MediaChannel has been reporting on the conflicts within the Screen Actors Guild as professional actors debate the best way to challenge the power and wealth of the Hollywood studios. Now, a Mediachannel.org advisor, lawyer Gene Boggs, who has been blowing the whistle on problems in the high profile union once headed by former US President Ronald Reagan has decided to try to move from the role of critic to the leadership. Boggs is making a bid to become SAG’s next President.

While we are strictly non-partisan around here in political elections, this is a media related contest worth following.

Here is part of a press release we just received.

“MAVERICK” SCREEN ACTORS GUILD PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE TAKES ON STARS.

Los Angeles, August 1, 2001 - Eugene Boggs, a Screen Actors Guild Boardmember who has only one screen credit and makes his living as a lawprofessor, has entered the race for the presidency of the largest, mostpowerful union of actors in the world. Boggs will oppose twoestablished television stars of the 1970’s Valerie Harper and MelissaGilbert in the November, 2001, nationwide balloting. Yet anotheractress who was prominent in that era, Angeltompkins, has also taken outnominating petition papers for the race.

Boggs, 54, despite his meager thespian credentials, has won election tothe SAG Board of Directors three times since 1994, winning a three-yearterm each time. If elected, Boggs would be the first African American,or person of color in general, ever to be elected as SAG’s president.Boggs earned his SAG union card by getting promoted from a background(extra) role to a small speaking part in Oliver Stone’s 1990 film, “TheDoors.” Stone, himself, selected Boggs for the role of an FBI agent.

Boggs’ position is that the SAG presidency is not a “ceremonial”position, but a substantive one involving the fate of over 100,000members of SAG and an annual budget of approximately $50 million.Boggs’ mantra is, ” The SAG presidency isn’t a performance, it’s a job.”He plans to ask the membership to vote accordingly and if they do, hereasons he’ll win hands down. He’s told fellow Board members he iswilling to take a back seat at “photo op” occasions such as the Guild’sannual, star-studded awards telecast. He just wants to make the wheelsturn smoothly and efficiently for the membership’s benefit.

Since joining the Board in 1994, Boggs has developed a reputation as ameticulous researcher of issues dealing with union democracy andparliamentary procedure.

To find out more about the race, write: boggsjr@webtv.net