SAG-AFTRA

Every actor sits with a script and has to figure out: What's actually happening in this scene? Where does it start emotionally, where does it end, and what's important in between? That work is called scene study, and it's one of the most fundamental skills an actor builds. New York Local member Jill Stern has taught scene study at the SAG-AFTRA New York Conservatory since 2013, and shares how to get the most out of a first read, how to make bold choices and when it's OK to improvise. Jill also shares tips for self-tapes and advice on creating your own projects during slow periods. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA.

Broadcast journalists chase breaking news, work unpredictable hours and sometimes put themselves in harm's way to tell stories the public needs to know. But the job is changing. Tracee Wilkins is an investigative reporter with NBC4 Washington and president of SAG-AFTRA's Washington-Mid Atlantic Local. She takes us inside the newsroom to talk about why reporters are being asked to do more with less, what it takes to produce for TV, digital and social all at once, and growing concerns about safety and First Amendment rights. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA

Voiceover work covers a lot of ground: audiobooks, animation, commercials, video games, ADR/looping, dubbing. But how different are they really, and what does it take to break in? David Jolliffe has voiced well over 1,000 TV episodes and serves as SAG-AFTRA's L.A. Local Second Vice President. Nancy Linari is a voiceover performer and audiobook narrator best known as the voice of Aunt May in Marvel's Spider-Man. They walk through the distinct skill set each lane demands. They also get into how home studios changed the game post-COVID, why relationships and networking matter and how the union contracts protecting this work came together. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA.

This Labor Day, we step back and ask a bigger question: what's the state of the unions in America right now? Not just SAG-AFTRA, but the whole movement. Where we've made real gains, where we're facing challenges and what it actually means to be a union member in 2026. To tackle these topics, we're joined by two prominent labor leaders who are at the center of that fight. Sean Astin is President of SAG-AFTRA and was recently elected a Vice President of the AFL-CIO. Liz Shuler is President of the AFL-CIO, representing nearly 15 million working people. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA.  

Not every commercial is a big-budget ad for a national brand. Local restaurants, car dealerships, state lotteries, to name a few, all need commercials too. But the terms of our national commercial contract don't always make sense for these regional advertisers. That's where Regional Commercial Codes come in. These agreements create opportunities for working actors in small to mid-size markets across the country by making it easier for local businesses to hire union talent. SAG-AFTRA Vice President, Mid-Size Locals, Nikki Izanec joins the show to walk us through what Regional Commercial Codes are, how they work and why they matter. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA.