Writers returned to work two months ago, and the SAG-AFTRA strike has been over for nearly a month. Production has restarted but won’t be back to full strength until mid-January.
But even as Hollywood tries to return to normal, dark clouds are forming on the horizon. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees contract expires on July 31, as does the Basic Crafts contract, which covers the Teamsters.
In a period of rising union militancy across industries, it’s not clear whether the Hollywood studios have achieved lasting labor peace or just a temporary truce.
“We’re going to be demanding things we believe members deserve for the work they do,” says Lindsay Dougherty, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 399. “We have to fix this stuff. Our members make Hollywood move.”
Both the studios and the below-the-line workforce — camera operators, lighting technicians, makeup artists and so on — have taken a hit...
But even as Hollywood tries to return to normal, dark clouds are forming on the horizon. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees contract expires on July 31, as does the Basic Crafts contract, which covers the Teamsters.
In a period of rising union militancy across industries, it’s not clear whether the Hollywood studios have achieved lasting labor peace or just a temporary truce.
“We’re going to be demanding things we believe members deserve for the work they do,” says Lindsay Dougherty, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 399. “We have to fix this stuff. Our members make Hollywood move.”
Both the studios and the below-the-line workforce — camera operators, lighting technicians, makeup artists and so on — have taken a hit...
- 12/6/2023
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
IATSE Grips Local 80 closed its offices in Burbank today after receiving a threatening letter. “Local 80 received a letter threatening harm to our employees,” the local said in an email to members. “Burbank police have been notified, and an officer came to assess.
“They are currently evaluating the situation for credibility. We have evacuated our building out of an abundance of caution. The Local is closed until further notice.”
Burbank Police Sgt. Stephen Turner said in a statement that “Burbank Pd is aware and detectives are investigating the credibility and validity of the threat. No arrests have been made. IATSE, in an abundance of caution, have closed their offices.”
The identity of the letter-writer is known by the police.
Dejon Ellis, Jr., the local’s business manager, could not be reached for comment, but he told Variety that the sender appeared to be distraught over the ongoing writer and actor strikes.
“They are currently evaluating the situation for credibility. We have evacuated our building out of an abundance of caution. The Local is closed until further notice.”
Burbank Police Sgt. Stephen Turner said in a statement that “Burbank Pd is aware and detectives are investigating the credibility and validity of the threat. No arrests have been made. IATSE, in an abundance of caution, have closed their offices.”
The identity of the letter-writer is known by the police.
Dejon Ellis, Jr., the local’s business manager, could not be reached for comment, but he told Variety that the sender appeared to be distraught over the ongoing writer and actor strikes.
- 8/26/2023
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 80 closed its offices Friday after it received a threatening letter referencing the strike in some way. Police in Burbank, where IATSE Local 80 is headquartered, are investigating the matter, but no one has been arrested.
“Burbank P.D. is aware and detectives are investigating the credibility and validity of the threat. No arrests have been made. IATSE, in an abundance of caution, have closed their offices today. No additional information is being released at this time,” representatives for the department told TheWrap.
Dejon Ellis, Jr., IATSE’s business manager, told Variety that the letter came from an unidentified member who “said some very scary things. He’s just mad. He says he’s out of work and homeless. He’s distraught. I don’t know if it’s a cry for help or not knowing how to control his anger.”
IATSE has not yet...
“Burbank P.D. is aware and detectives are investigating the credibility and validity of the threat. No arrests have been made. IATSE, in an abundance of caution, have closed their offices today. No additional information is being released at this time,” representatives for the department told TheWrap.
Dejon Ellis, Jr., IATSE’s business manager, told Variety that the letter came from an unidentified member who “said some very scary things. He’s just mad. He says he’s out of work and homeless. He’s distraught. I don’t know if it’s a cry for help or not knowing how to control his anger.”
IATSE has not yet...
- 8/26/2023
- by Ross A. Lincoln
- The Wrap
IATSE Local 80 closed its offices Friday after receiving a threatening letter that purported to be from an out-of-work grip.
The letter, which was postmarked on Wednesday, appeared to be related to the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, said Dejon Ellis, Jr., the business manager of the union.
“He said some very scary things,” Ellis said. “He’s just mad. He says he’s out of work and homeless. He’s distraught. I don’t know if it’s a cry for help or not knowing how to control his anger.”
Ellis said the threat was mostly aimed at Local 80, which represents grips and other below-the-line workers, but also made reference to the guild strikes in general.
The threat was first reported by Puck. Local 80 closed its offices, sent everyone home and notified other union locals.
The main West Coast office of IATSE also closed; some IATSE events scheduled for the weekend were canceled.
The letter, which was postmarked on Wednesday, appeared to be related to the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, said Dejon Ellis, Jr., the business manager of the union.
“He said some very scary things,” Ellis said. “He’s just mad. He says he’s out of work and homeless. He’s distraught. I don’t know if it’s a cry for help or not knowing how to control his anger.”
Ellis said the threat was mostly aimed at Local 80, which represents grips and other below-the-line workers, but also made reference to the guild strikes in general.
The threat was first reported by Puck. Local 80 closed its offices, sent everyone home and notified other union locals.
The main West Coast office of IATSE also closed; some IATSE events scheduled for the weekend were canceled.
- 8/26/2023
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
The nonprofit Bric Foundation, which was founded to increase employment diversity in entertainment, gaming, media and tech, has launched the Arts, Media, and Entertainment High Road Training Partnership.
The initiative will look to address challenges around hiring and retaining employees from historically excluded backgrounds in high-skill and high-wage jobs in Ame fields (film/television, animation, visual effects, games, music/audio, live entertainment and design). This goal will be achieved through a network of registered apprenticeship programs and community-based organizations that will provide continuous support for participants including on-site job training, mentorship and career coaching.
“As the industry continues to face challenges of increasing Deia, we recognized the need to work collaboratively in order to find a solution that supports tangible systemic change,” Bric Foundation co-founder Nicole Hendrix said in a statement. “We’re proud to lead this initiative from Bric and provide a coherent structure that will advance the way...
The initiative will look to address challenges around hiring and retaining employees from historically excluded backgrounds in high-skill and high-wage jobs in Ame fields (film/television, animation, visual effects, games, music/audio, live entertainment and design). This goal will be achieved through a network of registered apprenticeship programs and community-based organizations that will provide continuous support for participants including on-site job training, mentorship and career coaching.
“As the industry continues to face challenges of increasing Deia, we recognized the need to work collaboratively in order to find a solution that supports tangible systemic change,” Bric Foundation co-founder Nicole Hendrix said in a statement. “We’re proud to lead this initiative from Bric and provide a coherent structure that will advance the way...
- 8/10/2023
- by Rebecca Sun
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Dejon Ellis Jr. has been elected interim business manager of IATSE Grips Local 80 by the slim margin of only 10 votes. Ellis, who was an assistant business agent at the local, defeated Joel Galarza, the local’s vice president, by a vote of 178 to 168 during a virtual membership meeting on Sunday.
Ellis will fill out the unexpired term of former business manager Thom Davis, who retired last month after serving in the job since 1998. Ellis and Galarza are expected to square off again next month when the local elects officers to full three-year terms.
The election was as close as the ratification vote last year on IATSE’s new film and TV contract, which also passed by the narrowest of margins, and only then because of IATSE’s antiquated electoral college-style voting system – even though the majority of votes was against it. Members of five of the 13 West Coast locals covered...
Ellis will fill out the unexpired term of former business manager Thom Davis, who retired last month after serving in the job since 1998. Ellis and Galarza are expected to square off again next month when the local elects officers to full three-year terms.
The election was as close as the ratification vote last year on IATSE’s new film and TV contract, which also passed by the narrowest of margins, and only then because of IATSE’s antiquated electoral college-style voting system – even though the majority of votes was against it. Members of five of the 13 West Coast locals covered...
- 2/7/2022
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
Charley Gilleran has had a 30-year career as a rigging key grip, moving between superhero blockbusters like “Iron Man” and Oscar winners such as “No Country for Old Men.” This weekend, he plans to vote to ratify the new contract negotiated by his union, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.
The deal, announced on Oct. 16, averted what would have been the first national strike in the union’s 128-year history. Many members are against it, but Gilleran is voting yes because it protects the health and pension plans while providing a 54-hour rest period on weekends.
“I feel we negotiated in good faith, and we can’t keep going back and changing our minds,” he said. “I think our negotiating team did the best they could given the circumstances.”
But his 22-year-old daughter, Maeve Gilleran, is planning to vote no. She joined the union this year and thinks the...
The deal, announced on Oct. 16, averted what would have been the first national strike in the union’s 128-year history. Many members are against it, but Gilleran is voting yes because it protects the health and pension plans while providing a 54-hour rest period on weekends.
“I feel we negotiated in good faith, and we can’t keep going back and changing our minds,” he said. “I think our negotiating team did the best they could given the circumstances.”
But his 22-year-old daughter, Maeve Gilleran, is planning to vote no. She joined the union this year and thinks the...
- 11/10/2021
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.