IATSE Cares: In the quiet town of Orange, California, Tuia’ana Scanlan was a creative zealous college student majoring in Theatre at Chapman University. As his final undergraduate year approached, Scanlan says he began pondering on his job placement after college.
While still in college, Scanlan worked at the theatre shop on campus and says his friend Craig Brown, a faculty member and mentor, asked him if he had ever thought about considering a career as a stagehand.
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This article is doing some very heavy lifting so lets just go through some of the few takeaways. First of all, it is obviously great that a Polynesian man has been able to rise to President of a local chapter. Anytime we can get some representation within the upper levels of the organization is a win. However, I think this article needs to be more honest about why this representation is so notable in the first place, and how much work needs to be done by IATSE. The culture purposefully engendered by a lot of these chapter has pushed a lot of BIPOC, women, and queer people out of the industry. I know this is meant to be a feel-good piece, but it does come off as a bit like IATSE patting itself on the back for acknowledging BIPOC stagehands exist. Secondly, this article makes it seem like anyone who is not working in a union is in a sweatshop. I worked in theater for $17-18 an hour in Boston (which is not a cheap city). I would have gladly taken $20. Also, OSHA exists, laws exist, non-union workers still get breaks, still have safe working conditions, and depending on the theater company, can usually get benefits.
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