Ken Orsatti
Encyclopedia
Ken Orsatti was an American
director
. Orsatti served as the national executive director
of the Screen Actors Guild
1981 to 2000.
Orsatti was born Alfred Kendall Orsatti in Los Angeles
in 1932. His father and two uncles were talent agent
s, who owned and operated a leading talent agency, the Orsatti Agency. He received a bachelor's degree
in business administration from the University of Southern California
in 1956. Following graduation, Orsatti became a production assistant
at Rorvic Productions, which was owned by his uncle, Victor Orsatti
, and actor Rory Calhoun
.
Ken Orsatti became a business representative at the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
(AFTRA) in 1960. He left AFTRA in 1961 and joined the Sreen Actors Guild (SAG) that same year. He became the Screen Actors Guild's Western regional director in 1966. He was promoted to SAG's Hollywood executive secretary in 1971, a position he held until 1981.
Orsatti, became the executive director
of the Screen Actors Guild in 1981. He negotiated and brokered more than 20 union contracts as SAG's chief negotiator during his nineteen year tenure.
In 1994, Orsatti told the Los Angeles Business Journal
, "Someone once said that the perfect negotiation is one where both sides are unhappy. There's some truth to that." He retired from the Screen Actors Guild in 2000.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
. Orsatti served as the national executive director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of the Screen Actors Guild
Screen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
1981 to 2000.
Orsatti was born Alfred Kendall Orsatti in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1932. His father and two uncles were talent agent
Talent agent
A talent agent, or booking agent, is a person who finds jobs for actors, authors, film directors, musicians, models, producers, professional athletes, writers and other people in various entertainment businesses. Having an agent is not required, but does help the artist in getting jobs...
s, who owned and operated a leading talent agency, the Orsatti Agency. He received a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in business administration from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in 1956. Following graduation, Orsatti became a production assistant
Production assistant
A production assistant, also known as a PA, is a job title used in filmmaking and television for a person responsible for various aspects of a production...
at Rorvic Productions, which was owned by his uncle, Victor Orsatti
Victor Orsatti
Victor Orsatti Victor Orsatti Victor Orsatti (November 25, 1905 Los Angeles, California – June 9, 1984 Newport Beach, California, Hollywood talent agent and film producer...
, and actor Rory Calhoun
Rory Calhoun
Rory Calhoun was an American television and film actor, screenwriter and producer, best known for his roles in Westerns.-Early life:...
.
Ken Orsatti became a business representative at the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists is a performers' union that represents a wide variety of talent, including actors in radio and television, as well as radio and television announcers and newspersons, singers and recording artists , promo and voice-over announcers and other...
(AFTRA) in 1960. He left AFTRA in 1961 and joined the Sreen Actors Guild (SAG) that same year. He became the Screen Actors Guild's Western regional director in 1966. He was promoted to SAG's Hollywood executive secretary in 1971, a position he held until 1981.
Orsatti, became the executive director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of the Screen Actors Guild in 1981. He negotiated and brokered more than 20 union contracts as SAG's chief negotiator during his nineteen year tenure.
In 1994, Orsatti told the Los Angeles Business Journal
Los Angeles Business Journal
The Los Angeles Business Journal, established c. 1979, is a weekly newspaper in Los Angeles, California, which covers general business news. According to the journal's website, it has over 12,000 online subscribers, and a weekly print circulation of 30,000...
, "Someone once said that the perfect negotiation is one where both sides are unhappy. There's some truth to that." He retired from the Screen Actors Guild in 2000.