So, you graduate from acting school, or end up moving to the big city… only to get double whammy from SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes. Maybe you’re a professional actor and have hit the same pause. This seemingly overwhelming period is actually a historical period. An important milestone for the entertainment industry. The question is, how do you plan your acting life during this strike? We want students, alumni, and fellow actors who may be feeling overwhelmed during the strike to know that you are not alone!
progress yes It’s finally on the table…so stay positive and check out the thoughts below as we hope to see the “light at the end of the tunnel”.
One of our favorite things about being a performance studio is cultivating a community of supportive artists. Additionally, there is a lot of introspection to be done while most of us are at rest. For example, have you ever asked yourself what you like to do external Performed? Do you want to travel to an exotic country or try out that killer hairdo you (or your agent) talked yourself out of?
“As actors, our goal is to tell stories about the various human experiences. So take some time to have some new experiences. Swap skills with someone, listen to a band you’ve never heard of, read someone else’s book Recommended books, draw a picture of a tree or someone you love, try a food you’ve never eaten before, sit quietly on the grass, ask someone to tell you a joke… enriching your experience will make You become a better actor.
Janelle Snow, ASC Instructor
Knowing yourself well and outlining what you want in life is just as important as realizing your creative dreams. Aristotle once said, “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” Chart What Makes You you It only enhances your ability to make a difference.
Everything that happens in your life is your material as an actor.
C. Stephen Foster Awakening the Actor Within: A Twelve-Week Workbook to Recover and Discover Your Acting Talent
After your well-deserved self-reflection, let’s not forget that there are actually yes Acting work has been blissfully unaffected by the strike…theater! Not to mention union and non-union commercials, student films, micro-budget films, and (our favorite) acting classes 🙂
Speaking of which, we gathered a few friends and supporters of Chicago actors Ilyssa Fradin, Janelle Snow, and Mickie Paskal to discuss the How to guide and cultivate your acting life during the strike.
First question! What did you learn from this strike? And/or you learned something new (about yourself or maybe a new skill)?
Eliza: “Hang in there! Our union is only as strong as our members. Together with our brothers and sisters in the WGA and non/associate members, we must be strong and united to fight for fairness for all of us. See how we can become more It’s eye-opening to be part of a larger labor movement and take this stand. Our sacrifices will not only help ourselves, but other workers in other industries as well.”
Ilyssa Fradin, SAG-AFTRA Chicago Member/Actor, Chicago Local Board Member, National Board Member
Mickey: “Oh my gosh. Does building my skills in Hyrule while playing The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom count as new skills? This strike brings back all the old pandemic feelings, huh? With our community Isolation. Starting with the loss of collaboration that we all love… As I have done during the pandemic, I feel very close to the actors and artists in our town, but know. … knowing that this too will end. We will return to that precious world of fiction and storytelling that we all will be able to escape together soon.
Mickey Pascal, Pascal Rudnik Casting
Janelle: “I wear my SAG STRONG shirt regularly and I’m surprised (and delighted) at how many strangers will see it and show support. One day I was in the aisle of a grocery store and someone walked by and said to me: “Full support for you and the cause you’re fighting for! “”
Janelle Snow, ASC Instructor
If you could give us all 1-3 tips for coping with showbiz life during the strike, what would they be?
Eliza: “Patience. We wait a long time for an audition or a booking before we can get on a set or see ourselves on screen. Any strike is tough, but this one is about the future of our jobs and our industry. We must remain patient and Unity.
Mickey: “Live your life. Explore. Experience. Find activities that challenge you and how you see yourself. There’s nothing better than real-life experiences on camera. Go get some!
Janelle: “Stay strong. Connect with other actors and artists, and remind yourself that your personal struggles now will pay off for all of us in the future.
How do you stay creatively and professionally focused during industry lull/stasis? What would you recommend others focus on during times like this?
Eliza: “SAG-AFTRA covers more than just TV and film. Actors can continue working under many other contracts (commercials, podcasts, audiobooks, corporate education, even temporary agreement projects or student and short film deals). Take classes, audition for plays , read scripts, watch plays and never stop practicing your skills!
Mickey: “I read. A lot. I watch movies. I watch TV. Keep yourself in the industry. It feels good to see other people doing what they do best. I watch a lot of drama. That’s my happy place. Lately. Saw a show of Steep and it felt like where I should be in this industry.
Janelle: “I’m lucky enough to be in the classroom working and playing with other actor-artists almost every day. I thought now would be a great time to take a class to flex your creativity and connect with the community! ”
There’s a world outside the film and TV industry (and even, dare I say, acting) – and what other ways to do it you Creating an artistic lifestyle outside of your passion for theater arts?
Eliza: : I have been deeply impressed by the generosity of our members and the public at large across the country. Not only did they devote their time to various strike actions, they also turned their enthusiasm into goals. Members offer strike discounts on classes or headshots, as well as discounts at stores and restaurants they own or work for. They volunteer at food banks and raise money to help other workers by donating to the Recreation Fund or the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. Actors are often thought of as selfish or self-centered, but this strike has brought out the best in us and we are looking for ways to give back and support each other. We are #SAGAFTRAstrong”
Mickey: “Go back to Hyrule for me.”
Janelle: I’m not sure I know how to define an artistic lifestyle, but there’s a lot of art to enjoy—books, paintings, sculptures, pottery, street murals, music—and ways to create it yourself. I love crocheting, taking yarn and turning it into something is an art form that I find easy and creative (literally anyone can do it!).
Remember to keep training and creating during times like this—and never give up hope whenever the industry slows down (or stagnates). Additionally, supporting your fellow artists not only helps you stay optimistic, but more importantly, helps you build your community.
So, find your people, spread the love, and never stop creating your life as an artist! If you have any questions, everyone at Chicago Performance Studio is here to help.
A graduate of Northwestern University and Harvard University, Janelle Snow has been active in the Chicago acting community for over two decades, appearing on the stage at The Goodman, Steppenwolf, Victory Gardens, American Theater Company, Chicago Dramatists, Eclipse Theatre, Circle Theater and more Performance. She also trained at Second City and iO, where she studied with Uta Hagen and F. Murray Abraham. A member of Actors’ Equity and SAG-AFTRA, she has also appeared in numerous commercials and industrial productions. Janelle worked in casting with Jane Alderman for many years and taught on-camera and professional preparation courses at DePaul University School of Theater and the Chicago Academy of Performing Arts. Janelle also teaches at Northwestern University. Teaching at Chicago Acting Studio since 2013!
Ilyssa Fradin is a professional actress living in Chicago. Ilyssa Fradin has appeared on various outer circuit stages and has found success as a full-time voiceover artist and Appearing in various television, film projects and commercials. She can currently be seen on stage at the Wit Theater in Mia McCullough’s new play Household Spirits...until November 11th.
Micki Paskal (CSA) has been a casting director in Chicago for the past 31 years. She has cast for hundreds of commercial clients regionally and nationally. Past film/TV credits include “Public Enemy,” “Road to Perdition,” “Fargo,” “What Women Want,” “Amityville Horror”, stranger than fiction and Bear. She has worked with film directors including Michael Mann, Robert Altman, the Coen brothers, Sam Mendes, Marc Forster and Harold Ramis. She co-owns and operates PR Casting with Jennifer Rudnicke.
