CHICAGO

Ilyssa Fradin, SAG Chicago Branch President

I have been a dual card holder,  having worked a majority of the contracts over the past 15 years. Ten of those years have been spent serving the Chicago Branch as a council member, then 1st VP and at times, National Board Alternate.  I know I have some pretty big shoes to fill as Chicago Branch President.  My focus is on education, outreach, and organizing our members and our community, locally.  But, I know SAG is a national union, not a union divided by branches, states or cities.  Our strongest and smartest business move for the future of our membership would be to create one national union for all performers.  If an actor's performance is recorded anywhere on any medium, they should be covered and paid for it- no matter what!  I look forward to working with the many dedicated elected leaders who are volunteering their time and passion on behalf of our members and all performers.

John Carter Brown, SAG Chicago National Board Representative

I’ve served on the National Board for seven years, previously served on the National Executive Committee for five years, on every Commercials Negotiation since 1997, on the AFTRA National Board for six years, am a Trustee on the Industry Advancement Cooperative Foundation, helped write the White Paper that created Illinois’ film incentive, and am most proud of representing the Regional Branch Division as a Trustee on the SAG Producers Pension and Health Plans.  I keep my focus on our National Union, but consider my primary responsibility to those in the Chicago/Midwest Region Branch.

Todd Hissong, SAG Chicago National Board Representative

“guild (gild), n. 1. an organization of persons with related interests, goals, etc.”

I see nothing here that prioritizes or delineates between ‘TV/Theatrical on-camera,’ ‘commercial performer,’‘voice-over,’ ‘stage actor,’ or - most significantly - ‘zip code.’ Surely all of the aforementioned have “related interests, goals, etc.” How strange and sad then to read that those dedicated to the maintenance of Screen Actors Guild as a truly National Entity must necessarily be “Anti-Hollywood.” In my case, nothing could be further from the truth. Here is what I have problems with: 1) National Officers blatantly violating their fiduciary responsibilities by suing their own Guild; 2) Elected officials being judged by their IMDb credits instead of their service to their members; and 3) Disparagement of our sister unions and the formation of raiding parties to violate jurisdictional lines.

The ship is turning around, but we need all hands on deck. I hope you will join with me in continuing the course to sanity. Contact me HERE.