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AFTRA FLASH
Gloria Estefan
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January 2009 In this issue of AFTRA FLASH Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
"All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence." AFTRA members recognize Dr. King for his lifelong work toward equality, for his ability to lift the lowest of us into the light of human dignity, and for his dream that every person be given the ability to strive for their goals, no matter the distance. If Dr. King's struggle was born out of adversity, his victories were brought about through unity, and it is that spirit of solidarity on which AFTRA members build our foundation. On the eve of an historic day in our nation's history when our first African-American President will be sworn into office on the steps of a building built by slaves, AFTRA members pause to honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the victory of a dream that will not be deferred. Roberta Reardon
AFTRA Approves Terms for a New Digital
AFTRA is pleased to announce a new agreement covering performers working on audiobooks produced by Audible.com.
The agreement establishes minimum rates and employer contributions to the AFTRA Health & Retirement Plans for AFTRA members working on audiobooks produced by Audible.com, one of the Internet’s largest online distributors of audiobooks.
Member Guides to the AFTRA Television Contract This is a reminder that as a service to members, AFTRA has printed two member guides to the AFTRA Television Contract. The Member Guide to the AFTRA Television Contract and the Background Actor Guide to the AFTRA Television Contract are both available at your AFTRA Local or on AFTRA.com. Click here to find out more and get your copy today.
On January 14, actor and disability rights activist Robert David Hall was bestowed the Civil Rights Hero Award for his longstanding commitment to equal rights for persons with disabilities in the entertainment and media industries as part of a press conference at the State Capitol Building honoring California’s “Civil Rights Heroes.” The other honorees were California Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, the late Dionicio Morales, and Harvey Milk. Robert David Hall, national chair of the Tri-Union Performers with Disabilities Committee of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Actors’ Equity Association, and Screen Actors Guild, and a regular on the CBS series CSI (Crime Scene Investigation), spearheaded the creation of the recently launched tri-union I AM PWD (Inclusion in the Arts & Media of People With Disabilities) national disability rights campaign. Expressing gratitude for this honor, Hall stated, “The lion’s share of this award truly goes to the many performers and activists who came together to give shape to the I AM PWD Campaign. The discrimination that persons with disabilities continue to face in the entertainment and news industries has to be challenged loudly, with unity, and with a global effort to educate the public to the lack of inclusion, access, and accuracy in an industry that shapes our idea of the world around us and that reflects an image of who we are. Simply put, if we are not seen or heard, we remain invisible. On behalf of all who work on the Campaign, I accept this award as a symbol of support for removing any and all barriers on the path of true equality, dignity and respect for people with disabilities. Disability rights are Human rights.” Hosted by the State and Consumer Services Agency and the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), the awards kick-off events commemorated the 50th anniversary of California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), the leading state civil rights law in the nation. The Act predates and provides broader protections than its federal counterparts, Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1968 Fair Housing Act. The “Civil Rights Heroes” Awards underscore California’s commitment to civil rights. The 50th anniversary kick-off event received excellent press coverage including media coverage from KCRA-TV evening news and press coverage from News Blaze. Television News Clip: KCRA-TV (NBC-SAC): 06:39:52 PM: Segment On 50th Anniversary Of Fair Employment And Housing Act Congratulations to the 2009 People's Choice Awards
The 35th Annual People's Choice Awards were broadcast live on January 7, 2009 on CBS. The event was hosted by AFTRA member Queen Latifah at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles and featured many AFTRA member performers. Congratulations to the 2009 People's Choice Award AFTRA member winners and nominees. We applaud the stellar performances of all those who showcased their tremendous talent both on the stage and in rehearsals for the show. Special congratulations to AFTRA member Ellen DeGeneres, who was named Favorite Talk Show Host, and to the cast of the hit AFTRA primetime TV series Garry Unmarried, this year's Favorite New TV Comedy. AFTRA members employed on this program represent the spectrum of AFTRA talent from stand-in professionals to recording artists and actors like celebrity host Queen Latifah. We salute our AFTRA signatory employer Procter & Gamble for their continued support of AFTRA members by producing this awards show under an AFTRA contract. Click here for the full list of winners and nominees.
AFTRA Boston is Looking for The AFTRA Boston office is holding unclaimed residual checks for principal performers who appeared on the AFTRA-covered program Connect with English. The program, originally titled Circle of Friends, was produced by WGBH TV under the AFTRA Public Television Agreement. The program was taped in Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and Palm Springs in 1996. After being notified last summer by a performer who hadn’t received a residual payment for a rerun of the show, the AFTRA Boston Local contacted the employer and successfully worked to get the performers paid. The total payment for all performers amounted to more than $227,000. While many performers have been issued checks, our membership records didn't have any contact information for a few remaining performers. If you know any of the performers listed below, please have them contact the AFTRA Boston office at 617.262.8001 to claim their residual payment.
AFTRA member indie artists and touring singers and dancers can now learn more about AFTRA on MySpace at two new pages we’ve created just for you. If you’re an indie AFTRA artist, learn more about the AFTRA Independent Artist Label Agreement at www.myspace.com/aftraindie. This agreement provides an opportunity for independent recording artists to have your total earnings as an independent recording artist credited as AFTRA covered earnings. Before this new agreement, a recording artist could only receive AFTRA credit for your royalty earnings if you were signed as a roster artist on a third-party AFTRA record label. If you’re an AFTRA singer or dancer who tours with AFTRA recording artists, learn more about the AFTRA Touring Agreement at www.myspace.com/aftratour. This agreement provides an opportunity for singers and dancers who tour with AFTRA recording artists to have their touring earnings credited as AFTRA covered earnings. Before this new agreement, an AFTRA member employed as a touring singer or dancer became eligible for AFTRA benefits only if you performed in other AFTRA contract areas, such as a studio session singer or as a performer on television and radio programs and commercials. AFTRA recording artists can also receive credit for touring earnings with the written consent of AFTRA. Visit www.myspace.com/aftraindie or www.myspace.com/aftratour today!
Don Galloway Ricardo Montalban Earn Extra Income as a US Census Taker The Actors Fund is a national human service organization providing programs for everyone in entertainment and the performing arts. The Fund's Employment and Training Program assists its clientele in identifying and finding meaningful work that complements their industry careers, or that can supplement their income during challenging financial times. Currently, there are opportunities throughout the country to work for the US Bureau of the Census as a census taker. The Fund considers this great sideline work for AFTRA members in that you work flexible hours in neighborhoods close to home, and the pay, though varying by locality, is relatively high for the local labor market. This document has been developed by the Fund to provide more information on the work, how to prepare for the exam (not difficult -- but you do need to prepare) and who to contact if you're interested in this opportunity. Most census takers will be hired during the month of January 2009. For more information in New York, please email Billie Levinson at blevinso@actorsfund.org, and in Los Angeles please email Mike Salerno at aftra.census@gmail.com. For members not living in New York or Los Angeles, specific information about the type of jobs, how to apply, etc., can be found at: http://www.census.gov/2010censusjobs/index.php
The Union Plus Online Tax
Click here for more information on this and other Union Plus benefits for AFTRA members.
You have received this message from the AFTRA E-mail Notification Service. Notices are sent to the address you provided to the AFTRA Membership Department. This message is not a solicitation nor is it what is commonly known as "SPAM". If you do not want to receive notifications of this type from AFTRA in the future, send an E-mail to notice@aftra.com. In the subject line type: Unsubscribe - Membership Note: You cannot unsubscribe by clicking on the reply button.
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