A HISTORIC MOMENT: SAG AND AFTRA MERGE, BECOME ONE UNION

TODAY, MARCH 30th, 2012, The Screen Actors Guild and The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists have merged, and became one union.  SAG members voted 82% in favor, and AFTRA members voted 86% in favor.

 

The Membership of both unions have voted; have spoken. As a proud member of the unions I am very happy and very proud of my union brothers and sisters for bringing this about.. Not since the brave souls who founded SAG in 1933 has there been a more important event than this merger of the two unions. And today, with this historic occasion, we must remember that nothing will have changed. And everything will have changed.


Nothing will have changed, as we will continue to work on Monday (or the next) morning under existing contracts.


Everything will have changed, as we will have Co-Presidents at the helm, leading a single board of combined board members.


And this is where the real change will begin, during this year-and-a-half before the next elections. During that time many operational details will be finessed; some hammered, out. We will also be focusing on upcoming contracts negotiations. And in that time the trustees of the P&H Plans will consider, investigate, and affect the combination of the Plans...this is the hard work ahead; a thousand issues; a million details. Although meticulous groundwork has been laid, this is only the beginning of a journey.

Today we are SAG-AFTRA in name. On Monday we go to work.

Stay involved.

-Mark Redfield
Member
SAG-AFTRA 

 

"TISH! THAT'S FRENCH!" (John Astin as Gomez) by Mark Redfield (2012)

This large cartoon of John Astin as "Gomez" is offered for auction as a fundraiser for The Poe House and Museum in Baltimore. Signed by the artist, Mark Redfield, and autographed by Mr. Astin, it comes to the winner framed, as shown.

Mark Redfield and John Astin, March, 2012

John Astin has been a friend for a few years now, and this large cartoon of him as Gomez Addams from the TV show "The Addams Family", was displayed at an event called "Poe Forevermore" in Baltimore, Maryland on March 3rd, 2012, at a fundraiser for The Poe House and Museum in Baltimore.

In 2010, the City of Baltimore eliminated the funding of the Poe House and Museum, and Mr. Astin and I (with many, many others) have been doing all we can to keep the doors of the Poe House open to the public! All proceeds from the auction of this painting will go to the Poe House.

Mr. Astin has been a long-time supporter of the Poe House, performing readings for events, and has played Edgar Allan Poe in his own one-,man show. Mr. Astin autographed the cartoon of "Gomez" just above the shoulder (as seen in the accompanying photo).

 

John Astin autographs "Gomez", March, 2012

The original acrylic painting measures 24"x30". The measurements of the framed painting is approximately 33 1/2" x 39 1/2".

On behalf of The Poe House, John Astin and myself, that you for bidding on this item, and thank you for your support of the Poe House and Museum in Baltimore!

-Mark Redfield

The auction is HERE.

Information about the Poe House and Museum in Baltimore is HERE.

SAG-AFTRA MERGER--WHY MERGER IS IMPORTANT, AT A GLANCE: DISNEY

MONSTERPALOOZA MAGAZINE--Nominated For 4 Rondo Awards!

Voting has begun and the ballots for the fan-driven 10th Annual RONDO AWARDS are HERE.

MONSTERPALOOZA MAGAZINE has been nominated for four awards!

Voting is easy. Click the link and follow the simple directions to cast your ballots for you favorite picks--vote for Monsterpalooza Magazine, of course!--and email your choices in! You don't have to vote for everything in every category (it's a huge ballot this year) just the ones you like!

Voting is happening now and ends on SUNDAY NIGHT at midnight, April 1, 2012.

Monsterpalooza Magazine has been nominated in the following four categories:

- BEST MAGAZINE 2011
- BEST COVER by Jeff Preston

 "The Pumpkin Master" by Jeff Preston, the cover for the premiere issue!

- BEST ARTICLE 

"Dare You See It? James Whale's Frankenstein" by Pierre Fournier

 The splash page for Pierre Fournier's fabulous article!

"Karloff and the Creation of the Screen Actors Guild" by Mark Redfield

 Boris Karloff and the Founding Members of The Screen Actors Guild in 1933.

Thanks for your votes and your support. Happy voting!

Here's the link to the Rondo Awards.

Here's the link to order Monsterpalooza Magazine!



-Mark Redfield

SAG-AFTRA ONE UNION WEBSITE UP AND VIDEO!

The new website, with all the materials available for actors in the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists is now live and can be viewed  at www.sagaftra.org

SAG-AFTRA MERGER? BORIS KARLOFF WOULD APPROVE.

Remembering Boris Karloff today, who passed away on this date in 1969, and looking forward to voting "yes" on the ballot that merges two US actor unions into one, strengthened, new union to serve and protect us, I wondered what Boris Karloff would think of it...

 Boris Karloff 23 November 1887 – 2 February 1969

Karloff was one of the courageous founding members of the Screen Actors Guild, and attended early meetings of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

He struggled in his early years, and yet, when a small measure of success and stability had come into his working life as an actor, he struggled to help form SAG in 1933, and fought until it was recognized by the producers in Hollywood.

Karloff was known to always look-out for and help his fellows. He would've seen the value in merging these two unions.

I'm convinced he'd throw his support behind us today.

-Mark Redfield

Get the facts on merger HERE.

My article, Boris Karloff and the Creation of SAG is in the premiere issue of Monsterpalooza Magazine. You can order a copy HERE.

SAG APPROVES MERGER WITH AFTRA!

Screen Actors Guild National Board of Directors Approves Merger Package with AFTRA

LOS ANGELES (January 27, 2012)

The Screen Actors Guild National Board of Directors today voted overwhelmingly to approve and recommend a plan to merge with AFTRA. The board met in a regularly scheduled plenary meeting in the James Cagney Board Room at the Guild’s Los Angeles headquarters and voted after reviewing a merger package put forward by the SAG and AFTRA Group for One Union (G1) that includes a Merger Agreement and Constitution.

Collectively, these documents outline the plan of merger, dues and finance structure, membership requirements, and other basic attributes of the successor union. The same merger package must now be approved by AFTRA’s National Board of Directors which is scheduled to meet on Jan. 28, to review and vote on the package. Should the AFTRA board approve the merger package as well, a referendum will be sent out for a vote by members of both unions in the coming weeks.

The proposed name for the new union is SAG-AFTRA. 

Read the rest of the press release HERE. 



This is fantastic news! Long time coming...and long over due, ONE union means greater strength! 

Happy Birthday to The Maestro--FEDERICO FELLINI

Federico Fellini. Born 20 January, 1920. Died 31 October, 1993.

"FELLINI 12" (2012) by Mark Redfield. Acrylic on canvas. (16x20)

© Mark Redfield 2012

MONSTERPALOOZA MAGAZINE'S POE-PALOOZA!

http://www.monsterpaloozamag.com/news.html#poepalooza

POE-PALOOZA starts Sunday, January 15th, 2012  on the Monsterpalooza Magazine facebook page! 

In honor of Edgar Allan Poe's birthday on January 19th, 2012, we'll be posting about the great, influential writer ALL WEEK--on the facebook page and on the website! 

And CONTESTS! What's a birthday party without presents and party favors? Seven days--seven contests--and the rules are simple: open to anyone on the planet; just watch for a contest question each day and be the first to answer correctly and you win! Great prizes--books, posters, DVDs and other Poe-related stuff! 

Let's get the Poe Party started!

Charles Dicken's A CHRISTMAS CAROL read by Mark Redfield

My audio recording of Charles Dickens; A CHRISTMAS CAROL is now available at CDBaby!

Here's the description:


A CHRISTMAS CAROL
performed by Mark Redfield, music by Bill Dickson

Since 1843, A Christmas Carol has delighted millions around the globe and has come to embody the spirit of Christmas for all who have been touched by its magic. Your favorite characters come vividly to life in this rich performance by Mark Redfield. With wonderful music by Bill Dickson, gather ’round this holiday season to hear the beauty and timeless art that is Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

"Redfield's meticulous diction, perceptive phrasing, excellent transitions and impeccable timing make his Scrooge the finest we have heard. His is a classic interpretation that is almost Shakespearean."
- The Baltimore Sun

Download A CHRISTMAS CAROL now HERE!

Happy Holidays!

VINCENT PRICE POSTER NOW AVAILABLE!

• Monsterpalooza Magazine is offering this beautiful, exclusive poster of the great Vincent Price!
  Printed on high-quality, glossy poster stock, it measures 18" x 24" and is perfect for framing.
  This rare, candid photo of the actor visiting Edgar Allan Poe's grave at the Westminster Burial Grounds was taken by Jeff Jerome, the curator of the Poe House and Museum in Baltimore, when Mr. Price was on tour with his one-man show Diversions and Delights, in 1977. Not seen for 34 years until it was published in the pages of the premiere issue of Monsterpalooza Magazine, readers began asking immediately if a poster could be made available--and now it is!
  While in Baltimore on tour, Mr. Price stopped at Westminster Hall to pay his respects at Poe's grave, and paid a visit to the near-by Poe House and Museum. While at the Poe House, the veteran actor, known for his wonderful portrayals of Poe's heroes and villains in the AIP/Corman films, was quoted as saying, "This place gives me the creeps!"
  
  
  
  
  
  Fans of Vincent Price and Poe will love this poster, and a portion of every sale (after production, shipping and handling costs) will be donated by Damfino Media to help support the Poe House and Museum in Baltimore, keeping it's doors open so that the public may enjoy the historic site, as it is currently under the threat of closure by the City of Baltimore, after they cut the funding to sustain the House in 2010. (To find out more about the Poe House and Museum in Baltimore please visit www.poeforevermore.com)
  
  Celebrate the Vincentennial and support the Poe House and Museum! Get one for yourself, and one for the Price and Poe fan who you know will want to display this poster in a place of honor-- before they're all gone!
  
  Your VINCENT PRICE POSTER comes rolled in a sturdy cardboard tube for shipping, which is included in the cost of $19.95.
  
  Makes a great gift for birthdays, special occasions--and for the holidays!
  
  
• Cost includes mailing tube, shipping & handling. Please allow 10-14 days after processing your payment. etc. Use the PayPal shopping cart or send check or money order in US funds to
  

• DAMFINO MEDIA
  P.O. Box 19428
  Baltimore, Maryland 21206
  USA

• Make check or money-order payable to Damfino Media
  
  BUY IT NOW DIRECT FROM THE PUBLISHER HERE!
  

The Premiere Issue of Monsterpalooza Magazine--Available Now!

The premiere issue of Monsterpalooza Magazine is available now and ships immediately!

Order direct from the publisher's website and get your copy!

• IN THIS ISSUE:
  
• FRANKENSTEIN and DRACULA at 80!
  The VINCENTENNIAL: A Report from St. Louis!
  The John Chambers Interview!
  A HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN!
  DARE YOU SEE IT? FRANKENSTEIN AT 80!
  Who Put The ‘Monster’ In Monsterpalooza? We answer : Chaney and Pierce, of course!
  THE THING(S) FROM ANOTHER WORLD!
  KNB:EFX FrightNight! ! Jimmy Sangster Remembered
  THE HAPPIEST HAUNT ON EARTH!
  AND MUCH, MUCH, MORE!
  

Order your copy HERE!

Remembering Vincent Price: October 25, 2011

Vincent Price passed away on this day in 1993.

This year has marked the centennial of his birth. In honor of that, we've asked Raymond Castile  to sketch a portrait for Monsterpalooza Magazine of the incredible event that took place in St. Louis in May of this year, when Tom Stockman moved heaven and earth to create an event called the Vincentennial.

Here's a sneak-peek at the opening pages of Castile's lively report in the premiere issue of Monsterpalooza Magazine. Order your copy today!

MONSTERPALOOZA MAGAZINE GOES TO MONSTER BASH! OCT. 22 AND 23, 2011 IN BUTLER, PA.!

Hope to see you at MONSTER BASH and while you're there, say hello to publishers Michael Heisler and Mark Redfield and pick up a copy of MONSTERPALOOZA MAGAZINE!

Here's the link to the October, 2011 Monster Bash show in Butler, PA: MONSTER BASH