Fall 2012 - The Actors Fund

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Programs & Services
Our LA Clients Share Their Stories
Bill
Makeup Artist
“[Intake Social Worker] Annie Keating, [Career Counselor]
JoAnne Webb and others at The Fund in LA have been
terrific, and treat everyone with a warm respect as valuable
people—despite the fact they are in a difficult situation.”
A veteran of the industry, Bill has been a member of IATSE Local 706 Makeup Artists
and Hairdressers for over 25 years, as well as a SAG actor for 9 years and puppeteer for
more than 30.
Bill’s finances have taken a huge hit in the last few years because of the economic
downturn (see “Responding to Unique Economic Challenges in LA”), so he hasn’t had
steady work at which he’s received union rates since 2007. Because crew unions have
taken financial hits from all sides, many of his peers who work below the line are
becoming increasingly desperate, stressed, frustrated and angry because of ongoing
wage decreases—and the feeling that the situation is not going to improve.
“In the California film business, at least for crewmembers, we are back in the Old
West, and it is every man for himself,” says Bill. “People are desperate and will take any
work they can get.”
Bill found out about The Fund through his unions, and has been fortunate enough
to receive financial assistance twice since 2007. He’s also attended the Baby Boomer
Breakfasts organized by Joanne Webb.
“I think it helped alleviate that feeling of desperation that can grab a person,
especially a creative person, and that can cause them to shut off entirely. It was
like a support group.”
Bill believes it’s going to take a long time for the situation in LA to turn around,
but in the meantime, he’s grateful The Fund is there to help everyone.
“I think there can be no question about The Actors Fund’s vital role in what are sure
to be some very rough times yet to come,” says Bill. “During that time, a lot of people
will be hurting financially, and will likely need to transition to other professions, or temporarily
get assistance while doing so. I know the program has been life-saving to me,
and when I get to the position that I can support The Fund, I will gladly do so.”
Stephanie
Actor / Singer
“The doctor at Venice Family
Clinic...made it possible to be seen
by someone, and ensured I got the
medical attention I needed. I’m
grateful to The Actors Fund.”
An actor/singer/professional clown, Stephanie was born into a family of Los Angeles
entertainers. Though she works regularly in her various fields, in 2009, unable
to meet the minimum requirements for her union health insurance, Stephanie
turned to The Fund when she realized she needed to be seen by a doctor. She had
received emails about The Fund’s partnership with the Performing Artists Clinic
at the Venice Family Clinic, which offers free medical services to low-income
musicians, dancers, actors and other performing artists, and decided to go.
After Clinic Director Dr. Myles Spar did some preliminary tests, he sent her to
a volunteer doctor for additional testing and it was discovered that she had a growth
that needed to be removed. He referred her to a teaching hospital where the
surgery was performed at no cost.
“Once you lose your insurance…you have to look around,” says Stephanie.
“This was a legitimate doctor who knew a legitimate doctor, and I felt OK about
it…I would never have gotten the surgery, I wouldn’t have known where to go—the
whole thing started with The Actors Fund. I don’t know if I’d even be around
anymore if I hadn’t.”
She’s also happy that, if she needs to, she can go back to the Venice Family
Clinic, as it’s available via the new Healthy Way LA program, which helps people
get seen by doctors—and also covers emergency care.
“I didn’t know what was going to happen to me,” she recalls, “but it ended up
being OK. I’m really grateful to The Actors Fund, I have to tell you. They took
care of all of it.”
Dori
Actor / Producer / Political Activist
Susan
Costume Designer
“[If you wonder why The Actors
Fund is so important,] I would say
that when I look at the way the
entertainment industry feeds the
psyche of our society—because
our society loves entertainment—
The Actors Fund is servicing the people that create that.”
Working in LA since 1981, Susan started in theatre as a costume artist, but quickly
transitioned to the 80s world of music videos and commercials, which catapulted
her into designing the costumes for the 1992 film The Bodyguard. She ended up
primarily doing costume design and styling for commercials, and has been a member
of the Costume Designers Guild IATSE Local 892 for about 20 years. But when the
economy took a nosedive in 2008, she went from doing 3 or 4 commercials a month
to 3 or 4 a year.
In 2009 she reached out to The Actors Fund. “They were just an incredible
resource for just being around people who are having the same experiences.”
She participated in the Baby Boomers group, and worked closely with Career
Counselor Joanne Webb exploring other options for employment. That time with
AWP helped her feel free enough to reclassify herself and try some other things,
including working as a Costume Supervisor. She eventually landed a gig on a film that
enabled her to join the Motion Picture Costumers Union IATSE Local 705, which
allowed her to expand her ability to work. Today she’s a costumer on a TV series.
“The way I’ve adjusted is to reclassify and reinvent,” says Susan, “and The Actors
Fund is the place where someone like myself can come in and explore those possibilities.
I think that’s really important for anybody to kind of look at what they’re doing in
their lives and reevaluate and so forth.”
As she’s witnessed the changes in the industry making it more difficult for her and
her peers to find work, Susan has realized just how important organizations like The
Actors Fund are.
“I’ve sat in groups with directors and producers and people from every single
aspect of the industry, above the line and below the line, and we’re all hurting, we’re
all affected by this,” says Susan. “I feel like those people contributing to The Actors
Fund are helping to support an industry that’s really vital to the mental health of our
society.”
“The Actors Fund is there for anyone
in the entertainment industry for
emergency help. When it comes to
special programs, such as the HIV/
AIDS Initiative, donors should know
their support really helps people get
back into life.”
In 2005, after a brush with death as a result of his illness, Dori was in dire need of
assistance, and through word of mouth he learned about The Fund. Initially, it was
given through emergency financial aid and ongoing counseling, but later, The Fund
really started to come through for Dori—especially when it came time to apply for
Social Security Disability.
Due to residual effects caused by the virus, Dori had difficulty writing so his
counselor at The Fund spent three days filling out the 100-page application as Dori
dictated his answers. And he credits the government’s rapid approval—less than three
months—to the help he received from that counselor.
“Even some friends...who are in the industry and know about [The Fund] aren’t
aware that it’s open to more than just actors,” says Dori. “They also don’t know how
specific The Fund gets when you have a catastrophic illness, and the work that it does.
So they’re all pretty amazed. And they actually have donated to The Fund because of
the help I’ve received—and continue to receive.”
As time went on and feeling somewhat stronger, Dori was ready to get back into
life. He decided he wanted to use his experience to help raise awareness, especially
as his case as a straight male infected by a woman is not perceived as a usual one.
With this in mind, The Fund encouraged him to take advantage of the Willard
Swire Scholarship, which provides financial support to qualified Actors Fund clients
making a transition to a new career. This opportunity “was a blessing,” and enabled
him to take a certificate program in International Studies with an emphasis on
Middle Eastern Politics at UCLA.
As a result, Dori found a position and worked for two years as Director of
Development/Media for the Safe Haven Project, a Global non-profit dedicated to
HIV-positive youth. He created a promotional film for the organization, and worked
at its site in Ghana.
“This is where The Actors Fund was really instrumental in helping me get
back into living,” he explains. “I decided I really needed to do something with my
experience, and dovetail that with my 30 years in the entertainment industry.
The Actors Fund helped me go back to school, and acquire the knowledge I needed.
I wanted to work in Africa, and I knew it was important to understand the Muslim
culture, because 70% of Africa is Muslim. And this really helped me get back into life
and living again…it’s a simple as that.”
His counselor at the time, Linda Zimmerman (who Dori credits with helping him
“navigate through the murky waters”), presented the idea of moving into the Palm
View. He became a resident in March. Now happily settled in, he’s currently using his
skills in a variety of other projects, including a documentary based on children with
HIV, and becoming a motivational speaker.