Operator position in trouble

[bobgilles]

I think that Steadicam Ops are in pretty good shape on this one as we are specialty players, but I have noticed that allot of Camera Ops now claim to be Steadicam Ops even when they are not known as such. The A cam/Steadicam job is the most coveted role out there. Did anyone notice that Pat McArdle (1st AC) was credited as Steadicam Operator on Moulin Rouge?

[Tom Wills]

Wow, what a serious situation here. Quite bad indeed. Either this gets dumped or it's going to send waves through the filmmaking world. Producers are continually looking for ways to shave their budgets down, and if they have the option to cut Camera Ops out of the deal, they sure as hell will.

 

I mean, I can understand when some DPs want to operate. I know that that's not that huge of an issue though, because of the union making the camera operator position mandatory. At the very least it can't hurt to have a dedicated camera operator there for when the DP needs to do something else.

 

Now, to make it so that the camera operator is "unnecessary" is just uncalled for. Not all DPs are going to want to operate, and certainly there will be situations in which you very well may need a dedicated op. What will happen there? I highly doubt producers will spring for it.

 

Let's hope this doesn't pass. <_<

[JamieSilverstein]

I left the Local 600 executive board during the last election, deciding not to run because I felt that the politics were getting in the way of the actual helping of the membership. Gary Dunham and party have been hell bent on getting recognition of certain issues before the internatioal that were and I guess still are unpopular with the international. By trying to bulldoze the issues, they have alienated the international, and instead of being a model example of a local that is bicostal and functioning well, we have become the whining local that just wants its way.

In all fairness though, this issue regarding the operator has been brewing for many years. I attended local negociation 6 or 7 years ago when Short told the producers that any discussion regarding the operator and still photographer positions will result in the IA's leaving the table. I've got to tell you, when he said that, the room full of Producers etc. shut up....... I was pretty impressed with the display of balls and how effective the message was. It was then that I learned that I might not always agree with Tom Short, and I might not always like the way he does things, but I believe that he has a way of getting things done for those who support him and in return who HE SUPPORTS. Essentially, its his ball, and we can either play or not, but any way you slice it, its his ball. Now that we don't have his support, the old standing issue of the operator position became vulnerable, and the producers pounced.

Finally, as far a ratification is concerned, the Hollywood Basic Contract is ratified by all those unions in the Hollywood basic bargaining unit. We are only a small small part of that unit. I believe that if it is ratified by the majority of the locals that it will go into effect.

We might have lost the right to have an operator on every show, but as you all have already discussed, there are many a DP who don't like to or cannot operate, not to mention, those on TV will suffer greatly if they do day in and day out, especially if they do Steadicam as well.

I am not sugar coating it..... It is not a good day for film workers, but it is not the final day, and there are going to be many more before the light switch is turned off. Pay attention to what is happening, stay vigilant, and try to join and support the union, because that is the only way that we are going to garner respect from producers; not just in the US but internationally.

Peace.

[David Allen Grove]

Hats off to those Steadicam ops who showed up! I saw Dan K., Chris H., Michael S, Denis, Lawrence, David Emmerichs, David Fredrick, Henry Tirl, am I missing anyone..

 

I was at that meeting as well but I'm not on the board.

 

I'm still fairly new to the union (2002) I've gone to all but one of the annual national meetings.

Stupid things like this get brought up and sometimes passed because few show up to the meetings.

Local 600 members REALLY need to get involved.

Lack of involvement has lead to the errosion of our contract.

 

We really need to tell Tom Short that we do NOT want that deal. I have RSVP'd and will be at the January 21st meeting. Our jobs are on the line guys/gals. That little thread we are hanging from is about to be cut..

 

Perhaps after this meeting we could have a fun Steadicam Guild meeting? It's been a while....

 

Be there or be Square.

Jan. 21-22 (Saturday is the important day from what I understand)

National Executive Board Meeting

Hyatt West Hollywood, 8401 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles

RSVP to Bob Wyar at 323-969-2728

[TJ Williams]

HOW PRODUCERS SEE THE UNIVERSE: Usta be there were three guys in the train cockpit one position was the guy who usta shovel the coal, rode for years at full wages on a diesel train.... and then.... Ever hear of the flight engineer...that third guy in the cockpit .... Ahhhhh once again... Remember the two person news crew? Then you are starting to show some age.

 

HOW UNION MEMBERS MIGHT SEE THIS....Remember this old story: When they came for theXXX I did nothing then they came for XXXX and I did nothing, once again they came for XXXXX and I did nothing, finally they came for me and there was nobody to do anything.....

 

SOME UNDERLYING CAUSES: Since the Dp on the show came up in the Union way 2nd asst 1st Asst Operator...... I mean why is the photographer/head of lighting on a show coming up.. from operating. instead of for instance Gaffing? .... given this it is suprising that the seperate operator position has lasted this long.

 

Probably some Dp's prefer to operate.... especially the ones that micro. manage every detail of the composition and the movement. Especially if they feel they can operate as well or better than the operator anyway. Look at the Steadicam credit on the movie that follows El Mariachi??? director/steadicam op????

 

SOLUTIONS: Probably what the world needs is more Dp's who came from: gaffer/still photographer/optics/lighting design for stage/videographer/artist/painter/etc. These folks want and need an operator. Having done both jobs(Dp and Operator) I gotta say operating distracts from the lighting, there really is no free lunch for the producers. These jobs are divided for sensible reasons benefiting everyone and not just to benefit operators.

 

Outside Hollywood, or really major(LA)based location productions, most of the crews are non-union not just overseas but here in the US, everything is up for negotiation. everyone makes their own deals..... When the ia600 union represents everyone with skills they will have the power to enforce positions/wages/benefits that workers actually get.....not while jobs can pay more in LA or run away to cheaper places.

 

Fight it like hell, keep whatever you can...but think about the causes.

TJ

[geoff shotz]

hey guys- i have to work on the day of the meeting, but i want to make my voice heard. does anyone have an e-mail address for tom short? it wouldn't hurt us to deluge him with our dissent. if anyone knows how or where to find his address, let us all know. thanks.

 

geoff

[Michael Stumpf]

Geoff, not a bad idea for those who cannot attend, especially those who don't live

in Los Angeles.

 

Going to the IATSE International website, here's what I found:

 

Office of the International President (Tom Short)

Fax is 212-730-7809

 

I could not find an email address for any of them, but did find

another email address for "organizing" which was

organizing@iatse-intl.org

 

My guess is Tom's email address would be something like:

tomshort@iatse-intl.org

presidentshort@iatse-intl.org

 

or something like those.

 

But, maybe the best way is just to fax because it was a definitive number listed just

for him.

[Simon Jayes]

Dear Michael,

 

I realize that my last post may have seemed flipant - that was certainly not my intention. I really am suggesting that by witholding dues, our union might actually listen to us and I have written to Gary Dunham, Bruce Doering and Tim Wade about this - I have yet to get a reply.

 

Regarding "For Your Consideration", the DP is one of those that operates. He has had a history of operating the A camera on every one of this Director's movies. I was told that the Production had addressed this with the Union prior to shooting and that it had been allowed. As it turned out, as the movie progressed, I would end up doing more and more of the A camera work when there was one camera as the DP realized it was indeed a good way of doing things.

 

I attended an SOC (Society of Camera Operators) meeting this Saturday and was encouraged to learn that they are mounting a large campaign to try and prevent this going through, starting with the upcoming NEB meeting. I will post more about what the SOC are doing as I get that information.

[Michael Stumpf]

Dear Michael,

 

I realize that my last post may have seemed flipant - that was certainly not my intention. I really am suggesting that by witholding dues, our union might actually listen to us and I have written to Gary Dunham, Bruce Doering and Tim Wade about this - I have yet to get a reply.

 

Regarding "For Your Consideration", the DP is one of those that operates. He has had a history of operating the A camera on every one of this Director's movies. I was told that the Production had addressed this with the Union prior to shooting and that it had been allowed. As it turned out, as the movie progressed, I would end up doing more and more of the A camera work when there was one camera as the DP realized it was indeed a good way of doing things.

 

I attended an SOC (Society of Camera Operators) meeting this Saturday and was encouraged to learn that they are mounting a large campaign to try and prevent this going through, starting with the upcoming NEB meeting. I will post more about what the SOC are doing as I get that information.

 

 

 

Thanks Simon, I was called about the SOC meeting as well.

I spoke at length with a few people about it afterward since I did not attend.

I've also been called and emailed by a couple ASC members, and they as

well are preparing to do whatever is necessary to reverse this "agreement".

There is hope and hopefully hope will come through.

[denis moran]

CAMERA OPERATORS

 

 

CALL TO MEETING

 

Join us at an Informational Meeting

Called by the President of the Society of CameraOperators

 

Welcome

SOC Members, Local 600 International Cinematographers Guild Camera Operator Members

Camera Assistants, Directors of Photography

 

Wednesday January 18th at 7 PM

 

The Local 600 Union Office,

Ground Floor Meeting Room

7755 Sunset Blvd

Hollywood, CA

 

This is an Informational Meeting brought to you by the interested parties of the SOC. Local 600 President Dunham will be available at this meeting for details on the memorandum of Agreement and how it affects us.

 

Bring your questions, share your feelings, be heard and hear what we know as we approach the NEB concerning the newest contract negotiations.

 

This meeting will be held with the agenda that it will be a constructive proactive planning session for the NEB and the future of the position of Camera Operator in our Union. Please join us in the hope that we can prevail.

There will be an Q & A forum following opening remarks by SOC President David Frederick and Local President Gary Dunham.

 

RSVP: Pres@soc.org

[JamieSilverstein]

As a member or both the SOC and Local 600, I think it would be fantastic if there was a link to the mid west regional and east coast regional offices of Local 600 so that all Local 600 member impacted by the contract can participate. Denis maybe you can pass that on to Dave and Dunham. I'll talk to the business reps here.

[Phil Rhodes]

I was once proudly told how the union had mandatory camera operators sitting in the truck reading the newspaper because of this rule.

 

I don't see how that kind of crass stupidity is in any way defensible. You brought this on yourselves.

 

- Phil

[denis moran]

The outcome of last nights meeting was that we have a hell of a fight in front of us. Gary D.?s position was that we were strong armed into this situation and if we don?t ratify, it could be worse.

 

The general feeling from the members in the room was that this is an attack on our position and our livelihoods. It would be worse to say that we are weak and willing to accept whatever falls off the table. If this goes through, there was a general feel that we will be sitting at the next contract in 3 years trying to save the Still photographers, tech rate, loaders ect. We have to make a stand somewhere.

 

The contracts will be mailed out sometime in late Jan., early Feb. With the contract will be a recommendation by the NEB to say Yes or No on this contract. This our current fight for Saturday. We need to get the NEB to recommend a NO vote on the contract before it goes out to the General membership.

 

If you know someone on the NEB, let them know that you don?t agree with the contract and would like it turned down.

 

Next on the agenda would be to get the membership to vote it down. And last but certainly not least is to get the support from a few of the other locals to send in a NO vote.

 

There will be a website set up (hopefully in the next few days) that you can send people to if they want more information on this subject. Let other crew members know how you feel now. I was shocked to find out how few people knew that all this is going down. Talk to the other locals. Their vote will be needed next.

 

Denis Moran

 

PS . I never thought that I would agree with phil but he is right? there are those 2% of productions that have taken advantage of mandatory staffing but the vast, vast majority of shows benefit from this situation. I?m sure phil would be more than happy to tell us about what happened to the once powerful UK unions when they decided to let the producers break the unions.

[Tim Tyler]

Please email or PM me in advance when meetings like those mentioned above are scheduled and I can add them to the forum Calendars here and at Cinematography.com.

 

Include the meeting name, date, time, location, and description.

 

Thx.

[denis moran]

I received a phone call late last night to tell me that Tom Short has informed the Local that he will now not be attending the NEB tomorrow. Unfortunately, any information we have is second hand so I will call 600 today to confirm this.

 

The debate will still take place and we must let our board know how we feel. By the end of this weekend, the NEB will still need to decide to recommend a YES or NO vote.

 

I know a lot of people who RSVP?d wanted to let Tom Short know what a disaster this contract would be for the Local (and the entire IA) and We can still do it. Come out tomorrow and let our elected officials speak for us.

 

There has been talk about some members of the NEB possibly voting along ?party lines?. Get to the meeting and let them know that as elected officials they need to speak for the Rank and File not the party.

 

Like most, I wanted to hear how Tom Short would try to defend this contract. But I can also understand how it might not be in his best interest to attend. With over 150 people RSVP?ing to attend, it is obvious that this is extremely unpopular with the general membership.

 

If even 2/3 of the group of people who said they were going to attend showed up it will probably be more than most of our general membership meetings. That speaks volumes to the NEB but also to the other locals. They are watching this closely. The other IA locals know that if we fold on this one? The genie is out of the bottle. I would hate to see what we will be expected to give up next contract.

 

Hope to see you at the Hyatt tomorrow.

 

Sincerely,

Denis Moran