade, Lobby Level
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Parking will be validated.
There will be time for Q&A, so please bring your questions. Please note that members of both unions will have two votes. Informational materials contained in the referendum packet are also available on the SAG and AFTRA websites.
The meeting is only open to paid-up AFTRA and SAG members in good standing. Unfortunately, no guests allowed. Parents/guardians of younger performers under 18 years old are welcome. SAG AND AFTRA MEMBERS, PLEASE BRING YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD (paid thru April 30, 2012) FOR ADMITTANCE.
Abraham-Hicks Workshop THIS SATURDAY!!!
If you don’t know that I think Abraham rocks, well, now you do. I know it ain’t cheap, but if you’ve never been to one of their workshops, they are FANTASTIC. Yes, a little woo-woo, but a LITTLE woo-woo never hurt anybody. Grab a friend and goooooo!
Jeff Enden Photography Headshot Special Offer
Do you need new headshots? Jeff Enden Photography is offering an exclusive Pilot Season special to all Kahnstituents!
He is offering:
- 3 looks for $225 (which is a $75 discount), or
- 1 look for $100
This offer is good thru April 2012, be sure to mention Lesly Kahn for the discount.
For more info on Jeff Enden Photography you can visit his facebook page at www.facebook.com/endenphoto
NexTVEntertainment.com
Check out three contests Kahnstituent Mike M is offering through his website www.NexTVEntertainment.com. The first is a Writing/Pitch Competition, the second a Web Series/Short Film Competition, and the third is an Acting and Directing Talent Search. In his words “SUCCESS requires ACCESS! Our competitions use elite Hollywood decision-makers to find the very best that Hollywood has not yet discovered. Short film competitions, screenwriting competitions, acting talent searches, web series competitions, film festivals, TV Pilot competitions, TV pitch competitions, animation competitions… Hollywood ALWAYS needs fresh talent! Panelists for our screenplay contests, web series competitions, short film competitions, acting talent searches are from…Disney, Fox, ICM, THE OFFICE, LORD OF THE RINGS… ” Check it out at the link above!
Need a Reel for Pilot Season? Look No Further!
My client, actor-writer-director-producer Rich Tanne, has been making THE most exceptional tapes for people lately! I LOVE THEM! Check out his company’s website for info at http://thereelessence.com. He does the WHOLE thing for you and it doesn’t have that canned, “I-paid-some-stranger-a-shitload-of-money-and-it-looks-like-a-bad-telenovella feel.” If you need tape, read on!
Message from Rich:
Pilot season 2012 is upon us! Whether you’re seeking representation or looking to arm your agent and manager with footage that gets you more appointments, you need a reel that showcases you playing the types of roles you should be booking in for TV and film. With that in mind, we write, produce, direct, shoot, and edit three high quality original scenes that are not only geared toward your unique essence as an actor, but are also constructed to look and sound like current TV shows and movies. Why not give yourself and your representation every possible advantage this pilot season?
Please email reelessence@gmail.com for booking/questions or visit our website http://thereelessence.com to see more reels and read about the process.
Also we currently have a REFER A FRIEND PROGRAM, where, through pilot season, if you refer a client you will receive a $50 rebate! Thanks for any leads you may provide and we look forward to speaking with you soon!
Care to Donate?
Here is an honorable Kahnstituent cause to donate to:
ONE FINE MESS: “I’ve got about 22 days to reach my $5,000 goal to begin shooting my new web series, ONE FINE MESS. So far we’re near the $1,000 mark thanks to a generous donation of $500 made earlier this week by an anonymous donor I’ve never met. My cast and I are extremely grateful for their kindness and it has been a great motivating boost. Therefore, I am once again asking you for your help. The minimum is just $10 and if all of you reach out and pass on to your friends & family, everyone’s $10 can go a long way to helping bring this project to life. For more information and/or to donate please visit the IndieGoGo link: http://www.indiegogo.com/One-Fine-Mess-Web-Series” -Shoshannah J
