Due to L.A.’s new Safer at Home emergency order, this panel has been postponed until further notice.
On Friday, March 20, The Casting Society of America (CSA) and the SAG-AFTRA Foundation—the non-profit wing of the nation's union for screen and media talent—are hosting a live-streamed panel on tips and tricks for auditioning online for union members.
The one-hour panel, moderated by the Foundation's Rochelle Rose, will feature Amanda Lenker Doyle (“Zac and Mia,” “Wayne”), Carmen Cuba (“Stranger Things,” "The Martian"), Kim Coleman ("BlacKkKlansman," “Harriet”) and Jason Kennedy (“NCIS,” “NCIS: Los Angeles,” “NCIS: New Orleans”).
How the Entertainment Industry Is Dealing With Coronavirus—the Latest SAG-AFTRA members can tune into the presentation at 5:30 p.m. Pacific Time (or 8:30 p.m. Eastern) on Friday, March 20. Half of the program will be dedicated to panel presentations; the other half will offer a chance for questions from viewers.
“At a time when the majority of our industry is working remotely in response to COVID-19 health concerns, CSA and the SAG-AFTRA Foundation are working together to offer guidelines and tips for virtual auditions, with the goal of helping casting directors and actors be productive and have the ability to keep working while maintaining the recommended social distancing,” said CSA's president, Russell Boast. “Our shared priority is the health and safety of our members, and we strongly recommend that all auditions take place online or via self-tape and discourage in-person auditions of any kind, until further notice.”
Entertainment unions have been advocating for specific safe industry practices in light of the COVID-19 pandemic swelling across the nation. With some experts estimating that the virus could restrict regular routines for months, decisionmakers are working to accommodate the changing social practices and protect the health of the workforce.
The SAG-AFTRA Foundation recently transitioned into disaster relief mode, preparing for a wave of tribulations and layoffs from members as movie theaters suspend operation and film sets go dark. Actors' Equity, the nation's union for stage actors, has called on producers to cancel or postpone in-person auditions during the crisis. Sources indicate that CSA leadership has also encouraged members to cancel in-person audition sessions and transition all auditions to self-tape or online interactions.
To watch the live-streamed panel on Friday, March 20 at 5:30 p.m. Pacific (or 8:30 p.m. Eastern), click here.
For Backstage’s continual coverage on the impacts of coronavirus, COVID-19, click here.
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