Screenings set for SAG members

Some relief appears to be in sight for rank-and-file members of the Screen Actors Guild who are upset that virtually every theater chain in the greater Los Angeles area has refused to honor their union membership cards with free admittance to see this year’s SAG Award-nominated films.

Saying they had not faced such restrictions by exhibitors in years past, some guild members vowed to mount a protest, urging fellow members to submit blank ballots.

The restrictions were imposed by AMC, the Bridge, Pacific Theatres, Century Theatres, Edwards Theatres, Loews Cineplex, Mann Theatres, the Arclight in Hollywood, Regal Cinemas and UA Theatres.

But by Monday, the studios were inviting SAG members to attend private screenings of their nominated movies.

The dates and times of the screenings can be found at the SAG Awards’ Web site, www. sagawards.org.

Meanwhile, a few exhibitors already have relaxed their restrictions on SAG members’ attendance.

For instance, guild members will be admitted free to a screening of “About Schmidt” at Pacific’s the Grove Stadium 14 on Wednesday at 10 a.m.

“I think it’s very nice that they are paying attention to the people,” SAG member Fred Dresch of Eagle Rock said.

“This will cool a lot of people’s tempers.”

SAG Award ballots will be mailed out today and are due back by March 7.

The ninth annual SAG Awards will air live on TNT on March 9 at 8 p.m.