Exploring the legacy of acting: SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s “Conversations” series
A treasure trove of Hollywood history
The SAG-AFTRA Foundation is renowned for its dedication to supporting performers through emergency assistance and educational programs. However, one of its most cherished assets is the “Conversations” series, which offers in-depth discussions and career retrospectives with some of the most celebrated actors in the industry. These dialogues, available on the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s YouTube channel, feature luminaries such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Cillian Murphy, and Rami Malek.
A journey through time: The origins of “Conversations”
What many might not know is that the “Conversations” program has a rich history dating back over 40 years. The inaugural episode, featuring the legendary Henry Fonda, was recorded on December 15, 1979. For the first time ever, many of these previously unavailable videos are coming to the channel as part of the Foundation’s Legacy Collection. This collection will be released in three seasons, each containing 12 episodes, throughout 2024, with more seasons planned for 2025. Hollywood icons like Jane Russell, Tippi Hedren, Dennis Hopper, and Cyd Charisse will soon make their streaming debut.
Season one: Emmy winners
The first season, aptly titled “Emmy Winners,” is currently underway. It has already released a 2010 episode with Robert Duvall and a 2011 conversation with Viola Davis. Upcoming episodes, released every Monday and Thursday at 10 a.m. PT, will feature Henry Winkler, Jessica Walter, Peter Dinklage, Doris Roberts, S. Epatha Merkerson, William Shatner, Edie Falco, Edward James Olmos, Jean Smart, and Alfre Woodard.
“We are elated to share the Foundation’s remarkable Legacy Collection with our community, our industry, and the greater public,” says SAG-AFTRA Foundation president and chairman of the board, Courtney B. Vance. “These extraordinary interviews with some of the all-time greatest actors will undoubtedly illuminate the history and craft of acting and inspire working actors and creatives for decades to come.”
A new home for the arts
The release of the Legacy Collection coincides with an exciting development for the non-profit: the opening of the Meryl Streep Center for Performing Artists in Los Angeles. This state-of-the-art facility will include a theater for future screenings and conversations, further cementing the Foundation’s commitment to preserving and celebrating the art of acting.
The mastermind behind the collection
The Legacy Collection is largely the brainchild of Rochelle Rose, SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s national director of performers programs. Many of the episodes were previously available only on various forms of physical media. “Ten years ago, we embarked upon a major project to preserve, digitize, and back up this collection, which for 35 years prior, were recorded on a variety of different formats,” Rose notes. “So, in 2014, we started the process of digitizing these older Conversations, what we are now calling our Legacy Collection. To quote Helen Mirren, ‘It’s only here [at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation] that you have a true history of acting — it’s through these Conversations.’”
Season two: Icons
Following the “Emmy Winners” season will be “Icons,” featuring conversations with classic Hollywood legends such as Cyd Charisse and Tony Martin, Charlton Heston, Ernest Borgnine, Ralph Bellamy, Rod Steiger, Dennis Hopper, Kathleen Freeman, Norman Lloyd, Tippi Hedren, Farrah Fawcett, Jane Russell, and David Carradine. New episodes will drop every Monday and Thursday morning at 10 a.m. PT, beginning on September 9.
Season three: Oscar winners
The third season, “Oscar Winners,” will include interviews with Henry Fonda, Forest Whitaker, Rita Moreno, Shirley MacLaine, Marlee Matlin, Michael Caine, Kathy Bates, Cliff Robertson, Mary Steenburgen, Ben Kingsley, Ellen Burstyn, and Christopher Walken. These episodes will be released starting on November 4 at 10 a.m. PT.
Common threads and timeless themes
Despite spanning more than four decades, Rose notes that some common threads and themes have persisted over time. “Everybody talks about auditioning and the audition process. A lot of fun stories come out of actors’ auditioning experiences,” Rose reveals. “Everybody speaks about mental health and having resilience through the lean times, and everyone has lean times as an actor. Many share their experiences of working on set and what they learned.”
The actors also discuss the various changes in the industry over the years. “They are all sharing the arc of their careers and their experiences in the industry over time and how things have changed,” says Rose. “That seems to be a common thread among them no matter which decade they were recorded in.”
A reflective closure
The SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s “Conversations” series offers a unique and invaluable glimpse into the lives and careers of some of the most iconic actors in Hollywood history. As we look forward to the release of the Legacy Collection, we are reminded of the timeless nature of storytelling and the enduring impact of these artists on the craft of acting. Whether you are an aspiring actor, a seasoned professional, or simply a lover of cinema, these interviews promise to inspire, educate, and entertain for generations to come.
For a taste of what’s to come, check out the Viola Davis interview and many other interviews on the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s YouTube channel.