SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations – Details, episodes & analysis

Ed shares stories from his time as the President of SAG, including the 1980 Strike and merging with AFTRA. He discusses his early interest in acting, his acting career, and his eventual position as President. This interview is part of the SAG-AFTRA Conversations series, an essential resource for actors, filmmakers and students of discussions with performers, exploring the process and profession of acting. Watch Past Q&A's: https://www.youtube.com/c/SAGAFTRAFoundation/videos Follow the SAG-AFTRA Foundation on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagaftraFOUND/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sagaftraFOUNDATION Twitter: https://twitter.com/sagaftraFOUND The SAG-AFTRA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the most comprehensive, educational and state-of-the-art resources to SAG-AFTRA members. The Foundation believes that the contributions made to our culture by performing artists are not only valuable, but essential. The SAG-AFTRA Foundation relies entirely on donations to provide emergency assistance and free educational programs to SAG-AFTRA artists. This conversation is made possible thanks to the generosity of our supporters. Over the past year, the Foundation has given over $6.5 million in disaster relief to more than 7,000 performers. If you are a SAG-AFTRA artist and need help, please ask. And, if you can help, please give at: https://sagaftra.foundation/donate All donations are tax-deductible.

Q&A with Alan Arkin in honor of his role in ARGO. Moderated by Jenelle Riley, Back Stage. ALAN ARKIN, long one of the most respected artists of the stage and screen, won an Academy Award® for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the 2006 hit "Little Miss Sunshine." Other credits include: "Argo," "The Muppets", "Marley & Me", "Get Smart.", "The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming", "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter", "Popi", "Glengarry Glen Ross"; "So I Married an Axe Murderer"; "Grosse Point Blank"; "Gattaca", "Thirteen Conversations About One Thing", "Sunshine Cleaning" and many more. The views expressed in the presentation materials and films, and by the guests and moderators are solely those of the organization and/or individual providing them and do not reflect the opinions of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, its staff or Board of Directors. Watch Past Q&A's: https://www.youtube.com/c/SAGAFTRAFoundation/videos Follow the SAG-AFTRA Foundation on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagaftraFOUND/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sagaftraFOUNDATION Twitter: https://twitter.com/sagaftraFOUND` The SAG-AFTRA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the most comprehensive, educational and state-of-the-art resources to SAG-AFTRA members. The Foundation believes that the contributions made to our culture by performing artists are not only valuable, but essential. The SAG-AFTRA Foundation relies entirely on donations to provide emergency assistance and free educational programs to SAG-AFTRA artists. This conversation is made possible thanks to the generosity of our supporters. During the pandemic, the Foundation has given over $7 million in disaster relief to more than 7,500 performers. If you are a SAG-AFTRA artist and need help, please ask. And, if you can help, please give at: https://sagaftra.foundation/donate. All donations are tax-deductible.

Artios Award nominees Gayle Keller (‘Bros,’ ‘The Bubble’), Nikki Barrett (‘Elvis’), Avy Kaufman (‘Tár,’ ‘Montana Story,’ ‘Spoiler Alert’), Douglas Aibel (‘White Noise,’ “Armageddon Time’), and Sarah Halley Finn (‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,’ ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’) joined us to share details on their award nominated performances. Moderated by Jaz Tangcay, Variety.

The views expressed in the presentation materials and films, and by the guests and moderators are solely those of the organization and/or individual providing them and do not reflect the opinions of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, its staff or Board of Directors.

Watch Past Q&A's:

https://www.youtube.com/c/SAGAFTRAFoundation/videos

Follow the SAG-AFTRA Foundation on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagaftraFOUND/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sagaftraFOUNDATION

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sagaftraFOUND

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the most comprehensive, educational and state-of-the-art resources to SAG-AFTRA members. The Foundation believes that the contributions made to our culture by performing artists are not only valuable, but essential.

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation relies entirely on donations to provide emergency assistance and free educational programs to SAG-AFTRA artists. This conversation is made possible thanks to the generosity of our supporters.

During the pandemic, the Foundation has given over $7 million in disaster relief to more than 7,500 performers. If you are a SAG-AFTRA artist and need help, please ask. And, if you can help, please give at: https://sagaftra.foundation/donate.

All donations are tax-deductible.

Career Conversations with Sam Elliott.  Moderated by Jenelle Riley, Variety.

Sam Elliott stars alongside Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga in Warner Bros. Pictures "A Star is Born." He has an iconic career that began with a bit part in the classic film “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” He rose to stardom playing the lead in the cult classic “Lifeguard,” and has since built a career with many memorable and iconic film and television roles. 

Elliott’s other film work includes “The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then The Bigfoot,” directed by Robert Krzykowski and executive produced by John Sayles. On television, Elliott stars opposite Ashton Kutcher in the hit Netflix comedy series “The Ranch”. 

Recently, Elliott received rave reviews for his starring turn in Brett Haley’s “The Hero,” opposite Laura Prepon and Nick Offerman, making it his second feature with Haley, following “I’ll See You in My Dreams.” His other notable film credits include “Mask,” “Fatal Beauty,” “Road House,” “Rush,” “Gettysburg,” “Tombstone,” “The Big Lebowski,” “The Hi-Lo Country,” “The Contender,” “We Were Soldiers,” “Off the Map,” “Hulk,” “Thank You for Smoking,” “Barnyard,” “Ghost Rider,” “The Golden Compass,” “Up in the Air,” “Did You Hear About the Morgans?,” “Marmaduke,” “The Company You Keep,” “Draft Day,” “Digging for Fire,” “Grandma,” “The Good Dinosaur” and “Rock Dog.” 

Elliott’s television credits include a recurring role on the hit FX series “Justified,” for which he won a 2015 Critics’ Choice Award, Netflix’s “Grace and Frankie,” and the NBC comedy “Parks and Recreation.” He was nominated for an Emmy and a Golden Globe for his role in the 1995 CBS miniseries “Buffalo Girls.” His other television movie credits include “Avenger,” “You Know My Name,” “Conagher”—for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe—and “The Quick and the Dead.” In 2013, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Voiceover Performance for his work on the popular Cartoon Network series “Robot Chicken.”

Career Q&A with Chita Rivera on September 11, 2015.  Moderated by Richard Ridge, BroadwayWorld.com.  

An accomplished and versatile actress/singer/dancer, Chita Rivera has won two Tony Awards as Best Leading Actress in a Musical and received eight additional Tony nominations for an exceptional 10 Tony nominations. On Friday, November 6, 2015, WNET/THIRTEEN will air the Great Performances special Chita Rivera: A Lot of Livin’ To Do, a retrospective on her extraordinary life and career nationally on PBS. She recently starred in The Visit, the final John Kander/Fred Ebb/Terrence McNally musical directed by John Doyle and choreographed by Graciela Daniele on Broadway (2015), following the acclaimed production at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in the summer of 2014. She starred in the Broadway revival of The Mystery of Edwin Drood, the Broadway and touring productions of The Dancer’s Life, a dazzling new musical celebrating her spectacular career, written by Terrence McNally and directed by Graciela Daniele and the revival of the Broadway musical Nine with Antonio Banderas. She trained as a ballerina (from age 11) before receiving a scholarship to the School of American Ballet from legendary George Balanchine. Chita’s first appearance (age 17) was as a principal dancer in Call Me Madam. Her electric performance as Anita in the original Broadway premiere of West Side Story brought her stardom, which she repeated in London. Her career is highlighted by starring roles in Bye Bye Birdie, The Rink (Tony Award), Chicago, Jerry’s Girls, Kiss of the Spider Woman (Tony Award), and the original Broadway casts of Guys and Dolls, Can-Can, Seventh Heaven and Mr. Wonderful. On tour: Born Yesterday, The Rose Tattoo, Call Me Madam, Threepenny Opera, Sweet Charity, Kiss Me Kate, Zorba, Can-Can with The Rockettes. Chita was awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2009. She received the coveted Kennedy Center Honor in Washington, DC in 2002 and is the first Hispanic woman ever chosen to receive this award. In May, 2013, she was appointed to a special Kennedy Center Honors Advisory Committee. Chita’s current solo CD is entitled And Now I Swing. Her most treasured production is her daughter, singer/dancer/choreographer Lisa Mordente.

Career Q&A with Ewan McGregor on November 28, 2012.  Moderated by Jenelle Riley, Back Stage.

EWAN MCGREGOR (Henry) has proven himself as a true actor time and again, from his breakthrough role as the heroin-addicted Mark Renton in Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting, to the legendary Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars Episode 1, to starring as "Christian" opposite Nicole Kidman in the Academy Award® and BAFTA award winning musical Moulin Rouge directed by Baz Luhrmann.

He was seen starring in Focus Features' slice-of-life film, Beginners, opposite Christopher Plummer, based on director Mike Mills personal story. Beginners recently won for Best Ensemble Cast and Best Feature at the 2011 Gotham Film Awards. The film also received the Best Feature nomination at the upcoming 2012 Independent Spirit Awards and attention by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Follow the SAG-AFTRA Foundation on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagaftraFOUND/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sagaftraFOUNDATION
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sagaftraFOUND

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the most comprehensive, educational and state-of-the-art resources to SAG-AFTRA members. The Foundation believes that the contributions made to our culture by performing artists are not only valuable, but essential.

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation relies entirely on donations to provide emergency assistance and free educational programs to SAG-AFTRA artists. This conversation is made possible thanks to the generosity of our supporters.

Over the past year, the Foundation has given over $6.5 million in disaster relief to more than 7,000 performers. If you are a SAG-AFTRA artist and need help, please ask. And, if you can help, please give at: https://sagaftra.foundation/donate

All donations are tax-deductible.

Career Q&A with Ray Liotta on June 5, 2017.  Moderated by Stacey Wilson Hunt, New York Magazine.

Ray Liotta stars on the NBC drama “Shades of Blue” as Lt. Matt Wozniak.

Liotta started his career with a Golden Globe-nominated performance in Jonathan Demme’s “Something Wild” and followed that by co-starring opposite Tom Hulce in “Dominic and Eugene.” He’s also well-known for the iconic role of Shoeless Joe Jackson in the Oscar-nominated film “Field of Dreams.”

 But perhaps the film that brought Liotta his most widespread acclaim was his portrayal of real-life mobster Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese’s epic movie “Goodfellas” starring opposite Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci. His performance helped the film earn a Best Picture nomination and solidified Liotta's status with critics and the public alike.

Liotta continued to create notable performances in films such as “Copland,” opposite Robert De Niro and Harvey Keitel for director James Mangold; “Hannibal,” opposite Anthony Hopkins for director Ridley Scott; “Heartbreakers,” co-starring Sigourney Weaver; and “Blow,” opposite Johnny Depp.

Liotta then produced and starred in the intense cop drama “Narc” for director Joe Carnahan. The film received critical acclaim and earned Liotta an Independent Spirit Award nomination. Additional film credits include “Place Beyond the Pines,” starring opposite Ryan Gosling; “The Iceman,” opposite Michael Shannon and Winona Ryder; “Killing Them Softly,” for director Andrew Dominik with Brad Pitt; “The Details,” opposite Tobey Maguire; and “Wanderlust, directed by Judd Apatow.

Liotta won an Emmy as Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama in 2005 for a memorable appearance on “ER.” He also earned a SAG Award nomination for Male Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries for the 1998 HBO telepic “The Rat Pack” playing Frank Sinatra.

In 2015 Liotta co-starred on the A&E miniseries “Texas Rising,” co-starring Brendan Fraser and Bill Paxton, and directed by Roland Joffe. Liotta was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries.

For his 2004 Broadway debut opposite Frank Langella in Stephen Belber's “Match,” Liotta received a Distinguished Performance honor at the Drama League Awards.

A New Jersey native, Liotta began acting while a student at the University of Miami.

Follow the SAG-AFTRA Foundation on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagaftraFOUND/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sagaftraFOUNDATION
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sagaftraFOUND

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the most comprehensive, educational and state-of-the-art resources to SAG-AFTRA members. The Foundation believes that the contributions made to our culture by performing artists are not only valuable, but essential.

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation relies entirely on donations to provide emergency assistance and free educational programs to SAG-AFTRA artists. This conversation is made possible thanks to the generosity of our supporters.

Over the past year, the Foundation has given over $6.5 million in disaster relief to more than 7,000 performers. If you are a SAG-AFTRA artist and need help, please ask. And, if you can help, please give at: https://sagaftra.foundation/donate

All donations are tax-deductible.

Q&A with Laverne Cox on July 30, 2014.  Moderated by Mark Peikert, Executive Editor, Backstage. 

Laverne Cox is an Emmy-winning actress who can be seen in the Netflix original series “Orange is The New Black” where she plays the ground breaking role of Sophia Burset, an incarcerated African American, transgender woman.  The shows critically acclaimed second season is currently available on Netflix. Laverne is the first trans woman of color to have a leading role on a mainstream scripted television show. Her work as an actress and advocate landed her on the cover of TIME Magazine as well as an Emmy nomination for “Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series” and a Critic’s Choice nomination for “Best Supporting Actress.”

Follow the SAG-AFTRA Foundation on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagaftraFOUND/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sagaftraFOUNDATION Twitter: https://twitter.com/sagaftraFOUND

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the most comprehensive, educational and state-of-the-art resources to SAG-AFTRA members. The Foundation believes that the contributions made to our culture by performing artists are not only valuable, but essential.

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation relies entirely on donations to provide emergency assistance and free educational programs to SAG-AFTRA artists. This conversation is made possible thanks to the generosity of our supporters.

Over the past year, the Foundation has given over $6.5 million in disaster relief to more than 7,000 performers. If you are a SAG-AFTRA artist and need help, please ask. And, if you can help, please give at: https://sagaftra.foundation/donate

All donations are tax-deductible.

Conversations with David Hyde Pierce on April 12, 2013. Moderated by Richard Ridge, Broadway World.

Emmy and Tony Award winner David Hyde Pierce can be seen on Broadway starring opposite Sigourney Weaver and Kristine Nielsen in Christopher Durang's new comedy, "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike."  The show opened in March following sold out runs at Princeton's McCarter Theatre and at Lincoln Center.

Pierce made his professional and Broadway debut in 1982 in Durang's "Beyond Therapy" and went on to create roles in Off-Broadway productions of Mark O'Donnell's "That's it Folks!," Richard Greenberg's "The Author's Voice" and Jules Feiffer's "Elliot Loves" before returning to Broadway in "The Heidi Chronicles."

In 2005, Pierce originated the role of 'Sir Robin' in the Broadway production of "Monty Python's Spamalot," and was nominated for a Drama Desk Award.  In 2007, he won the Tony Award and earned another Drama Desk Award nomination for his role in the musical comedy "Curtains."

Perhaps best known for his role on TV's iconic comedy, "Frasier," Pierce earned four Emmy Awards among many other accolades.  His film credits include "Little Man Tate," "Sleepless in Seattle,"  "Nixon," "Down With Love," and the Sundance Film Festival Selection, "The Perfect Host."

Follow the SAG-AFTRA Foundation on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagaftraFOUND/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sagaftraFOUNDATION
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sagaftraFOUND

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the most comprehensive, educational and state-of-the-art resources to SAG-AFTRA members. The Foundation believes that the contributions made to our culture by performing artists are not only valuable, but essential.

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation relies entirely on donations to provide emergency assistance and free educational programs to SAG-AFTRA artists. This conversation is made possible thanks to the generosity of our supporters.

Over the past year, the Foundation has given over $6.5 million in disaster relief to more than 7,000 performers. If you are a SAG-AFTRA artist and need help, please ask. And, if you can help, please give at: https://sagaftra.foundation/donate

All donations are tax-deductible.

Career Retrospective with Rachel Weisz, starring in THE FAVOURITE, on January 31, 2019. Moderated by Mara Webster. 

Academy Award-winning actress Rachel Weisz, who is known for portraying women of incredible spirit and intelligence, continues to seek out challenging projects and roles both on screen and on stage and as a producer.

Follow the SAG-AFTRA Foundation on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagaftraFOUND/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sagaftraFOUNDATION Twitter: https://twitter.com/sagaftraFOUND

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the most comprehensive, educational and state-of-the-art resources to SAG-AFTRA members. The Foundation believes that the contributions made to our culture by performing artists are not only valuable, but essential.

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation relies entirely on donations to provide emergency assistance and free educational programs to SAG-AFTRA artists. This conversation is made possible thanks to the generosity of our supporters.

Over the past year, the Foundation has given over $6.5 million in disaster relief to more than 7,000 performers. If you are a SAG-AFTRA artist and need help, please ask. And, if you can help, please give at: https://sagaftra.foundation/donate

All donations are tax-deductible.