Ray Forchion and the SAG/AFTRA Elections
I wanted to share producer Ray Forchion's information with you. The following is forwarded from our producer-partner, Ray Forchion:
FRIENDS WHO ARE SAG-AFTRA... YOU SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN YOUR BALLOTS!!!! PLEASE VOTE FOR ME in my RUN FOR THE SAG-AFTRA BOARD!!!
This is a PERFECT TIME to set the FUTURE of WHAT this NEW UNION CAN BE! WE need to MOVE FORWARD in the way we deal with CHANGING MEDIA TECHNOLOGIES and also ECONOMIC REALITIES OF MAKING MOVIES, TELEVISION and INTERNET PROJECTS. MOST MOVIES SHOT now will NEVER be in the Theaters or on TV.... We need to FOCUS on HOW TO CREATE MORE UNION WORK for our members. SAG and AFTRA used to be much more ACCESSIBLE to their MEMBERSHIP. There was MUCH MORE participation. The UNION used to be a VERY COMFORTABLE PLACE to GO. Factions have turned it into a BATTLEGROUND where they've been FIGHTING EACH OTHER! That's GOT TO STOP!!!
Anyone who knows ME knows I've thought we should have merged these two unions years ago... BEFORE it became NECESSARY to merge. I'm so glad it's finally happened. Now we can fix it and make the NEW UNION what we needs it to be.
We also need to RE-ESTABLISH and deepen our relationship with our CLOSEST ALLIES...
our AGENTS!!! They are suffering as much as we are and as times change and they are also regulated MORE and MORE with INCREASING BONDS and RENT. We need to HELP THEM OUT... I've assisted at agencies and have experienced first hand some of their problems. Many other ACTORS have not. In fact, more and more agents are closing their doors or becoming MANAGERS, over which SAG-AFTRA has no control. Our AGENTS are a MAJOR LINK to our better employment. And MOST ACTORS don't have an AGENT and coincidentally MOST ACTORS ALSO DON'T WORK... Let's be honest here... Even with an AGENT or AGENTS... Work is SCARCE for MOST OF US.
THAT is another MAJOR POINT!!! SAG when it was FORMED, was FORMED by a group of ACTORS for whom the MAJOR CONCERN was not GETTING WORK, but WORKING CONDITIONS... They were ALL SUCCESSFUL WORKING ACTORS who wanted better working conditions from the studios.... THEY HAD JOBS they HAD A LIVING! NOW THE MAJOR CONCERN of MOST OF US AS ACTORS isn't working CONDITIONS... it's WAGES and GETTING ENOUGH WORK TO MAKE A LIVING AS AN ACTOR!
Here's a QUESTION: Is it possible for the UNION to assist it's MEMBERS in GETTING MORE WORK through the USE of NEW TECHNOLOGIES and an IMPROVED APPROACH to it's USE of the INTERNET? I THINK SO. That's something I want to work on and one reason WHY I WANT to GET BACK ONTO THE BOARD for ONE MORE TERM!!! (Yes. JUST ONE!) The UNION now may have be spending it's time fighting for and attempting to maintain THE WRONG THING!
ANOTHER MAJOR ISSUE: NO ONE CAN DENY the CONCERNS ABOUT OUR PENSION and HEALTH PLANS. The real IMMEDIATE CONCERN ISN'T PENSION!!!! IT'S HEALTH!!! It's actually probable, that MOST ACTORS NOW, will never EARN ENOUGH to ACTUALLY GET a PENSION CHECK... Whether it be from the SAG PLAN or the AFTRA PLAN... What THEY DO STAND A GOOD CHANCE OF GETTING IN A GOOD YEAR OF WORK is THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE... Is it POSSIBLE for NEW WORK to BE CREDITED TO A SINGLE HEALTH PLAN? MAYBE!!! Our qualification for HEALTH is evaluated on an ANNUAL BASIS, not on a basis of ACCUMULATED YEARS like pension... Is THERE a POSSIBLE WAY TO DEAL WITH THIS that will at least allow our members to amalgamate their earnings PER YEAR so that THEIR HEALTH COVERAGE can be better met for themselves and their families? ANTHONY ROBBINS always says... THE SAME THINKING THAT GOT YOU WHERE YOU ARE NOW, MAY NOT GET YOU TO WHERE YOU WANT TO BE... also,
THE QUALITY OF LIFE IS DETERMINED BY THE QUALITY OF QUESTIONS YOU ASK YOURSELF...
Will the NEW INAUGURAL BOARD of SAG-AFTRA ask NEW QUESTIONS and open it's MIND to NEW SOLUTIONS or will it HOLD ON TO THINKING and PROCESSES that may be quickly growing OUTDATED?
LOOK THIS IS AN ONGOING DIALOGUE... COMMUNICATE WITH ME HERE... I will let you know my thoughts as best I can...
AND LASTLY... I'm NOT PART OF ANY SLATE! BUT I DO HAVE MY OWN... Here are simply folks I have worked with, both professionally and in the SAG BOARDROOM who have always seemed to me to be FORWARD THINKING and not OBSTRUCTIONIST... I would ask you to consider VOTING for THEM... I'm NOT speaking AGAINST the OTHERS... It's just that I haven't worked with the OTHERS CLOSELY or know them very well, if at all. There may be some I've forgotten... It's been 13 years since I was last on the NATIONAL Board of SAG and Longer since I was on the FLORIDA BOARD of AFTRA.... but here they are... I've separated them by their LOCALS.... LOOK CLOSELY AT THEM COMMUNICATE with them... Also... DON'T WASTE YOUR VOTE IF YOU DON'T KNOW SOMEONE... find out about them!!!!! Remember, CAMPAIGN STATEMENTS ARE EASY...
Check these folks on IMDB too... These folks can all speak for themselves... but here are my thoughts...
THE RAYMOND FORCHION SLATE!!!
LOS ANGELES
RAYMOND FORCHION... That's ME! You've got to vote for me!
JULIE MICHAELS... A Great Lady. Forward thinking. This would be her first time on a Union's board. She has made a great living in this business... In front of and behind the camera... Is as smart as a whip and always willing to ask about what she doesn't know. A great quality to have. Also, she has acted in more projects than most actors have though she is also a stalwart and knowledgeable member of the Stunt Community also. Some of the highest paying dues members to the union! She knows both sides intimately! Her knowledge will help this union tremendously... (PS... At the time of this writing, Julie's Husband PEE WEE PIEMONTE has just been nominated for his 3rd Emmy. He's won the last two years in a row for his Stunt Co-ordination on SOUTHLAND... TV ACADEMY MEMBERS please vote for him again...and help make history!)
AMY AQUINO - Wow! She is brutally smart and has served the Unions tirelessly... I worked very closely with her back in the days I was on the board. She doesn't make random statements. I've also seen her stand up to hostilities that might have had me fighting! A marvelous leader and addition to any conversation.
CLYDE KUSATSU - A focused and thoughtful man. He played Judge Ito to my OJ Simpson years ago. I've worked with him closely and gotten to know him well on the FILM SOCIETY COMMITEE... He is also KIND, with empathy and concern for his fellow actors.
DAVID JOLLIFFE - David is the MAN!!!! He knows the CONTRACTS back and FORTH. There is NO ONE I would trust more in WAGES AND WORKING CONDITIONS more than him! Even when we've fallen on different sides of issues, I've always found him to be thoughtful, PASSIONATE!!!! and kind. He is a VIKING! If you cut him he would bleed SAG.
OUR UNION WOULD BE MUCH WEAKER WITHOUT HIM
RON MORGAN - THE QUIET MAN! I remember him when I added him to the LA CASTING COMMITTEE years ago! He would go on far beyond anything I've ever done with the UNION. He would become a GREAT and DIPLOMATIC PRESIDENT of LA AFTRA... A truly kind man with OPTIMISM and not an OUNCE of MEANESS that I've seen.
RAZA BURGEE - If there's a SPIRITUAL energy to the direction of the UNION, she helps provide it. A woman an deep conviction and caring... She will always do what she can.
She is also NOT afraid to VOICE an OPINION, nor does she attempt to curry favors from others... You can TRUST her!
MARTIN SHEEN - A man of rare strength and conviction. I haven't really worked with him in the boardroom, but we did a play Burt Reynold's directed... ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOOS NEST... What I remember most about him was that he asked more questions about everyone else than he talked about himself. I believe he will always stand up for what he believes and against injustice.
L. SCOTT CALDWELL- She didn't really get as deeply involved until I had left the board. She got lost... Litterally... She was on the Series LOST! But she has been a dilligent and wise member of the board since she got off the island. I am honored to serve with her on the Film Society committee.
SUMI HARU - She has been a great mentor of mine and a great lady. People forget also that she served as acting president of SAG, the first woman of color to do so.. I've always thought her portrait should be among those of our presidents. She has been a stalwart supporter of those in our union who have the least opportunities. Her work for DIVERSITY for ALL MEMBERS has been LEGENDARY... It's NOT just Members of Color... the largest GROUPS with the toughest chance at work in our business are WOMEN and SENIORS... And Seniors AIN'T that old anymore... In this business you're practically a senior at 50....
Sumi is tough and politically savy...
JASON GEORGE - Great Young Actor and Great Board member. We haven't really worked together in the boardroom as he came long after me... But I have watched him and his full involvement in making the Union Stronger and a fairer more active place. I married him on GREY'S ANATOMY... Not to ME! To BAILEY!
SUSAN BOYD JOYCE and JOHN JOYCE... I know they are running separately, but they are a couple that has inspired me. They prove the Prophets saying" The Oak and the Cypress grow not in one another's shadow..." Both of them have given a lot to AFTRA and SAG... She was another AFTRA president back in the day.
NATALIA CASTELLANOS - I am so proud to see her running here. She actually was in my INTENSIVE ACTING BOOT CAMP in Florida a few years ago. She had the courage and dedication to come out here and pursue her career. That's fantastic! She would make an excellent board member.
PETER KWONG - He is a marvelous actor and a dedicated union member. He has been a valiant warrior for Members rights. He's also recently been very active with the ACADEMY of TELEVISION ARTS and SCIENCES. He is fiery and direct. A man of Great ideas and strong commitment. We've spent may hours in the board room and in meetings togerther over the years. He was one of the first to sign my ballot... That is a signature I am proud of.
ELLEN CRAWFORD - A thoroughly lovely lady. In serving with her on the SAG-AFTRA Film Society... she has shown POISE and GRACE. She's not afraid of the hard work that it will take to do a GOOD job as a Board Member.
PAUL NAPIER - This Dapper Man has been a supporter of the GUILD and was a Board Member Long before I came on board and LONG after... Talk about continuity and knowing where the bodies are buried... That is Paul. He is a man of honor and a master at diplomacy... Often dealing with factions within the Guild I didn't really deal that closely with, but I always felt he was open to a good idea... and FAIR. His word is GOLD. He also introduced me to the RUSSIAN TEA ROOM in New York years ago...
GEORGE COE - He is another long time member instrumental in the development of the Union. He helped to design the Low Budget area before I became involved and helped update the contracts, though he wasn't on the Board at the time I first came on... He had been there though and left a good mark. He is a marvelous actor and man. In truth I don't know him well, but he always seemed to me to be really INTELLIGENT and has steely resolve...
MILLIE WRIGHT - She is a valiant fighter for the members. She was always willing to do anything asked of her and has a compassionate heart.
JACKIE JOSEPH - A whirlwind of activity is what I remember about her. She was always willing to help and make her way in the boardroom. I never detected inflated EGO from her or any kind of elitism... All of the members concerns mattered. She was always pleasant and friendly to me... What you see is what you get.
VIVICA WHITSETT - This Fine Lady is a work horse... We didn't work together as much as I would have liked... She was getting involved as I was getting less involved. She fought to make her mark... Still she is a valuable part of the equation to help make this new union function...
CAROLE ELLIOTT - In truth I can't say anything bad about Carole... She is a glow of light in the room. I've never felt any hidden agendas from her. He main concern has been what is best for the most members. She is warm and tough.
PAUL PETERSEN - He has brought his experiences as a child actor and really watched out for all of us. His work for young performers is really to be commended. We forget sometimes that many of us were YOUNG PERFORMERS once... I wish my Mom had met Paul when I was starting out. There were scams and monies that were lost that I know we wouldn't have lost. That's one of the reasons I Coach Actors in the way that I do now... PEOPLE, BOTH YOUNG AND OLD NEED THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS BUSINESS!
SALLY STEVENS - She has given singers a VOICE... Literally. We haven't really worked that much together from what I remember, but I always thought her ideas and commitment to the union was sound...
SCOTT PIERCE - He is a guy who doesn't speak unless he's got something to say. He listens. (We can all learn from that!) As long as I've known him, he tends to hang out with some of the board members who are a lot more vocal, but I've always sensed a power and depth to Scott.
ARIZONA
STEVE FRIED - To me he has the tenacity of a bulldog... A strong proponent for this being a NATIONAL union and everyone's voice being heard. Sometimes LA and NY can drown everyone else out. He is keenly sharp, not easily manipulated and a great guy on committees... even from afar... Those of you in Arizona... You will be well represented by this man.
FLORIDA - Still my second home...
NANCY DUERR - You won't find a finer lady to rep you. In addition to self sacrificing work for years for the Union... She was also an invaluable member of the Old PROFESSIONAL ACTORS ASSOCIATION OF FLORIDA. Florida can be a GREAT Place to work and succeed as an actor, though often it seems like the industry down there moves two steps back sometimes for every step forward...
STEVE GLADSTONE - My old Friend! We've known each other for over 30 years... A great representative of the actors down there. He's full of insight and great humor. A marvelous character actor who can make work where there is none... He is GREAT..... He understands what ORGANIZATION is all about.
JAY AMOR - I've known Jay forever! We've worked on several films together back in the day. He is also a STUNTMAN par excellence! I'm so glad to see that he is willing to get involved in the union stuff down there and offer the expertise of the many, many films and commercials he's worked on where he's also had to coordinate and keep actors AND crew
safe! He also knows the business and it's needs all over the Southeast US.
MEMO SAUCEDA - A great friend and actually worked out with me in my workshops down there I haven't known him as long as a lot of the others here... maybe only ten years or more... He has been a strong voice for the LATIN COMMUNITY of ACTORS in SOUTH FLORIDA dealing with the very difficult and growing presence of TELEMUNDO and UNIVISION. ORGANIZING them is going to be a great challenge. As AFTRA has allowed waivers there for many years, the time has come to organize these no longer sleeping giants... He brings experience both in front of and behind the camera.
NEW YORK - I don't know many of the NY folks... Here are the ones I do.
MANNY ALFARO - What a great guy! He and I worked closely for years from ACROSS the country. He in NY, me in LA. In those days the NATIONAL EEO was in hyperdrive... His involvement was crucial! Make no mistake though, he is a representative of ALL the members and willing to go to the wall to improve the lives of actors.
MAUREEN DONELLY - I am so glad that she is still involved and wanting to be a part of this new Union! She has a mind like a steel trap! Back in the days when I was involved...
The internet was still pretty new... residuals were still often done by hand... amazing. In those days, though we might not have had Google, but we had Maureen... She is a MUST for this thing of ours...
SAMANTHA MATHIS - I was on the LA BOARD with her mother BIBI BESCH. Samantha is a Dynamite Actress who brings a lot of experience and dedication into the room. We've only met a couple of times, but I was impressed...
MIKE HODGES - He is another great guy. He really cares about the members. Pleasant and tough. We worked together briefly in the Plenaries when I was involved, though he was New York and I LA... We didn't deal a lot, but I've always liked the vibe he's brought. A lot of people think that because you're nice you aren't strong. WRONG!
NATIONAL PRESIDENT
I can't keep silent on this. I Don't know the other two candidates, but I do know KEN and ESAI... Here are my thoughts.
KEN HOWARD - Can you imagine what Ken has had to go through in attempting to join these two massive unions together... often when some were fighting it all the way? The tenacity of that? The firm commitment to what he saw as being BEST for the MAJORITY of members? He used to star on a show, THE WHITE SHADOW... You got that right!
I've met Ken only briefly in passing. I didn't want to bug him, he always has had the weight of the world on his shoulders... A really GOOD man!
ESAI MORALES - Esai is another GOOD MAN! I've met ESAI a couple of times. Once at an amazing meeting that was held at the HOUSE OF BLUES years ago by ANNE MARIE JOHNSON... (Who I wish was running here also... but I understand the need for a breather.) We were meeting to discuss Ideas to increase employment for all our members... For Esai to step up, willing to do this in the midst of a career that's growing again is daunting! He has been a strong, vocal advocate for the UNION... Especially the gains that SAG had accrued over the years before the merger... I believe that like Ken, he would be a leader for ALL THE MEMBERS...
There will be opportunities for some of you to meet some of these candidates. Do so.
Ask them Questions... ASK ME QUESTIONS... and THEN VOTE!
[Rock's note - Ray will be speaking at one of our upcoming Sunday seminar events in August]