Unite For Strength
Actors for film, radio and television are now broken into 2 unions: AFTRA and SAG. Our current board, Membership First, is, in my opinion, screwing things up royally. I truly believe we need to unite both SAG and AFTRA. It will help all of us regarding Health Insurance, Pension plans, just for a start. Membership First is totally against this. Here it is in numbers: SAG has 120,000 members. AFTRA has about 75,000 members. 55,000 of those AFTRA members are also members of SAG. Therefore, you're talking 20,000 members of AFTRA who would be "new".
Also, I just haven't heard a clear, intelligent argument which supports Membership First's reason for not wanting to merge. Frankly, I've just found them to be argumentative and rude.
I'm sure this is extremely boring for most of you, so I'll shoot to the exciting part of this rant:
I went to a fundraiser last night and hob knobbed with lots of familiar famous faces. It was really amazing. The highlight of my evening was when I noticed the host (whose name I'm not sure I can mention here, so I won't, but oh my gosh she was simply the most gracious, kind, normal person and I felt honored to meet her) was finger spelling to a few deaf actors. Well, I can never pass up an opportunity to practice my signing, so when they were done "talking", I jumped in and introduced myself. We carried on a conversation for awhile, and they complimented me on my signing ability, and I was pretty impressed that I was able to follow and communicate with them. (However, it's obvious I so need more practice!) Anyway, come to find out these actors are the main folks associated with Deaf West Theatre here! Their shows are incredible, and their production of Big River went to Broadway. As Tim and I were leaving, one of the guys I had been talking to came up and asked if I could sing. I said, yes. So he got very excited and told me that I have to audition for Pippin, their next show. Usually, they have to teach the hearing actors they cast how to sign from scratch, and since I have knowledge and know how to sign, I'd have a better chance at being cast. Oh my gosh, you have no idea how excited I am! This would seriously be a dream come true to work with them!
And, I'm hoping to interview next week for a new part time job working on Social Skills with children who have Autism. They pay you for training, and then the hourly rate is pretty darn good. I've got some experience, and know this would be a job I'd LOVE. Needless to say, yesterday and yesterday evening were pretty darn fantastic for me.
Also, I just haven't heard a clear, intelligent argument which supports Membership First's reason for not wanting to merge. Frankly, I've just found them to be argumentative and rude.
I'm sure this is extremely boring for most of you, so I'll shoot to the exciting part of this rant:
I went to a fundraiser last night and hob knobbed with lots of familiar famous faces. It was really amazing. The highlight of my evening was when I noticed the host (whose name I'm not sure I can mention here, so I won't, but oh my gosh she was simply the most gracious, kind, normal person and I felt honored to meet her) was finger spelling to a few deaf actors. Well, I can never pass up an opportunity to practice my signing, so when they were done "talking", I jumped in and introduced myself. We carried on a conversation for awhile, and they complimented me on my signing ability, and I was pretty impressed that I was able to follow and communicate with them. (However, it's obvious I so need more practice!) Anyway, come to find out these actors are the main folks associated with Deaf West Theatre here! Their shows are incredible, and their production of Big River went to Broadway. As Tim and I were leaving, one of the guys I had been talking to came up and asked if I could sing. I said, yes. So he got very excited and told me that I have to audition for Pippin, their next show. Usually, they have to teach the hearing actors they cast how to sign from scratch, and since I have knowledge and know how to sign, I'd have a better chance at being cast. Oh my gosh, you have no idea how excited I am! This would seriously be a dream come true to work with them!
And, I'm hoping to interview next week for a new part time job working on Social Skills with children who have Autism. They pay you for training, and then the hourly rate is pretty darn good. I've got some experience, and know this would be a job I'd LOVE. Needless to say, yesterday and yesterday evening were pretty darn fantastic for me.
posted by Ramblings of a crazed SAHM at 8:44 AM
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