Lunch & Learns

Our informative series of seminars to help TAG members thrive on the job and at home.

Side Hustles: Teaching

On August 23, TAG Member Programs Coordinator Jackie Huang led a panel on teaching as a side hustle with TAG members Mauricio Abril, Lindsey Pollard, and Angela Sung. Panelists shared how they got started, the challenges they’ve faced, the rewards of teaching, and more. Learn more.

 

Level Up: Career Longevity

On Wednesday, July 12, 2023, TAG members Kimson Albert, Amber Hardin, and Paula Spence participated in a Q&A about career longevity, led by TAG Member Programs Coordinator Jackie Huang. Panelists discussed how to sustain an enduring career and shared experiences from their own multi-decade careers. Learn more.

 

Freelancing 101

On June 14, 2023, TAG Member Programs Coordinator Jackie Huang led a Q&A with TAG Business Representative Steve Kaplan about freelancing at Union studios. Topics included the definition of a freelancer, how freelance hours affect health benefits, how to keep track of freelance hours, and more. Learn more.

 

Union Plus Benefits

On May 10, 2023, Union Plus Brand Representative Brea Ellis discussed the many Union Plus benefits available to Union members, including home buying, hardship help, and everyday discounts. She was joined by John Hemmesch of Wells Fargo, who spoke about the bank’s Union Plus home mortgage program. Learn more. 

 

Organizing Goals

“Organizing provides people with the opportunity to become aware of their own capabilities and potential.” – Fred Ross, Sr. What does the word “organizing” mean and why is it important? On April 26, 2023, TAG Organizer Allison Smartt explained the history of our parent Union and discussed how organizing animation industry workers benefits current TAG members and strengthens the future of our Union. Learn more.

 

Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure

On September 27, 2022, James Stewart, a professional registered parliamentarian, spoke about how and why to use Parliamentary Procedure during Union meetings, the relationship between Parliamentary Procedure and our bylaws, and more. The talk was hosted by the Young Workers Committee whose chair, Nora Meeks, introduced Stewart. Learn more.

 

Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

On August 24, Lori Rubinstein, Executive Director of Behind the Scenes, shared tools, resources, and information about mental health care and suicide prevention specifically for IATSE and entertainment industry workers and their families. The program is partnered with numerous organizations, including IATSE which has been involved from the start.  Learn more.

 

Navigating the 401(k) Plan

On July 15, Bud Green, a retirement plan consultant from SageView Advisory Group, provided an overview of 401(k) plans including information on plans available to TAG members. Green’s presentation included what types of plans to choose at specific ages, what to invest, taxes, the market, and more. Learn more.

 

Buying Your First Home

On June 15, Executive Board Director Paula Spence moderated a panel of experts from First Entertainment Credit Union and Wells Fargo on home mortgages geared toward first-time home buyers. Loan Officer Edward Chou led the First Entertainment team and Private Mortgage Banker Sheila Berger led the Wells Fargo team in offering professional insights on credit underwriting, down payments, interest rates, and more. Learn more.

 

Cartoon male at desk with laptopGetting Your Next Gig

On May 18, TAG Members Coordinator Jackie Huang moderated a Zoom panel on getting your next job with three TAG members: Storyboard Revisionist Christine Le; Executive Board Member, Cartoon Network Shop Steward, and Storyboard Supervisor Danny Ducker; and ShadowMachine Shop Steward and Color Supervisor Mira Crowell. Learn more.

 

Illustration of white car on yellow backgroundRetirement Planning

On April 6, Bud Green, a retirement plan consultant from SageView Advisory Group, presented an overview of fundamentals for retirement planning, including tips for Social Security and Medicare, the mechanics of 401(k) and IRA withdrawals, and balancing risks when investing. Learn more.

 

 

Cartoon of female doctorInfertility Diagnosis & Treatment

On March 17th, in partnership with the FAM Committee, TAG hosted a virtual Lunch & Learn about infertility diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Connie Cheng, an obstetrician and gynecologist practicing at UCLA Health in the Burbank and Pasadena areas, discussed statistics, referrals, and treatment options to assist those facing infertility issues. Learn more.

 

Cartoon of computer and shopping bagSide Hustles

As the inaugural webinar in the Side Hustles series (an exploration of the different ways artists diversify their incomes), Online Shops featured panelists Elsa Chang (Big Cartel, Threadless, Etsy), David DePasquale (Squarespace), and Miranda Dressler (Etsy). Learn more.

 

 

Ergonomics for Artists

Valerie Hunter, Physical Therapist at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center, shared general guidelines on how to stay healthy and physically strong while working, including desk stretches, posture recommendations and answering commonly asked questions. Learn more.

 

 

Estate Planning

Rebecca Goldfarb, an attorney specializing in estate planning and elder law services visited the Animation Guild to talk about estate planning, a subject that can be difficult and stressful for many individuals. If you missed the event, you can read an overview of her discussion here.

 

Autism Support

The FAM committee hosted a Lunch & Learn on Oct. 23, 2019 focused on autism resources. The panel, moderated by FAM committee chair Kristin Donner and parent and DreamWorks animator Megan Kreiner, included many medical professionals. Learn more about what they shared.

 

What to Expect When You’re Expecting in Animation

The Family and Personal Leave Subcommittee hosted a panel discussion on what you need to know if you are considering starting a family, including: Kristin Donner (who successfully advocated for TAG’s first-ever Parental Leave Policy), storyboard artist and father of three Neil Graf, mother and background artist Teri Hendrich Cusumano, and Silvana Toledo, founder of Collab&Play, were on hand to share their personal experiences and answer questions. 

 

Keeping Up with the Digital Toolkit

The Gnomon School of Visual Effects, Games & Animation came to the Guild to discuss how you can continue to learn and sharpen skills without feeling overwhelmed by the ever-changing landscape of technology. Directors of Education and Instructors Beau Janzen and Max Dayan identified common road blocks in learning and ways to overcome them, underscoring the importance of more efficient learning and where to find the right resources

 

Understanding Your Credit Score

Brock Collins, the Senior Membership Development officer at First Entertainment, came to the Guild to help members understand their credit score better—what affects it and how you can improve your score. You can read an overview of the discussion here.

 

Coping During COVID

Naomi Rodda, Director, Home & Community-Based Services at MPTF, shares tools to help address the challenges associate with COVID-19. You can watch the panel here.