Opinion ID: 1429814
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Metoyer's Findings of Irregularities in IACF Grants

Text: In addition to relaying complaints of racial discrimination, Metoyer discussed with senior management the concerns of guild members and herself about irregularities in several IACF grants. In relevant part, Metoyer's declaration states: From the time I was hired and throughout my employment, I regularly questioned the allocation of funds on several grants that are mandated to have Affirmative Action components and projects in them. I continuously complained to SAG senior staff about irregularities in certain IACF grant funds (Brakefield, Ward, and Jensen projects) for the following reasons: A. Shawna Brakefield: Ms. Brakefield was paid for travel for staff and her husband out of IACF funds and was an independent contractor who was given a suite of offices at the Guild rent-free and access to telephones. She was also paid $85,000 as a salary while as an independent producer [she] entered competitions at festivals with her personal projects while she was representing the Guild (obvious conflict of interest). She also paid for her husband's travel out of these funds. The Board of Directors complained that she never included protected group members in the festivals for outreach . . . only her husband and her staff. She was never audited in spite of numerous complaints. She received in excess of $1,000,000 without being audited and did not account for the spending of the money appropriately. She also spent IACF money to print several thousand pictures of herself as [a] Charlie's Angel and her staff and mailed them to promote her personal production company, Brakefield Productions. IACF funds are primarily to promote affirmative action activities. I complained to Leonard Chassman and John McGuire because members asked me to complain. Nothing was ever done. B. Sharon Jensen: Ms. Jensen was responsible for the Non-Traditional Casting project which was funded for 10 years by SAG and IACF, and was never audited. She was funded to set up a database for members  the same type SAG provides for free through my department. In 1992, she had 4,000 members and non-member stage actors and no protected group members. Members complained and asked her to submit an accounting of the grant money for the past 10 years. She never submitted a report to them and received another $96,000 lump sum payment in September 2000. I complained to Leonard Chassman and John McGuire because members asked me to complain on their behalf. Nothing was ever done. C. Paul Ward: Mr. Ward was an independent contractor who was paid over $200,000 to do a feasibility study which was to be completed in one year. However, after three years, Mr. Ward never submitted a report. IACF funds are to go to educational institutions or 501(c)(3) organizations, not to independent contractors. Members complained to me, I reported their complaints to John McGuire and Leonard Chassman. Nothing was ever done. While affirmative action IACF grants were under very close scrutiny, these other grants went for years without any scrutiny or accountability whatsoever. Brakefield, Ward and Jensen were receiving large grants from IACF year after year while the affirmative action department, for which IACF had allocated funds for affirmative action activities, was being gutted. John McGuire was a senior staff member, a trustee on the board of IACF, and a mentor to these three grant recipients. She informed the senior staff that she intended to take her findings to SAG's national board.