Courtney Rioux and Avis Boone are Co-Hosting this round table discussion with fellow negotiating committee members, Jason George, Shari Belafonte, and Danielle Towne. We cover AI concerns, the process of the negotiations, and the major gains of the 2023 SAG-AFTRA TV/Theatrical Tentative Agreement. Voting ends December 5th at 5 pm PT/7 pm CT/8 pm ET and you can get more info, find your PIN, and vote at https://www.sagaftra.org/contracts2023

Check out Avis Boone's podcast That's How We Role

Our guest today is Eddie Mujica. He's a Cuban-American actor, writer, director, and Emmy-winning producer.

In this episode, we talk about his viral videos on TikTok and  Instagram, his creative process, auditioning for SNL. We talk about therapy, imposter syndrome, anxiety, and depression. No, it's real. You guys, I swear, it's a really fun episode. We talk about his experience in the writer's room on Zoom and in person, self-care, values, and so much more.

My intro includes information about the SAG-AFTRA 2023 Tentative agreement including info sessions, how to ask questions, and my opinion on how I'm voting as a negotiating committee member!

Check out Eddie's viral videos at: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyOTCTXrXS9/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D

And here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJRyTHYpFbxmEm97xB2Psj9nQQzbMAbiy&si=k6LOMq0hZkKM7YDA

Actor Behzad Dabu talks about taking a leap, acting in LA vs Chicago, the actor mindset, the SAG-AFTRA Strike, and more.

Behzad Dabu is an actor, producer, and writer based out of both Los Angeles and Chicago.  He grew up in Syracuse, NY, and got his BFA in Acting from Columbia College Chicago, where he also worked after college as the Senior International Admissions Officer; traveling all over the world working with students and their families on creating careers in the arts.  

He has worked extensively on stage at some of the best theaters in the country, especially in Chicago, and is a proud company member at TimeLine Theatre Company which presents stories inspired by history that connect with today’s social and political issues.

On-screen, you can see him as REDACTED BC OF THE STRIKE, and on The Lion Guard.  He also appeared in episodes of REDACTED; as well as various audiobooks, podcasts, and national commercials.

With a passion for working with playwrights and new play development, he originated the role of 'Amit' in "Samsara" at Victory Gardens Theatre, for which he was nominated for a Jeff Award - Best Actor. He also originated the role of 'Abe' in the Pulitzer Prize-winning and Tony-nominated play, "Disgraced" which he performed at American Theatre Company, Goodman Theatre, Berkeley Repertory, Seattle Repertory, and the Mark Taper Forum at Center Theatre Group.

Behzad strives to be a strong advocate for social justice and equality, particularly in regard to representation in the arts and media; and is a founding member of The Chicago Inclusion Project, which seeks to level the playing field and provide resources in the arts for people of color, women, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities.  He is a skilled audience engagement facilitator and experienced post-show discussion leader.  

Behzad is a proud member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA.

Actor and writer, Barbara Howlin talks about using The Artist’s Way to recover your inner artist, trust your intuition, and heal through play. 

Barbara Howlin is a SAG-AFTRA actor & writer who's been guiding creatives for the last decade. She's taught actors at AMAW and various studios around Los Angeles. Barbara is also a Reiki Master guiding people in energy expansion & healing. As founder of The Howling Hive, she leads groups and one-on-one sessions to help us all embrace creative healing for a life of play, ease & exploration.

Get $15 off Barbara's Artist's Way Group with the code WHOLEARTIST!

Courtney and her coach, Jaime, discuss the desire to quit acting or at least take a break. They talk about raising strong, independent children, motherhood, and its challenges, especially in the acting industry. Courtney opens up about where the hell she's been the past two years....trigger warning they talk about pregnancy loss. Jaime reveals being recently diagnosed with ADHD. The title of this episode says it all... Braving the Unknown: Navigating Big Life and Career Transitions with Self-Compassion Feat. The unknown is uncomfortable, let's navigate it together! 

After a two-year hiatus (maternity and bereavement leave) Courtney is back at the podcast! Episode 2 will explain where she's been the past two years, but Episode 1 had to be an update on the strike, didn't it?! #SAGAFTRASTRIKE #SAGAFTRASTRONG

Official updates at: Sagaftrastike.org

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Co-produced by Bex Marsh and Courtney Rioux. Edited by Courtney Rioux.

Special thanks to: Mandy Work for all your help on the episode, and to Dana Black and Tania Richard for your fellow podcaster support group that we have unofficially started.

Patreon.com/wholeartistpod

@courtneyrioux and @wholeartistpod @bexleemarsh

https://entertainmentcommunity.org/how-get-help-and-give-help-during-work-stoppage

Transcript link: https://courtneyrioux.squarespace.com/season-3-episode-1-transcript

The Whole Artist with Courtney Rioux: Conversations with artists about acting, purpose, and the journey to finding wholeness.

Tyler Core contains multitudes. He, fortunately, stumbled into a job he loves: taking actor headshots for the acting community of Chicago. A hearty community of weirdoes lifts him up every day, including his wife, Stephanie, family and loved ones in Indiana, and his makeup artist and Chicago talent-captain, Khaki, of course. If he were composed of emojis: they would be a donut, a salsa dancer, an open mouth, and a red heart. And the fireworks one!

https://www.tylercoreshoots.com/

The Whole Artist with Courtney Rioux: Conversations with artists about acting, purpose, and the journey to finding wholeness. 

Born and raised on Chicago's south side, SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local President, Charles Andrew Gardner, is an actor, educator, and filmmaker. On-camera credits include The Chi, Chicago PD; films Long Ride Home, Olympia, Noise and Color, Every 21 Seconds, and Holding On; as well as multiple national commercials for brands including Hyundai, Liberty Mutual, Ford, and AT&T. Voice-over credits include Pepsi Co. McDonald’s, Comcast, Walmart, and Dunkin' Donuts. Charles is a company member with TimeLine Theatre Company. In addition to his work on stage and in front of the camera, Charles is an on-camera acting professor at DePaul University, a faculty member at The Acting Studio Chicago, as well as a teaching artist at TimeLine Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre and Goodman Theatre. Charles sits on the Associate Producer board at the Gene Siskel Film Center and is an advisory board member of Creative Cypher.

Ilyssa Fradin is a working SAG-AFTRA actor in and from Chicago. She can be heard on a variety of voiceovers including commercials, corporate narration, interactive games, and promos. She’s also been in a variety of indie and feature films as well as Chicago-filmed TV shows. Joining both AFTRA and SAG on the same day in 1995, she became involved in union service during the commercials strike of 2000. She soon joined the SAG Council as a Local council member.  She continued to serve her Branch as VP, then President, and after Merger became VP of the Mid-Sized Locals and co-chair of the CoL (Committee of Locals) for three terms. She currently serves as one of the two National Board reps for the Chicago Local. She has and continues to serve on a variety of Local and National committees. An industry labor advocate, she has been a delegate to the CFL- Chicago Federation of Labor and a member of the IPA (Illinois Production Alliance), WIFChgo, and MFF(Midwest Film Fest).

http://ChiLocalLeaders.com

https://www.facebook.com/groups/chilocalleaders

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Chgosagaftra

https://www.unionplus.org/

https://sagaftra.foundation/

https://www.youtube.com/user/SAGAFTRA

https://www.sagaftra.org/chicago

https://www.sagaftra.org/membership-benefits/member-app

Mixing: Henrique Lazary

Music: Blythe Martin Productions

Editing: Courtney Rioux

Assistance: Mandy Work Wetzel