This article has been written by Ms. Suhani Singh, a student studying B.A.LL.B[HONS.] from Teerthanker Mahaveer College of Law and Legal Studies, Moradabad. The author is 3rd year law student.
Introduction
Actors, writers, directors, producers, and other professionals in the film and television industries form movie unions. They bargain talent agreements, establish minimum wages and working conditions, and offer health benefits. However, unions can also make it more challenging for people to get jobs in the film industry. Unions also protect their members’ rights when they are involved in on-set disputes or legal trouble. Being a form of cartel that the government has authorized for the entertainment industry, unions are essentially monopolies.
- Have you ever cried during a movie?
Ever notice certain acronyms or emblems in the credits? There are certainly many of those from businesses and other organisations, but there are also those from societies, guilds, and unions. Also, there’s a decent possibility that you’ve heard of a movie union if you’ve dabbled in any aspect of serious filmmaking. So, what exactly are movie unions, how did they start, and what do they do?
Since the (First) Industrial Revolution, unions have existed for a very long period. The fundamental idea of a union, as applied to the film business, hardly changes. So, the essential elements of a union are present and have been modified for the filmmaking industry.
- What Do Film Unions Do?
They engage in negotiations with employers to defend workers’ rights and safety, just like any other union. Yet, they also create agreements that specify the terms for actors and personnel working in the entertainment sector.
Unions in the film industry have existed for over a century. They have managed to maintain their influence in Hollywood despite shifts in technology and filmmaking practises.
A movie union, usually referred to as a film union or just a union, is a formally formed team of experts that looks out for its members. This can involve ensuring that contracts are reasonable, that they are paid fairly, that they are treated well, and that they are working the appropriate number of hours. According on what you do or plan to do in the industry, there are many movie unions, some of which are quite well-known and essentially need you to join.
The largest union in the entertainment sector is the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Workers (IATSE).
IATSE members execute the following duties:
- set decorators.
- prop makers,
- property masters,
- camera operators
- lighting technicians, and
- costumers.
IATSE also represents stunt coordinators, makeup artists, hair stylists, projectionists, and special effects workers.
Mary Pickford started one of the first unions in 1913. Four years later, it united with another union to create the Motion Picture Operators’ Union No. 70.
Before becoming Local 659 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Workers, this organisation underwent a number of name changes (IATSE).
It had 8,000 members by 1915 who were employed as painters, camera operators, carpenters, and other occupations. The union’s primary goal is to ensure that everyone is paid fairly for their job, but these groups also act as a sort of cartel for the film industry, limiting competition by keeping new talent out of the market.
Throughout the early days of Hollywood, there have been unions; the current setup dates to circa 1915.
Like most similar organisations, unions are skilled at convincing governments to support and uphold the commercial interests of their cartel. Due to this, it is exceedingly challenging to found a new union or establish a new union chapter within an existing union without receiving government approval.
Because they don’t want to deal with strikes or other interruptions, movie studios frequently pay union members more than they would otherwise. Groups of actors, actresses, and extras who work as extras and are represented by labour unions during the filming process are known as movie unions.
Unions bargain for member benefits and defend the rights of those who work in the entertainment sector. Learn About a Union Contracts between members who operate in a given industry are the basis of movie unions.
These agreements detail an employee’s wages, working conditions, and other details. For instance, there are unions that represent performers, screenwriters, voice actors, and extras. Every union bargains a unique contract with employers.
Movie transcription, dubbing, and subtitling are additional professions with their own unions. The majority of people are unaware of how much work is involved in bringing a movie to life on the big screen. All actors, actresses, and extras must be represented in order for them to receive just pay for their efforts. Many people also don’t aware that movie subtitles and dubbers are required to be unionised, which is crucial because it guarantees that their work is accurate and up to professional standards.
- Unions and Guilds: A Guide
The entertainment business has a strong union and guild presence. To help you get started, here are some fundamentals. The availability of joining a union or guild relies on whether your profession is covered by one in the area where you work.
In addition to helping members negotiate improved working conditions, hours, pay, health benefits, and retirement benefits, unions and guilds also provide members with information about available jobs in their field. Different unions and guilds have various standards for membership. The local and national unions and guilds that support the entertainment careers discussed here are listed below.
The various guilds and unions for the film industry should be known to you if you are a filmmaker. The following are some of the most significant film unions and guilds that you need to be aware of because they play a significant role in defending your rights as an artist: The American Writers Guild (WGA)
The Writers Guild of America is a group that advocates for writers in the cinema, television, cable internet, and new media sectors of the media industry. The WGA organizes programmes, seminars, and events on topics of interest to writers, negotiates contracts to preserve their creative and financial rights, and expresses authors’ views to various government agencies.
All film editors who work in motion pictures or television are covered by the Film Editors Guild. For its members, the FEG offers networking and educational opportunities as well as advocacy. The FEG has access to the DGA’s health insurance, pension plan, and other services as a member of the DGA. Association of American Musicians (AFM). In the entertainment sector, professional musicians are represented by the American Federation of Musicians. In 1896, the AFM was established.
Both the East and West branches of the Writers Guild of America are professional associations for authors. They deal with labour agreements and defend writers in conflicts with studios and producers.
They also place constraints on their members’ ability to receive credit for certain accomplishments. There are several organisations besides the WGA that hire professionals in the film and video industries. These guilds and unions are either categorised by types of jobs or by particular employers.
While directors and producers are members of the Directors Guild of America, performers are organised by the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) (DGA).
The Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers is the organisation that represents production firms (AMPTP). The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, which represents camera operators, grips, and set designers; the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which represents lighting technicians; the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, which represents makeup artists; and the Teamsters, which oversees drivers, stunt coordinators, and animal handlers, are additional organisations.
- Unions vs Guilds and Societies.
It should be remembered that societies, guilds, and unions are all distinct organisations with unique needs and benefits. Nonetheless, some very well-known unions contain the word “guild” in their name.
The most notable benefit that a guild or society can provide is the opportunity to be a part of a group that has both history and connections, as well as some advantages. You are not, however, as well protected as you would be if you were a part of a union as a member of a guild or society. In that regard, guilds and societies are similar to clubs; membership can be advantageous but may not offer the same level of protection.
Movie Union Characteristics:
- Organized group that looks after its members
- Allows you to practice collective bargaining and make sure you are being treated fairly
- Paying fees and making sure you’re working on union- approved projects to stay in the union.
- History of Movie Unions
You can already grasp what a movie union is and why it’s important from the definition. We’ll briefly review the history of how unions as a whole came to be in order to fill in some of the blanks. In essence, bad treatment of workers throughout the early stages of the Industrial Revolution in the United Kingdom led to the creation of film unions. While employers and governments tried to shut them down, many unions made an effort to remain active. After some time, unions were become legal, and other nations soon followed suit. The video below has a lot more information about this.
With unionisation, a group of workers can band together and defend one another against superiors who could otherwise exploit them. This is how the eight-hour workday and other contemporary norms of the workplace came to be. Yet, especially in the USA, not many people actually belong to a union (it varies across the world). Union membership never reached its peak of over one-third of the American workforce; instead, it fell as the middle class grew.
Unions are still very much a thing in the world of film. It might be because, strangely, making movies isn’t limited to an eight-hour, 9 to 5 workday. In any case, the majority of Hollywood employees are unionised.
The protection of Hollywood’s writers, performers, and directors led to the establishment of many “guilds” in the industry. The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the Screen Actors Guild, as well as the Writers Guild of America, West or East, and the Directors Guild of America, were all founded in the 1930s.
Although some of them undoubtedly began as “guilds,” you can today join any of these recognised film unions. The purpose of each of the major motion picture unions and professional film groups will be discussed in the section that follows.
- List of Movie Unions
The text of each of the movie unions listed below includes a link to their website; in certain cases, if the union has different sections, we also give additional links. Note that none of the following are merely “associations, societies, or organisations”; rather, they are all film unions. Also, even though several of these unions use the word “guild,” they are acknowledged as legitimate organisations representing the film industry.
- Association of Talent Agents
The Association of Talent Agents (ATA), which was established in 1937, represents a wide range of creatives in the fields of film, television, theatre, and radio, including actors, writers, and producers. The ATA is made up of approximately 100 agencies, almost all of which are situated in either Los Angeles or New York; the union itself is based in LA.
- Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers
The Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), established in 1924 (and renamed in 1964 to include television producers), represents over 350 corporations in collective bargaining with trade unions. From Disney Studios to NBC, major film and television networks are connected to AMPTP.
- American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers
The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) is there for you if you ever need someone to make sure you are paid each time your music is played. ASCAP, which was established in 1914 and has its headquarters in New York City, represents over 775,000 members and makes it simple for music rights holders to receive payment for usage licences. They are a non-exclusive union because they are also open to non-Americans.
- Working with Unions
Now that you are aware of what a movie union is, read our comprehensive guide to working with unions to learn how to interact with one. Among other useful advice, our guide discusses how to handle representatives, handle grievances, and make a sensible union choice.
For any filmmaker or producer, deciding to cooperate with Hollywood’s unions is a significant decision. Both joining and not joining have benefits and drawbacks. The decisions you make in the beginning could have a significant impact on your movie.
If you choose poorly, you can end up in uncharted territory. It’s possible that your crew members will start making union demands. I’ve been on both sides of this and think that unions are an essential component of filmmaking, therefore it’s important to comprehend how they function.
1.Lessons from a Guild
2.Union Representatives
3.Understanding Grievances
4.Being Flipped and Union Signatories
5.Stay Organized When Flipped
6.Choose Union Wisely
- Alliance Of Motion Picture And Television Producers (AMPTP)
The main U.S. motion picture and television studios, television networks, and creators of new media material are all represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), a trade association. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Paramount Pictures Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Universal City Studios LLC, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., NBCUniversal Media, LLC, CBS Corporation, and Showtime Networks, Inc. are some of the organisations that make up this group.
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), United Screen Actors Guild (SAG), American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), the Directors Guild of America (DGA), the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW), and the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP), The AMPTP is based in Encino, California. Carol Lombardini serves as the current president. The major cinema and television studios and top independent producers established the AMPTP in 1985 to defend their shared interests and safeguard their intellectual property in both home and foreign markets.
Blockbuster films and the highest-rated network, cable, and syndicated television shows are all produced by AMPTP members and are disseminated and displayed globally.
The AMPTP has successfully negotiated hundreds of contracts with businesses that licence films, television programmes, and other entertainment content for use in broadcast, cable, and other distribution channels around the world during the past thirty years.
These contracts have brought in billions of dollars for the artistic endeavours of our members and tens of billions for the companies that display these works for global consumers. The goal of the AMPTP is to guarantee that its members earn a fair share of profits from the creation and global distribution of films and television programmes; Develop connections with governments, labour unions, and other interested parties that are mutually beneficial and take the lead in defending intellectual property rights. Promote high standards of creative excellence. Ensure effective production procedures.
Resources Uses For Research: –
- https://entertainmentlaw.uslegal.com
- https://www.filmreference.com
- https://www.wrapbook.com
- https://www.bartleby.com
- https://timesupfoundation.org
- You Tube
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