The Hollywood Reporter: On Sept. 18, as industry power brokers were getting ready for the Primetime Emmy Awards telecast, an estimated 2,800 crafts workers in Local 700 — which represents Hollywood editors — participated in a roughly four-hour remote call to discuss options if their umbrella union, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, were to call on tens of thousands of its 150,000 members to strike. At least one other local held a similar call over the awards weekend.
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Something that is pointed out in this article that I have not seen in most of the articles I have read on this topic is the idea that social media has been essential in creating this push for better working conditions. Most articles have only really cited the temporary relief and subsequent reflection brought on by the pandemic as the reason for this movement. I believe the pandemic is absolutely crucial to understanding why this is coming up now, but during the pandemic social media is what allowed us to uncover these issues and begin a campaign for change. Social media allowed everyone to share their experiences and realize that mistreatment is widespread and is indeed mistreatment. I hope that the strike, if it passes through voting, creates the changes we all want to see. I do not think the hours we currently work are necessary for making great art. In fact, I often think they inhibit great art.
It is all too often the crew gets the “short end of the stick” when it comes to time put in on productions. The work days get longer and longer and it’s a very slippery slope, I’ve witnessed this happen directly from artistic directors requests for more time until it lands on the business agent and they are put in the position of choosing the show over bending union rules and guidelines. It is so great to see action being taken, of course this is a historical strike (potentially) but entirely necessary. These films are not possible without the crew and it is long overdue to treat them with the same respect as those on the other side of the camera. I look forward to seeing the outcome here, it is great to see there is already so much support behind the union. There is no more room to hide in this new world that challenges the unequitable practices of theatre that have been the norm for far too long.
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