About

Published on Apr 28th, 2008

WORKSHOPS START OCTOBER 6 AND ENROLLMENT STARTS SEPTEMBER 29, 2008

The SAG Hollywood Conservatory allows membership the opportunity to hone and develop their craft through workshops, lectures and symposiums. Conservatory members are also eligible to perform in American Film Institute (AFI) student films, often gaining that vital first piece of on-camera experience or to add more footage to their reel. A registration fee of $20 for adults or $10 for children is required to become a member of the Conservatory for one full year. Applications are available online at www.sag.org or at our office on Western Ave.

Workshops, Lectures, Symposiums and Special Events

The structured workshops are offered to members from October through May and also during our Summer Seminar and cover the following but are not limited to:

* On-camera commercial and theatrical techniques

* Commercial & theatrical cold-reading techniques

* Video scenes

* Voice-overs

* Improvisation

* “Meet the Casting Director” seminars

* Monthly Special Events

* Open Camera/Independent Study

* ShowBiz 2.0

AFI Student Film Projects

The Conservatory is a means for professional actors to continue their training and/or participate in the student films at AFI.

The first year films are called cycle projects. These are non-paying shorts shot under a special SAG Contract with AFI. We hope you’ll enjoy the experience of working with the Fellows here, networking, and also get a good piece for your reel.

Besides the first year films, our Conservatory Office casts Cinematography projects, occasional screenplay readings for the 2nd year writers, workshops for 2nd year directing classes, assist with thesis films, the Directing Workshop for Women, and alumni projects.

Actors in the SAG Conservatory should always appear in their best light since one never knows who’s watching! Professionalism counts!

For more details, please visit www.sag.org and click on Hollywood Conservatory or call Nikki Frustere, Program Coordinator for the Conservatory at 323.856.7736 or email at nfrustere@sag.org.

HOW THE OFFICE AND THE CONSERVATORY WORKS:

The Conservatory Office is staffed by a group of SAG actors who volunteer their time to help members book workshops and seminars and cast the first year films at the American Film Institute.

We’re here to help you and, likewise, understand your frustration when you call, and have to wait for assistance, or the phone rings and rings.

Here are the facts:

We have two casting lines. When we’re casting and you’re calling, the phone may continue to ring. We are in the Office with both lines engaged. Please call again! We do not have call-waiting or voicemail except after our office closes at 4.

If you’re responding to a casting call, please know the Director’s name and the role for which you’re called. Often we have up to ten projects going on at a time, obviously with many roles to cast, and if you don’t have the Director’s name or the project name with your role, we have to spend extra time going through all the folders, and cannot handle all other calls efficiently.

Secondly, a number of our members don’t show up for classes or auditions, which is inexcusable for professional actors. Please remember what class you’re taking, be on time, and if you have to cancel a class, call.

We have over 2,500 actors in our Conservatory and someone else would love to have the space you cannot use. With auditions, Directors can only see eight actors for principal roles: five for supporting roles, so each audition slot is very important. There are many people who would sincerely appreciate this opportunity and the chance to read.

We’re here to help. Help us help you!

HOLLYWOOD CONSERVATORY RULES AND REGULATIONS

  1. Membership subscription is $20 per annual season and is non-refundable
  2. You must be a paid up SAG member in good standing. You must be a Hollywood or San Diego member to apply for membership in the Hollywood Conservatory. (Las Vegas members are invited to participate in the Summer Session and other special events that are designated as such.)
  3. Membership begins when your application is received and processed, and will continue through August 31st of the following year.
  4. If you are unable to attend a workshop or attend an audition, you must call the office in advance if possible. Cancellations will be honored until 10 am the following day. If you fail to cancel, a “no-show” will appear on your record. After one “no-show,” you cannot take the missed workshop for three months. If you get three “no-shows” you will be prohibited from taking any workshops for 3 months.
  5. Workshops are closed 15 minutes after the scheduled start time. Latecomers may not be allowed into the class and may be recorded as a “no-show.” Please, be courteous of others and be on time.
  6. Workshop leaders will announce the applicable rules and regulations of each particular workshop at the start. If a member breaks any rules the Committee reserves the right to remove the member from the workshop and or the Conservatory.
  7. Members who miss an audition for any AFI project without calling to cancel will lose the right to audition and will have their pictures removed from the casting books for the remainder of the semester. The SAG Conservatory office will notify members that they have two weeks to explain their actions in writing. If a letter is received, the Conservatory Committee or its designees will accept or deny the excuse. Incidences deemed unexcused will result in the member’s headshots being pulled from the casting for the semester. Members may appeal the decision by requesting an appearance before the committee as detailed in section 8 below. Repeat occurrences may jeopardize the membership in the Conservatory.
  8. Members who have broken any of these rules, or who have been cited for conduct unbecoming will be notified in writing of the grounds for dismissal. The member has the right to a hearing before the Conservatory Committee and will be provided a description of the process in advance of their appearance.
    • If the member elects to have a hearing, it is the member’s responsibility to contact the office manager, Talmadge Ragan, at 323.856.7736 within 10 days, or as otherwise instructed, from the receipt of the Committee’s letter. Members who do not appear before the Committee will have their membership canceled.
    • Hearings shall be held at the Screen Actors Guild before no fewer than 7 Conservatory Committee members at the next scheduled Committee meeting.
    • The decision of the Conservatory Committee is final. Appeals may be requested within 10 days of the receipt of the Committee’s decision. Appeals must be sent to the Screen Actors Guild Hollywood Executive Committee.

SAG members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional and respectful manner at all times. This includes, but is not limited to, their fellow members, the SAG volunteers and staff, as well as the AFI fellows and staff. We appreciate your co-operation in helping to make the SAG Conservatory a great place for actors to work and learn together.