The Newest Podcast Has Arrived: Financial Wellness Part 3!

The final episode of the first Actors Fund Podcast Series is now up and available for viewing. Financial Wellness Part 3: Credit Health, featuring Nancy Johnston, shows you how to analyze your personal credit and debt profile, including how to understand your credit report and your credit score.

The episode also takes you through The Actors Fund Credit Accounts Organizer, a self-assessment tool which will give you a simplified snapshot of your pertinent credit and debt information. Credit is important in today’s world, and responsible use of credit offers many valuable options that can improve your financial life. For many people in the entertainment industry, credit is the tool that you use to ensure lifestyle continuity – in other words, paying your bills and putting food on the table when you’re in between jobs. When you use your available credit it becomes debt, which can limit your options and create undue financial pressure. This segment will not only help you to determine if you have a debt problem, but also to establish a stable method of managing your overall credit health.

You can view all seven episodes in the Podcast Series on The Actors Fund website.

The Actors Fund would like to extend special thanks to those individuals who graciously donated their time and resources to this series. Chaim Cantor, President of the New York Chapter of the IATSE Local 600 Cinematographers Union, who recruited the fabulous crew: Peter Barrow, Desirée Oritz, Glynis Burke, Annette Lian-Williams, Russell Costanzo, Mitch Jacobsen, and Alyssa Trumper. The Fund also thanks scriptwriter and WGA member Halayne Eherneberg, as well our fabulous SAG actors: Diedre Goodwin, Michael Iannucci, Nancy Johnston, and Michael McCoy.

The Latest Actors Fund Podcast is here: Financial Wellness Part 2

The Actors Fund Podcast Series continues, and this installment – the sixth of seven – discusses how to organize your income as part of an overall cash flow plan. (If you have’t already, please view Financial Wellness Part 1: Organizing Expenses prior to watching Part 2).

In this eight minute video, Michael McCoy covers some of the challenges people working in performing arts and entertainment face when trying to balance variable income and expenses, and also touches briefly on important tax issues. A performing artist’s financial life is complex, so it’s easy to get confused when trying to organize your money. This podcast will help you distinguish between regular and irregular income, and determine what this means for building yourself a financial cushion, saving for periodic expenses and investing for your future. The overall goal of the Financial Wellness series? Establishing a stable method of managing your finances!

The Actors Fund Podcast Series is based on workshops that are presented regularly at The Actors Fund’s New York and Los Angeles offices. Geared towards assisting entertainment and performing arts professionals, these videos are for you! The rest of series is available on our website – and be sure to check back for our next installment!

The Actors Fund would like to extend special thanks to those individuals who graciously donated their time and resources to this series. Chaim Cantor, President of the New York Chapter of the IATSE Local 600 Cinematographers Union, who recruited the fabulous crew: Peter Barrow, Desirée Oritz, Glynis Burke, Annette Lian-Williams, Russell Costanzo, Mitch Jacobsen, and Alyssa Trumper. The Fund also thanks scriptwriter and WGA member Halayne Eherneberg, as well our fabulous SAG actors: Diedre Goodwin, Michael Iannucci, Nancy Johnston, and Michael McCoy. Visit http://www.actorsfund.org to learn more about the series and to view the latest podcast.

Faces Of The Fund: Caroline Parrone

Caroline Parrone: Auction Guru and Young Professional!

Meet Caroline Parrone, a part of our events team here at The Actors Fund. In addition to managing our Auction of 1,000 Stars (voice lesson with Barbara Cook, anyone?), Caroline is behind The Fund’s newest undertaking, Young Professionals, which offers 21–39 year olds an opportunity to support the performing arts, and enjoy a cocktail or two as well! We asked Caroline to share some details about the YP’s, and…

What can members of the Young Professionals expect and look forward to? The new Young Professionals of The Actors Fund can expect to be offered great opportunities to explore all types of performing art forms that may have seemed out of reach, out of price range and out of age range. We plan to offer events in film, theatre, dance, opera, music and more, as well as networking, volunteer days and opportunities to meet new people with similar interests. They will also gain knowledge about The Fund and its programming to better inform themselves and their friends in the performing arts profession.

When’s the first big YP shin-dig? Our first event will be a “Get to Know You” networking event on Wednesday, March 7^th at 7pm. We will send out more information soon!

What’s the last book you read? I am currently reading The Paris Wife by Paula McLain – I was never a big Ernest Hemingway fan, so I thought this book, told from his wife’s perspective, would be an interesting read – and it is! (Although I am still no fan of Hemingway)

Who plays you in your big screen biopic and why? Hopefully some Young Professional who will “make it big” due to her break out role as Caroline Parrone!

What’s your Oscar pick for best picture this year? Billy Crystal for everything! I love him and I am excited he is hosting this year – it means I will actually watch the show!

What’s the last film you saw in a movie theatre? I saw War Horse and the new Muppet movie in the same week… I laughed, I cried.

Give us your shameless plug for the next Auction of 1,000 Stars! The next Auction of 1,000 Stars will be filled with unique experiences, celebrity meet & greets, Broadway walk-ons and so much more! Since 2000, the Auction has raised more than 2 million dollars in much needed revenue, allowing our incredible team of social workers to help nearly 12.500 people in performing arts and entertainment in need, crisis or transition. So keep an eye out for the next auction! I have a feeling 2012 will be our best event yet!

The Young Professionals of The Actors Fund aims to reach out to performing arts advocates & enthusiasts in their 20s and 30s, and to encourage their involvement and support of The Actors Fund. Our hope is to engage a younger generation of supporters by increasing awareness of The Fund through events, outreach and volunteer opportunities. Young Professionals membership includes an invitation to an Actors Fund YP members-only cocktail party, discounts on YP event tickets, access to other Actors Fund event tickets and discounts to select Special Performances. For more information on how you can become part of the Young Professionals, visit our website or send an email to yp@actorsfund.org.

Working in Comedy? Take The Comedians Survey!

Are you working in comedy? Do you want to help shape the future of The American Comedy Fund, how it works and how it will be able to help you and your peers? Take The Comedians Survey before January 20, 2012!

In the spring of 2011, Comedy Central, in partnership with the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) initiated The American Comedy Fund, establishing the first-ever fund dedicated exclusively to supporting the comedy community. Administered by The Actors Fund and the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF), the American Comedy Fund will privide much-needed social services, emergency assistance, health care, insurance, housing and employment and training services for those comedic performers who qualify during times of need, crisis or transition.

In order to better serve the community and to help shape the services The American Comedy Fund intends to provide, The Actors Fund is conducting a survey of comedians to better understand the life and challenges of those working in the field. So far, almost 400 comedians have taken this survey, so if you haven’t we’d love to have you participate, and encourage you to spread the word. Your responses will help shape the future of the fund!

To access the survey go to: www.ComediansSurvey.org. For more information on the survey, please contact Judy Rosch at 917.281.5988 or jrosch@actorsfund.org.