TALENT GUIDE OFFER AVAILABLE AGAIN IN 2005

PITTSBURGH, January 3, 2005 -- AFTRA Pittsburgh has announced it will continue it's subsidy of member pages on the Talent Guide website for 2005. In order to continue your listing on the site, you must re-apply for 2005. Do it now, to take advantage of the exciting new features as soon as possible.

The Talent Guide website has proven itself over the last few years to be a valuable marketing tool for AFTRA members. Many agencies and production companies check the site when they cast. At least one production was cast exclusively from the site in 2004. All members are welcome whether represented by an agent or not. This valuable benefit is worth more than $100.00 per year.

We are now accepting both audio and video demos for the site at no cost to members in good standing. Audio demos should be :60 in length and provided as mp3 files, 128 kb/s. Video demos can be accepted as Flash movies (.swf). A cross-platform media player has been installed on our server, enabling playback from Windows, Mac and other platforms supporting Macromedia Flash. Total file size limit is 3 Mb for all media files combined, triple last year's limit. More storage is available for a fee. Audio and video can be converted to the appropriate file type at a number of places.

Headshots can be color or black & white, vertical format. Jpg is preferred, 300 ppi, and can be e-mailed directly to me. If you do not have an electronic version of your headshot, AFTRA will scan your original picture at no charge once each year.

Please go online today at www.thetalentguide.com, and check your listing. Then fill out the online application at www.thetalentguide.com/enroll.htm. There will be no cost to you for a basic listing including up to 3 Mb of media.

If you have questions on updating your picture, or providing us with your audio or video demo, contact Mark Roberts at info@thetalentguide.com. Paper applications are available from the AFTRA office.

FAQs

Who should take advantage off this offer?

All members of the Pittsburgh local, broadcast and freelance should be represented. The larger our representation, the more seriously producers will take our membership, and the more useful a casting tool the Guide will be.

I'm already on the Talent Guide website. Do I need to do anything?

Yes! All members should renew their page as soon as possible. This is also an opportunity to update your picture, demo and resume information.

What do I have to do to enroll/renew?

We've tried to make it as simple as possible. There's an online application available at www.thetalentguide.com/enroll.htm.

• Check one of the listings already online at thetalentguide.com to see the kind of information you'll need.
• Go to the online enrollment page and fill out the application.
• You're responsible for the picture and the audio file. Someone will contact you with details.

What if I don't have a headshot?

AFTRA Recommends that all members have a current headshot. The AFTRA Pittsburgh Conservatory presented a special program in March of 2004. Local photographers were invited to attend. Click here for more.

How about audio demos?

The website requires all audio demos to be no longer than :60, and they must be in the mp3 format, 128kb/s. If you don't have a demo, or yours isn't an mp3, click here for a list of studios. There's helpful information there.

• The Pittsburgh AFTRA office can help with all other information. Call (412) 281-6767

I know a member who doesn't have computer access. What should they do?

Have them the AFTRA office (412) 281-6767. They'll send a paper application.