ACTIVATE. EDUCATE. INOCULATE.

Los Angeles Local

Los Angeles Local

Los Angeles Local

As the largest local in the union, the Los Angeles Local represents members working in Southern California’s Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties as well as Northern Orange County.

There are several committees that work with staff to oversee governance, contract matters, organizing work opportunities and craft-based resources for all members in every performance category. Examples of these activities include acting workshops, financial seminars, health programs and professional support. Members are encouraged to get involved, take advantage of these programs and attend local board meetings to observe elected leaders at work.

AT A GLANCE

Local Executive Director:

Ilyanne Morden Kichaven (retiring 03/21)

CONTACT

5757 Wilshire Blvd.

7th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90036

Tel: (323) 549-6459

Email: la@sagaftra.org


Background Actors

The Background Actors Committee is committed to addressing issues and concerns of those members who do background, stand-in and photo-double work through member advocacy, outreach and education, organizing through participation in industry events, and by making recommendations to either staff or the Los Angeles Local Board.

Board Replacement

The Board Replacement Committee’s focus is to establish and implement an approved methodology for National Board of Director replacement for all National Board meetings and plenary meetings, as needed, so that the Los Angeles Local Board is fully represented at all National Board meetings.

Broadcast Steering

The Broadcast Steering Committee (BSC) will review, discuss and make recommendations to the Los Angeles Local Board on all matters regarding broadcast jurisdiction including minimum standards, internal and external organizing efforts in broadcast jurisdictions, as well as larger policy issues affecting broadcast industry/members. The BSC also conducts informational and educational programs for members related to current and anticipated issues in broadcasting.

Communications

The Communications Committee provides guidance to the Los Angeles Local department in its efforts to educate the local membership about the union and its contracts. The Committee seeks to raise SAG-AFTRA’s public profile, to build pride in membership, and to strengthen our bargaining position. The Committee works to create, protect, produce, and distribute materials and media that support these goals.

Conservatory

The SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Conservatory exists as a place for actors to stretch their artistic muscles, practice their craft and sharpen their skills. The Conservatory provides actors the opportunity to build an artistic community in a safe and relaxed setting. Overseen by dedicated professionals, the Conservatory offers members a means to nurture their talents, mechanics and skills through workshops, seminars and AFI student projects. The goal is to lead to a better understanding of the role of the professional actor in the business of acting and to a more successful and productive career.

Dancers

The L.A. Dancers Committee’s mission is to create a community of educated and unified dancers in an effort to impact change and growth within the dance community. It aims to address issues unique to the dance industry, raise awareness of safety concerns and advocate for fair working conditions and wages.

Ethnic Employment Opportunities (EEO)

The Ethnic Employment Opportunities Committee (EEOC) works to increase opportunities for members of any and all racial/ethnic groups so that the American scene is accurately reflected in all areas of the workforce. The EEOC explores ways to promote diversity by educating members and industry stakeholders on the value of inclusion and the contractual policies of non-discrimination and fair employment.

Executive

Film Society

The Hollywood Film Society Committee sets the calendar and selects films for each season of the film society, including special Q&A events and bonus screenings. They also manage the various membership issues that arise throughout the year and approve the annual budget for the program.

Government Affairs & Public Policy (LA GAPP)

The L.A. Government Affairs & Public Policy Committee works with the GAPP department and the Los Angeles Executive Director to develop, discuss and pursue local and California legislative and public policy initiatives that help to both protect and expand the rights of California SAG-AFTRA members. and strives to expand work opportunities. The committee often partners with other organizations with similar interests on policy matters that further the welfare of SAG-AFTRA members and the industries in which they work.

Government Review

The Government Review Committee (GRC) reviews and makes recommendations on constitutional and governance issues that may arise in connection with the governance of the Los Angeles Local. Health Care Safety Net The Health Care Safety Net Committee assembles and communicates healthcare information as well as organizes programs that inform, educate and benefit both uninsured and underinsured members. These include traditional and alternative health fairs, clinics, screenings, seminars and events. Honors and Tributes The L.A. Local Honors and Tributes Committee makes recommendations for honors, tributes and awards to Los Angeles Local members who have given excellent service and made exemplary contributions to SAG-AFTRA, its members and the community of entertainment and media professionals. The committee identifies the recipient of the Ralph Morgan Award. All recommendations are subject to approval by the National HAT Committee. LA Host The L.A. Host Committee works with the Special Projects department to plan both the annual SAG-AFTRA Awards Viewing Party, the annual member Winter Celebration and other special events for members.

Health Care Safety Net

Honors and Tributes

L.A. Host

Los Angeles Local Member Area

The L.A. Member Area Committee (L.A. MAC) oversees the design and décor for the Ken Howard Membership Center and other Los Angeles Local member areas. 

Los Angeles Military Committee

The L.A. Military Committee advocates for SAG-AFTRA members who are also U.S. military veterans. Their goal is to increase employment opportunities via outreach and engagement with the entertainment community. They create programs to professionally develop veterans turned actor through training, panels and events. Additionally, the committee organizes social, informational and networking events for veterans and their families.

Member Outreach Relations & Education (MORE)

Los Angeles Member Outreach Relations Education (MORE) is charged with oversight of certain member education and outreach programs, academic and other external outreach, providing education on paths to union eligibility, and other member education materials, as well as oversight of member retention programs. L.A. Local Member Orientation is a subcommittee of MORE. 

MOVE

MOVE is a non-partisan, member-driven committee, dedicated to supporting the initiatives of SAG-AFTRA and positively influencing the lives of actors and performers. Through trainings, forums and events, MOVE provides member education, organizes to both create more union employment and strengthen existing contracts, and promotes union solidarity within the labor community. 

New Technology

NextGen Performers (NGP)

NextGen Performers (NGP) consists of SAG-AFTRA members who encourage young adult professional members to take control of their careers, get involved and get active through social media, social networking, meet-ups, tweet-ups, community outreach, special events and much more. Open Board Meeting The Open Board Meeting Committee oversees the process for open local board meetings in Los Angeles. Members of the committee also advise observing members on proper protocol when attending Los Angeles Local Board meetings.

Open Board

Organizing

The Organizing Committee is dedicated to supporting and engaging organizing efforts in negotiations, work actions and campaigns designed to educate, empower and increase membership in the community of working performers and media professionals. Serving as an advisory entity, the committee works directly with the SAG-AFTRA Organizing department to identify organizing opportunities and assist in fulfilling goals set by the Los Angeles Local Board by implementing coordinated strategies within the national landscape of locals.

Promo/Trailer Announcers

The Promo/Trailer Announcers Caucus addresses issues and concerns of those members who do promotional and trailer work through member advocacy, outreach and education, organization by way of industry events, and recommendations to either staff or the Los Angeles Local Board.

Radio Plays

The SAG-AFTRA Radio Plays Committee (SARP) produces radio plays and workshops that provide an opportunity for members to showcase their talent(s) to as many people in and out of the entertainment industry as they possibly can in a fun, safe, clean, diverse, supportive, entertaining and educational environment. By producing and workshopping these events, the committee illuminates and illustrates the origins of SAG-AFTRA’s past and encourages members to become more involved in their union through performance and leadership. Events take place at both the SAG-AFTRA Plaza and the Autry Museum in Griffith Park, and are open to the public as well as the industry.

Reinstatement Obligation Review

The Reinstatement Obligation Review Committee (RORC) reviews and determines course of action for cases of terminated members due to reasons of non-payment and considers their reinstatement requests.

Seniors

The Seniors Committee’s primary aim is to increase employment opportunities and improve work conditions for SAG-AFTRA seniors by promoting more open attitudes with respect to casting and the way in which seniors are portrayed in entertainment and news media. The committee also addresses issues facing retired members and those who may be approaching retirement by focusing on the areas of health care, residuals, pensions, social security, Medicare and unemployment insurance.

Sexual Harassment

Singers

The Singers Committee’s purpose is to engage, unify, educate and organize the singers’ community at large in order to address specific areas of enforcement and to serve as a liaison to the National Board in voicing those interests and issues unique to this community.

Stand-In/Rehearsal

The Stand-In/Rehearsal Committee reviews, discusses and makes recommendations to the Los Angeles Local Board on all matters regarding standards for members doing stand-in/rehearsal work.

Stunt & Safety

The Stunt & Safety Committee is committed to addressing issues unique to the stunt community and proactively raising awareness of safety concerns to ensure the highest safety standards for all performers in the entertainment industry.

Voice-Over Performers

The Voice-Over Performers Committee advocates for the interests of SAG-AFTRA VO performers in the core function areas identified by the National Board, and addresses matters of importance to the VO community in Los Angeles. The committee’s aim is to identify and address the specific interests and issues of the broad-based VO community to the extent that they may differ from other performance work.

Women’s

The Women's Committee works to influence and improve the quality and quantity of employment opportunities for female members across all media platforms. Through collaboration, education and advocacy, it encourages positive and diverse images of women and the elimination of stereotypes, ageism and gender bias to better reflect the American scene in the entertainment and news industries.

Young Performers

The Young Performers Committee represents the interests of that valued segment of SAG-AFTRA who are underage. The committee exists to ensure the welfare and protection of employed minors. This includes but is not limited to a physically and psychologically safeguarded work environment, access to adequate education and health services, financial protections and the prevention of any exploitation or discrimination whatsoever. The committee believes that employed minors often require greater protections, guidance and resources than their adult counterparts. Through outreach, the committee endeavors to prepare young performers for the unique challenges that they may encounter. The committee also strives to engage and mentor young performers so that they may become full participants in the working of their union and to ensure that any minor employed in the entertainment industry is protected, supported and enriched by their experience as professional artists.


Los Angeles Local Services

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation offers programs including Casting Access and the Conversations series, as well as facilities including a digital screening room, classroom space and the Don LaFontaine Voiceover Lab.