Are you interested in joining a major motion picture industry guild? Not sure what the benefits are or what’s required? Look no further! We’ve got all the information you need right here.
First, let’s talk about unions. Since the industrial revolution, workers around the world have formed unions to achieve certain goals or standards for the workplace. In the motion picture industry, these unions are called guilds. While there are similarities between labor unions and guilds, there are also stark contrasts.
Guilds have great influence over the long-term careers of their members. This is done through various required qualifications and ongoing professional experience. Let’s take a look at a few of the major motion picture industry guilds and see what they offer and require of their members.
The Directors Guild of America is the guild for motion picture industry directors (both film and television). As a member of the DGA, you are guaranteed minimum compensation and benefits through negotiated collective bargaining agreements. The guild also negotiates residuals from television reruns, basic cable exhibition, home video, and digital exploitation.
Beyond the economics, the DGA offers its members creative rights, ensuring that directors retain active participation in all aspects of the filmmaking process. The Producers Guild of America represents producers in the television, film, and new media industry within the United States. The PGA helps its members with networking, staffing, and employment opportunities. The guild also provides its members self-pay health coverage or employer-paid dental and medical, as well as retirement plans.
Joining a guild requires meeting certain qualifications and paying initiation fees and quarterly dues. But the benefits can be well worth it, from economic advantages to creative rights and networking opportunities. So if you’re interested in joining a major motion picture industry guild, do your research and see which one is the best fit for you.Are you a post-production professional looking to join a guild? Look no further than the Motion Picture Editors Guild (MPEG). As a Union Local 700 affiliated with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, the MPEG represents over 7,300 post-production professionals and is dedicated to promoting excellence and professionalism in the industry. But the benefits don’t stop there. MPEG members have access to fair wages, health and welfare plans, retirement and pension plans, continuing education courses, and even post-production practice facilities. Plus, membership offers eligibility to join the First Entertainment Credit Union and the Actors Federal Credit Union. To join, you’ll need 175 days of non-union work in the last three years, with initial paperwork turned into CSATF and initiation fees submitted. Check out the MPEG’s informational video presentation below to learn more about the benefits of joining the guild.Lights, camera, action! If you’re a cinematographer looking to advance your career, you may have heard of the Cinematographers Guild Local 600 and the American Society of Cinematographers. These two organizations are affiliated with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and are dedicated to advancing the art and science of cinematography.
The ASC, with only 350 active members since its founding in 1919, is an exclusive cultural and educational organization that offers master classes to educate professional cinematographers on evolving filmmaking technology. Meanwhile, the ICG Local 600 provides its members with medical, dental, pension, and retirement benefits, as well as safety protocols and contact information.
If you’re interested in joining either organization, there are specific requirements you must meet. The ICG requires you to indicate your classification, read the membership booklet and roster placement letter, send a resume and letter of intent, and pay initiation fees and annual dues. The ASC, on the other hand, is by invitation only and requires you to have worked as a professional DP for five of eight years, have your work deemed worthy of acceptance, and submit a sample reel.
While neither organization has a significant presence on YouTube or Vimeo, there are countless videos on each platform that offer incredible insight from members of both organizations.
So, lights, camera, action! Are you ready to take your cinematography career to the next level? Share your thoughts on joining a guild in the comments below.
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