Welcome to SAG-AFTRA Watch. This site is a lineal descendant of Sagwatch, and we hope to continue to provide a forum for information and discussion about the issues confronting the newly-merged SAG and AFTRA in today’s rapidly shifting media and technological landscape.
The original Sagwatch site was established in 2007 during one of the most turbulent times in the history of the Screen Actors Guild. It is probably not an overstatement to describe the union as being in a state of civil war throughout the last decade or more. However, in recent elections the membership at large spoke clearly that it wanted the warfare, both within SAG and between SAG and AFTRA, to end. With the overwhelming vote in favor of merger, announced on Friday, March 30th, the members effectively signed the armistice.
And with that, the two principal founders of Sagwatch, known to readers as Editor and Admin, declared that “our work here is done.” The Sagwatch site has now been frozen, and Editor and Admin have gone into a well-earned retirement from blogging. It has been quite an adventure, as a trip through the Sagwatch archives will quickly demonstrate.
Yet we are mindful of the following comment posted by Tom Ligon on the Sagwatch site:
I’d like to publicly acknowledge the beneficial effects of this website and all who contribute to it with articles, letters, and comments. The information here has always been unflinchingly toe-to-toe and often confrontational, and both sides – all sides – have been allowed to put in their two cents here without censorship (except for one egregious and rather infamous individual who seems to possess no ability of self-control). I encourage an on-going public forum such as this one to keep focused on the goings-on with SAG-AFTRA, and to continue to serve our community in the exemplary way it has done from its inception. Viva SAG-AFTRAWatch!
We think Tom is right about the value of continuing to provide a forum for clearheaded reporting and discussion of the issues that will affect the new SAG-AFTRA as it transitions from being two separate unions into one union. It would be naive to think that everything is simply going to go like clockwork, or that old disagreements will simply disappear. Accordingly, some of the more junior members of the Sagwatch team sought the blessing of Editor and Admin to continue with a new “SAG-AFTRA Watch” site. Those two thought that was a great idea, and encouraged us to move forward. Though Sagwatch is a hard act to follow, we will do our best to maintain the spirit and philosophy of the original Sagwatch site.
So with new personnel (“Editor” here is not the same person as the original Sagwatch “Editor”) we are launching this new venture with high hopes that it will continue to live up to Tom Ligon’s kind words above. Please bear with us as we get all the technical kinks worked out.
As with Sagwatch, we welcome all views, provided they are presented in a civil manner. Libel and personal attacks are not permitted. Also, while commenters may post anonymously, only one name for posting is permitted — multiple “sock puppet” identities are forbidden. Comments will continue to be moderated, primarily because “comment spam” is so prevalent on the internet.
Let us look forward to a time of relative peace and progress with the new SAG-AFTRA. Perhaps that’s a naive hope. We would like to be a helpful instrument in moving forward.
The King is Dead. Long Live the King!
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Ed. Comment: Now we must hope that the SAG-AFTRA Merger Agreement doesn’t become a modern Treaty of Versailles.
Glad to hear the tradition of “watching” our union will continue.
Excellent!!! Was wondering what you’d do…
Being as open as you have been at SAGWATCH has had a very beneficial side-effect: forward thinking. Through the discussions there, even the exceptionally personal, heated, ALL CAPS discourses during the height of the conflicts, the results have always been ideas/resolutions/pov’s that [seem to] hold up.
Sometimes conflicting ways are the only means to get to the most sensible ends.
Having a reasonable guide makes the journey better. I will personally count on SAG-AFTRA WATCH to be that guide.
Neil H
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Ed. Comment: Thanks for the kind words. We should probably have our heads examined for continuing this, given the amount of work involved, but it seemed a shame not to. I’m sure there will be some technical kinks over the next week or two while we get everything set up properly.
This makes me very happy!
Happy to be on this new site!
I too have upgraded my moniker: I am now SAG-AFTRA Character Man!
Onward and upward!!!
I really like the new look and feel. I love the idea you are keeping this going. Thanks! If I can be of any help. Please call.
Many thanks to all, retired and not, for all the HARD work you’ve done! I look forward to more obsessive lurkage/occasional commenting on this lovely new site, as progress continues.
Happy Monday!
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Ed. Comment: We expect even the “retirees” will stop by from time to time and let us know how we’re doing.
Doin’ the Happy Dance for the new site! Thanks for all this work, both for the old and the new!
So glad you’re here. And WordPress is the best blogging platform of all. Good choice. ONWARD!
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Ed. Comment: Because the previous site (in its later incarnation) had been running on WordPress and we knew how it worked, there seemed no good reason to change to a different platform.
I have an adult child in the business who has been very involved in the merger process for the last two years. I counted on SagWatch and eagerly awaited new posts and responses from folks who came to seem like old friends.
You can imagine how happy I am that you didn’t go away for good. This is the site I count on for up-to-date, true information about all things relating to SAG, Aftra and now, thankfully, the new union, Sag-Aftra.Your new site is elegantly designed and easy to use. I love the graphics at the top; beautiful pictures.
Thank you for all the readers, like me, who don’t comment much but really enjoy keeping up. Your reporting is balanced, fair and always civil.
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Ed. Comment: Thank you for the kind words. We can’t take any real credit for the site design (known as the “theme” in WordPress lingo) — this is the design that WordPress installs “out of the box.” We may look at some other themes in the next week or so, but we agree that this one is very pleasant on the eyes.
Keep up the good (& necessarily hard) work that the old Sagwatch started. It was a pleasure to read and learn from you (and the retirees). Onward and Upward!