William Mapother

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SAG Election Video Interview (warning: nearly as dry as this title)

Posted on: September 2nd, 2011 by wmapother No Comments

Okay, so for those of you who are still, unbelievably, unable to sleep after having slogged through my 14-page questionnaire on the pressing issuesfacing SAG and what I’d do about them and how Star Wars might play a part in that, a) you’ve got the insomnia real bad, huh? and b) here’s a little nugget that, if it won’t put you to sleep, might at least give you a sadistic little chuckle, which might be just the thing to quiet the ol’ brain.

Fellow SAG Board member and contracts yoda David Jolliffe and I were interviewed by BackStage, the mag/paper for actors, about our thoughts on the pressing issues facing SAG and what blah blah blah.  Note, please, that I am not in any way mocking the issues, only the painful experience of reading, hearing and watching actors hold forth on political issues as they stump for votes.  Oh, Mama, can this really be the end?

So, all 4:00 of the painful glory of David and me is here.  (Being spared the full 15:00:  Priceless.  You have BackStage’s editor to thank for that.)

Posted in Acting Tips & Info, Interviews and Q&A's, Music, Press, Video (Online & Home)

If you’re sleepless..

Posted on: August 31st, 2011 by wmapother No Comments

As mentioned in a previous post, I’m running once again for the National Board of the Screen Actors Guild, a position I’ve held since 2007.  Yes, the Board can be dysfunctional, contentious, and a huge time suck.  Unfortunately, I guess, I need the eggs.

So, for the benefit of voting SAG members, but especially those poor souls unable to drift off at night, I answered fourteen (14, XIV, thirteen and a half more than you care about) pages worth of questions from the Hollywood Reporter about myself, SAG, and our likely merger of AFTRA.

Uh, hello?  Hellooo?  Out already?  Okay, well, you’re welcome.  When you come to, if you’re interested, wipe off your nap drool and head over here.

Posted in Acting Tips & Info, News & Events

SAG Ballots en route

Posted on: August 23rd, 2011 by wmapother 4 Comments

Tomorrow the ballots are mailed for the Screen Actors Guild election.  This year I’m running to retain my Board seat, which I’ve held since 2007.  If you’re a member, please take the time to vote.

Although the Board elections are always important, this year that is particularly true.  Early in 2012 the Board will almost surely decide on the specifics of a merger with the other major actors union, AFTRA.  This merger will effect, at a very minimum, the contracts with our many employers, our membership requirements, and our Pension and Health Plans.

If you were ever going to take the time to vote, this is the year.

I’m #3 on the ballot.  The Hollywood Reporter has all the candidates listed here.

Candidates’ statements for the ballot were restricted to 100 words.  In a shocker, I used fewer words than I could have.  My statement is at the bottom.

“Pro-AFTRA merger.  A combined union provides us maximum leverage.  My other priorities: membership requirements; strong Pension & Health; Global Rule One; protections for background actors; and a powerful New Media presence.  I bring a working actor’s perspective and have been a Board member since 2007.  Current committees: New Technology, Disciplinary Review.”

Posted in Acting Tips & Info, News & Events

(A little too) up close & personal

Posted on: October 20th, 2010 by wmapother No Comments

Check out this insightful NY Times article discussing the risks of “overexposure” with HDTV.

And audiences wonder why actors are self-conscious about their appearance. With hi-def television, it could get a lot worse — for both actors and the audience..

 

[This is another in a continuing series of potentially helpful, hopefully practical posts to actors on practicing their craft or surviving the trying.  I bear no responsibility for how this or any of my posts might ruin your life, lead you to law school, or make your parents sick with worry.  For more of the same, click the ‘Info to Actors’ category at left.]

Posted in Acting Tips & Info, Random, TV

My Candidacy for the SAG Board

Posted on: August 26th, 2010 by wmapother 4 Comments

My three-year term on Board of the Screen Actors Guild is ending, and I’m running again (for the eggs, of course).  SAG members should receive their ballots today — I’m at #43.

I’m running on the slate of Membership First.  Our primary goal:  Merge all of SAG & AFTRA actors into one union.
Below is a bit more information on Membership First.
If you’re a SAG member, please vote.  It’s your union.  Exercise your voice.




Imagine the benefits of merging all actors into one union:
    • Hassle-free qualifying for just one Health & Pension
          plan.
    • Simplicity of a single dues payment.
    • Unified membership focused on actors’ financial
          security.
Sound pretty good?  We think so, too.  
Join us in supporting a SAG-AFTRA merger of All Actors into One Union.  
One purpose.  One voice.  
Q: What kind of SAG-AFTRA merger does Membership First support?
A: One which brings all actors — and only actors — into
       one union.
Q: Who does Membership First mean by ‘actors’ in an all-actors union?
A: Principal and background actors, stunt performers &
       pilots, dancers, singers, puppeteers.
Q: Why not also merge with AFTRA’s non-actors (broadcasters, journalists, DJ’s, etc.)?  Isn’t more better?
A: Not in this case.  They could vote on our contracts —
       but they have no experience with actors’ concerns.
       In fact, they have conflicting interests which could
       make them vote against actors’ concerns.  Also, they
       don’t increase our leverage because legally, they can’t
       walk out with us.  Merging with them threatens the
       very strength we need this merger to achieve.
Membership First’s Balanced Approach to Merger:
• Merge all of SAG & AFTRA actors into one union.
• Hire an outside merger consultant.  Merging unions is
     highly complex and costly.  It requires innovation and
     specialists.  It’s too important to be created by Board
     members/SAG staff alone.
• Include the members:  Conduct town hall meetings,
     caucuses and surveys.
• Preserve the financial security of SAG’s Pension & Health
    Plans.  The problems of combining SAG’s & AFTRA’s
    plans have not been resolved. Membership First would
    do so before merger.
• Protect every SAG member’s right to vote.  All members
    could vote on this merger.
MEMBERSHIP FIRST:  A VOTE
FOR A MERGED, 
ALL-ACTOR UNION
Membership First Candidates 
(as listed on your ballot):

For more info, please see www.membershipfirst.blogspot.com           


Membership First endorses these independent candidates:
#3   John Tremaine   #4  Mobin Khan       
#17 Leigh French      #48 Rico Bueno

*Not paid for with SAG funds*


Posted in Acting Tips & Info