http://uniteforstrength.com David Lawrence spends a few minutes talking with Unite for Strength candidates about why they are running for the National Board. Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:17:54 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 UFS candidate, David Lawrence spends a few minutes talking with Unite for Strength candidates about why they are running for the National Board. David Lawrence spends a few minutes talking with Unite for Strength candidates about why they are running for the National Board. Unite for Strength http://uniteforstrength.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/UFS_Logo_Med.jpghttp://uniteforstrength.com 'Unite for Strength', 'Screen Actors Guild', UFS, SAG, 'Ken Howard', 'Amy Aquino', 'SAG Candidates' no Unite for Strength info@uniteforstrength.com http://uniteforstrength.com/?p=734 http://uniteforstrength.com/?p=734#comments Tue, 01 Sep 2009 04:58:16 +0000 uniteforstrength http://workingactorsvoice.org/wordpress/?p=734 http://uniteforstrength.com/?feed=rss2&p=734 0 http://uniteforstrength.com/?p=185 http://uniteforstrength.com/?p=185#comments Sat, 01 Aug 2009 17:29:49 +0000 uniteforstrength http://workingactorsvoice.org/wordpress/?p=185 http://uniteforstrength.com/?feed=rss2&p=185 0 Ken Howard Ken Howard has been a working member of SAG for forty years. A Tony and Emmy Award winning actor, he is an Emmy nominee again this year for his role in HBO’s critically acclaimed Grey Gardens. He is currently a SAG National Board Member and the National Chairman of the Guild’s Senior Performers Committee. Mr. Howard made his professional debut on Broadway in 1968 and has since performed in nearly forty stage productions, seven of which were on Broadway, and over twenty feature films. In television he has starred in seven series, six mini-series, sixteen movies, and made countless guest appearances. He helped create The White Shadow, a groundbreaking television series in which he starred from 1978 through 1982.  He spent three years in Cambridge, Massachusetts (1986-89) teaching at the American Repertory Theatre, Harvard University and Harvard Law School. He authored the book “Act Natural” published by Random House in 2003. Mr. Howard has served as Chancellor of the National Kidney Foundation for the past six years. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, retired stuntwoman Linda Howard, and their recently rescued dog, Harley Hoops. SAG President Candidate Statement I’m running for President because I know SAG will be stronger at the bargaining table if we’re united internally and working in partnership with other entertainment unions. That isn’t true today, and we’ve paid the price in lost income and jobs.  We need new leadership to chart a new course. As a SAG Board Member and Committee Chair, I worked with board members from across the country to help finally get a new TV/Theatrical contract negotiated.  I’ve been an actor for 4 decades and I know how to work with others to build strength. www.UniteforStrength.com Ken Howard has been a working member of SAG for forty years. A Tony and Emmy Award winning actor, he is an Emmy nominee again this year for his role in HBO’s critically acclaimed Grey Gardens. He is currently a SAG National Board Member and the [...] http://uniteforstrength.com/?p=158 http://uniteforstrength.com/?p=158#comments Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:11:40 +0000 uniteforstrength http://workingactorsvoice.org/wordpress/?p=158 http://uniteforstrength.com/?feed=rss2&p=158 0 CLYDE KUSATSU has been a working actor in Hollywood for 36 years now in all the Various venues of entertainment from theatre, t.v., films, commercials, voice-over animation, and the internet.  Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, he graduated from Northwestern University’s famed theatre program.  He has been in films like THE INTERPRETER, PARADISE ROAD, THE CHOIRBOYS, and HAROLD & KUMAR ESCAPE FROM GUANTANAMO.  He has been a series regular in BRING EM BACK ALIVE (CBS), ISLAND SON (CBS), and ALL AMERICAN GIRL (ABC), and has guested on t.v. in shows like MAGNUM P.I. and ALL IN THE FAMILY to ALLY McBEAL as well as mini-series like AND THE SEA WILL TELL and AMERICAN TRAGEDY.  He currently has been recurring on THE YOUNG & RESTLESS. SAG National Board Candidate Statement Working S.A.G. member of 36 years.  I would like to continue the work we were elected for last year and put the politics of no and obstruction to rest.  It was an honor to be of service to the membership.  To deal with the on-going challenges, we need your support to effect this change.  Worldwide events this past year, reveals this harsh reality- deal and adapt or be left behind.  We do this by reaching common cause for mutual benefit and survival.  Strength in unity, and eliminate the turf wars of provincialism and partisanship. www.UniteforStrength.com CLYDE KUSATSU has been a working actor in Hollywood for 36 years now in all the Various venues of entertainment from theatre, t.v., films, commercials, voice-over animation, and the internet.  Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, he graduated from [...] http://uniteforstrength.com/?p=175 http://uniteforstrength.com/?p=175#comments Thu, 30 Jul 2009 08:44:46 +0000 uniteforstrength http://workingactorsvoice.org/wordpress/?p=175 http://uniteforstrength.com/?feed=rss2&p=175 0 11. Woody Schultz   “I was born a poor, fat child…” or so the story goes. The only child of a truck driver father and a soon to be single, bookkeeper mother, I was raised in the wilds of suburban Maryland. As luck would have it, my mother’s need to put me in nursery school while she worked resulted in my first taste of fame when I was cast there, at the age of 4, in my first play. I was brilliant. And by that, I mean I remembered my lines…both of them. Bitten by the bug, I tried out for every school play until I graduated high school. Even then, I continued to audition they just refused to cast me since “technically” I was “no longer a student”. I had no choice but to go to college and audition there. Dissatisfied with the petty politics and backstabbing of college level theatrics I decided to move on to a more professional and level playing field: Hollywood. It was here that I discovered two things: Nobody cared that I had brought the house down in my high school production of Anything Goes, and I had the skills to be a great production assistant. While working as an onset PA I watched and learned as “background” was set and stand-ins took their marks. I decided this was my way in. I learned of a secret society called Central Casting. They instantly spotted my talent (and my checkbook) and signed me up. My very first job resulted in an upgrade to a union voucher and ultimately to a one day contract for what would be a recurring character. Had anyone bothered to watch the show, that is. They didn’t. But, I didn’t care. All I knew was I was now in the union; the same union to which all my acting heroes, past and present, belonged. I was finally a professional actor. Since that time I have worked on vouchers as a background actor (or “paid professional actor in a non-speaking role”, as I like to say) and stand-in, on commercial, stunt, and even dance contracts, as well as principal contracts in both film and TV. For the past 5 years my bread and butter has been as a film and video game performer in the fast growing medium of motion capture. It’s a wildly imaginative and freeing form of animation filmmaking that some of the biggest filmmakers in the world are embracing. And in the last few years alone I’ve had the honor and good fortune to work with many of them. I was introduced to the world of motion capture when Robert Zemeckis cast me in his pioneering film, The POLAR EXPRESS. I then worked with him on two more motion capture films: the Oscar nominated MONSTER HOUSE, and BEOWULF in which I played 11 different characters. That was followed by James Cameron’s AVATAR, for which I performed as both live action and motion capture characters. Most recently, I worked on THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: SECRET OF THE UNICORN, the first of a planned trilogy for directors/producers Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson. In addition, I’ve worked behind the scenes as an assistant director, production manager, and casting assistant. I’m also very involved in LA theatre, teach at the Young Actors’ Theatre Camp (www.youngactorstheatrecamp.org), and have produced several panels on the art of motion capture for the SAG Foundation’s Life Raft series and at AFI for the SAG Conservatory. I am a member of SAG and AFTRA. I studied drama at Towson University and Maryland School For The Arts. Each of these experiences brought me greater understanding and appreciation of acting as both a craft and a business. I hope this crazy ride includes many years of service in the SAG boardroom so that I can fight for the changes necessary for all of us to continue pursuing our dreams. SAG Board Candidate Statement I joined SAG as a background performer. Since then I’ve worked on vouchers, stunt and dance contracts, and now work as a principal doing primarily motion capture for film and video games. I understand background actors are hit hardest by so much work leaving California. I know firsthand how studios take [...] 11. Woody Schultz   “I was born a poor, fat child…” or so the story goes. The only child of a truck driver father and a soon to be single, bookkeeper mother, I was raised in the wilds of suburban Maryland. As luck would have it, my [...] Woody Schultz http://uniteforstrength.com/?p=135 http://uniteforstrength.com/?p=135#comments Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:38:10 +0000 uniteforstrength http://workingactorsvoice.org/wordpress/?p=135 http://uniteforstrength.com/?feed=rss2&p=135 0 Michelle Allsopp SAG National Board Candidate Statement “Michelle Who? You may not recognize my name, but as an actor who has been pursuing her career in LA for 10 years but still holding down a “day job” to pay the bills, you should recognize my life. Like many of you, I am an artist, trying to make a living doing what I love most. It is imperative that lesser-known actors like me whose careers are still ahead of us, and are most impacted by the increasing challenges of getting work in our industry, have a clear voice in SAG’s boardroom. I hope you’ll make me that voice.”  www.UniteforStrength.com SAG National Board Candidate Statement “Michelle Who? You may not recognize my name, but as an actor who has been pursuing her career in LA for 10 years but still holding down a “day job” to pay the bills, you should recognize my life. Like [...] http://uniteforstrength.com/?p=180 http://uniteforstrength.com/?p=180#comments Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:19:12 +0000 uniteforstrength http://workingactorsvoice.org/wordpress/?p=180 http://uniteforstrength.com/?feed=rss2&p=180 0 Nancy Travis Nancy Travis has appeared in numerous feature films including ‘Three Men and a Baby’, ‘Internal Affairs’, ‘So I Married An Axemurderer’ and ‘Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants’. Her series credits include ‘Almost Perfect’, ‘Becker’ and currently, ‘The Bill Engvall Show’ on TBS. SAG Board Candidate Statement: A proud SAG member for 25 years, I know that the plight of the actor is as hard as it ever was, with many of us barely able to support ourselves, or qualify for insurance. The tenor and results of our recent contract negotiations were dismaying to say the least. We need to unite, both within SAG and with AFTRA, so that performers can regain their rights and fair compensation. I can’t sit idly by – the time to act is now. Support me and I will serve with integrity and passion for a stronger union and our future. www.UniteforStrength.com Nancy Travis has appeared in numerous feature films including ‘Three Men and a Baby’, ‘Internal Affairs’, ‘So I Married An Axemurderer’ and ‘Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants’. Her series credits include ‘Almost Perfect’, [...] http://uniteforstrength.com/?p=139 http://uniteforstrength.com/?p=139#comments Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:13:09 +0000 uniteforstrength http://workingactorsvoice.org/wordpress/?p=139 http://uniteforstrength.com/?feed=rss2&p=139 0 Christian Clemenson Christian Clemenson has been a professional actor for almost 25 years. He has appeared in many movies and television shows – his favorites include United 93, Broadcast News, The Fisher King, Apollo 13, and Boston Legal, for which he won an Emmy and is nominated for another this year. He was born and raised in Humboldt, Iowa – where he made his dramatic debut playing “Candy” in the Taft Elementary Nutritional Pageant.  He was educated at Harvard and Yale. He ran the LA Marathon in 2005 in a time of 4:28:09, and yes, he’s very proud of that. SAG National Board Candidate Statement I’ve been a proud member of SAG for almost 25 years and my union has served me well. It is time for me to return the favor. I believe merger with AFTRA will give us new strength and solidarity at the bargaining table. I believe we need an agreement with agents to protect all actors — especially those just starting out. I believe we need an intense spirit of cooperation with the other unions of our industry. Times are challenging and change is stressful, but I’m still optimistic that better days are ahead. www.UniteforStrength.com Christian Clemenson has been a professional actor for almost 25 years. He has appeared in many movies and television shows – his favorites include United 93, Broadcast News, The Fisher King, Apollo 13, and Boston Legal, for which he won an Emmy [...] http://uniteforstrength.com/?p=167 http://uniteforstrength.com/?p=167#comments Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:11:31 +0000 uniteforstrength http://workingactorsvoice.org/wordpress/?p=167 http://uniteforstrength.com/?feed=rss2&p=167 0 D.W. Moffett D.W. Moffett was born in Highland Park, IL, a northern suburb of Chicago. After attending Stanford University, he found himself back in Chicago.  D.W. was lured to the St. Nicholas Theater Company, where he studied with, among others, William H. Macy. Shortly thereafter, having fallen in love with the stage, he became a founding member of the Remains Theatre Company. While at Remains he starred in, directed and/or produced over 40 productions including The Tooth of Crime, Moby Dick, Waiting for Godot , Woyzeck and Speed the Plow. After a long and successful career on stage in Chicago, he went with Steppenwolf Theater to do Balm In Gilead in New York City. He then starred  in The Normal Heart at the Public Theater for which he won critical acclaim. He appeared on Broadway in The Boys of Winter and The Real Thing and headlined the production of Contact at Lincoln Center in 2001. He was most recently seen on-stage playing opposite Kevin Spacey and Jennifer Ehle in The Phialadelphia Story at the Old Vic in London. D.W. has had a long and successful career in film and television as well. He is most memorable in Bernardo Bertolucci’s Stealing Beauty and won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Stephen Soderbergh’s Traffic.  D.W.’s favorite and most recent television work was just last season, starring as the “father from hell” in Season 3 of FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS. SAG National Board Candidate Statement As a SAG member for over twenty years, making my living in commercials, film and television, I am honored to come before you as a candidate. I am astounded at the rancor in our boardroom, and pledge to be a voice of moderation and a force of common sense. I have just one question for you, the voter: If there are two unions competing for the same slice of pie, who do you think loses? The producers – or you? We must find a way to responsibly join with AFTRA and move forward with one voice. http://www.UniteforStrength.com D.W. Moffett was born in Highland Park, IL, a northern suburb of Chicago. After attending Stanford University, he found himself back in Chicago.  D.W. was lured to the St. Nicholas Theater Company, where he studied with, among others, William H. [...] http://uniteforstrength.com/?p=141 http://uniteforstrength.com/?p=141#comments Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:10:02 +0000 uniteforstrength http://workingactorsvoice.org/wordpress/?p=141 http://uniteforstrength.com/?feed=rss2&p=141 0 64. Ellen Crawford Perhaps best known as Nurse Lydia Wright on ”ER”, Ellen has been a member of SAG since 1979.  She has also guest starred on “Mental”, “Without A Trace”, “Boston Legal”, “CSI”,  “The Division” and “7th Heaven”, as well as many other shows and telefilms. Feature films include “The Man From Earth”, “Soldier”, “Cries Of Silence”, The War Of The Roses” and “Remember” for which her role as an Alzheimers patient garnered her a Best Actress nomination at the California Independent Film Festival. Last year she was the medium in the Cox Digital campaign and this summer is the ecstatic teacher on an Arby’s spot.  Her voice has been heard in various commercials and interactive games.   Ellen continues to work on stage, most recently Off Broadway opposite Daniel J, Travanti in “A Touch Of The Poet”. SAG National Board Candidate I’m a middle class actor, working in film, television, radio, and theatre; I’ve been background and day-player, recurred as a guest star on ER for ten years… even done stunts. I know my union is crucial in helping me to weave together my living. To negotiate with international corporations, for whom the entertainment industry contributes very little to the bottom line, we need to be ingenious and persuasive. Our various disciplines must work together the way we weave together our careers. Merger is a must, and I believe we can reach  consensus, while maintaining individual dignity within our solidarity. UniteforStrength.com. Perhaps best known as Nurse Lydia Wright on ”ER”, Ellen has been a member of SAG since 1979.  She has also guest starred on “Mental”, “Without A Trace”, “Boston Legal”, “CSI”,  “The Division” and “7th Heaven”, as well [...] http://uniteforstrength.com/?p=184 http://uniteforstrength.com/?p=184#comments Mon, 20 Jul 2009 09:45:49 +0000 uniteforstrength http://workingactorsvoice.org/wordpress/?p=184 http://uniteforstrength.com/?feed=rss2&p=184 0 81. Marcia Wallace SAG National Board Candidate Statement I wrote a memoir called Don’t Look Back We’re Not Going That Way. Running for my second Board term I’m thinking it’s not a bad slogan for SAG’s future:  Learn from the past, of course, especially last year, but move forward together; merge SAG and AFTRA and be the union we can and should be. I love this union and ask for your vote. Current member of Probable Cause, Seniors, and HealthCare SafetyNet committees; current chair of the Comedians Committee (a joint committee with AFTRA that hasn’t met in years – an apt metaphor if there ever was one). www.UniteforStrength.com SAG National Board Candidate Statement I wrote a memoir called Don’t Look Back We’re Not Going That Way. Running for my second Board term I’m thinking it’s not a bad slogan for SAG’s future:  Learn from the past, of course, especially [...]