Save the Date! Anniversary75th Celebration THE More inside! BULLETIN hollywood CALIFORNIA Chartered Local 728 studio electrical lighting technicians Vol. 24; No. 2 May 15, 1939 the only iatse local dedicated to set lighting 2014 Full color version available at www.iatse728.org

Standing Room Only Hundreds gather for

Jobs Recovery Kick-Off Campaign

Inside: The Event o AB 1839 o The Daunting Facts o What You Can Do

Local 728 at the ASC Awards, Page 2 Also Doing More than Making Ends Meet, Page 6 Tragedy in Georgia, Page 7 American Society of Cinematographers I.A.T.S.E. Honoring the Best Local 728 Hollywood, California Local 728 Goes To The President Greg Reeves wards Vice President ASCA Karen Weilacher Business Rep-Secretary by Greg Reeves, President Patric J. Abaravich Treasurer-Call Steward n February 1, I attended the 28th some familiar, some not so. I mentioned Pascal M. Guillemard our local at every opportunity and was, in Annual American Society of Executive Board OCinematographers (ASC) Awards turn, greeted with both appreciation and Branch Brunson as a 728 delegate. This event honors the respect. Joseph Gallo best cinematography achievement in both I enjoyed seeing Michael Weaver who Darryl Herzon feature and television categories. has moved from CLT, to DP, to Director Jim Krattiger Held at Hollywood & Highland’s Dolby - becoming a member of the ASC as well Roger L. Lattin Ballroom, the gala had all the hallmarks of - in the time since we’ve know each other. Iain O’Higgins the Oscars: black ties, evening gowns, and I also caught up with Peyton Skelton, my R. Bruce Prochal schmoozing. Being all about DPs or “the former boss from Grey’s Anatomy who had David Watson boss,” you might think that there wouldn’t just wrapped up the season on Suburgatory. nd Sergeant-At-Arms be a member of our Local in sight. Not so. He’s now doing 2 unit work on some big Richard McConihay I saw 15 of our brothers and sisters, and shows, and is a shooter in his own right. Parliamentarians many more on the guest list whom I didn’t Lastly, I saw Gaffer Award winner Ed Alan M. Rowe have a chance to chat with. Many were Maloney. We had a spirited conversation Raymond J. Poblick guests of their DP employers, for whom about the upcoming Entertainment Job Safety & Training they wanted to show their appreciation. Recovery event. Alan M. Rowe, Director Some were guests of their favorite rental It is at events like this that we strive to houses, which had given them the opportu- create and maintain professional rela- Shop Stewards tionships with the movers and shakers in CBS - John L. Murray nity to attend as a sign of gratitude for the Fox - Gina M. Isaacs work. this industry, for both the growth of our Paramount - Frank Valdez Robin Strickland accompanied me on union, but also the growth of jobs. All Sony - John Jacobs behalf of the Local. He was chosen for the handshakes, the toasts, and the selfies Universal - John Kennedy his unique skill set as both a Gaffer and a are about reminding the industry that the Warner Bros. - Cameraman. We arrived separately, as is talent is here. And so should be the jobs. Chris Hathaway L.A. custom, and were quickly whisked into CLC Delegates a maelstrom of cameramen and women, - Greg Reeves Patric J. Abaravich Dennis k. Grow Pascal M. Guillemard Rick Kelley Iain O’Higgins S. Cricket Peters Greg Reeves Looking dapper at Alan M. Rowe the ASC Awards Office Staff Sean Harkess (L to R): Julianna Bessey Robin Strickland, Claudia Smith Justin Holdsworth, Dennis Grow, The Bulletin Greg Reeves Publisher Margie Stites and Editor Peyton Skelton Greg Reeves IATSE LOCAL 728 1-800-551-2158 1-818-954-0728

PAGE 2 Union Spotlight The Rally, Deceased Elliott (Cisco) Valderrama, Contract Seminars & 72 years old, a member since March 25, 1978, passed away ealth are hanges on February 6, 2014. H C C

O’Shana Walker, 80 years old, a member since April 14, by Patric J. Abaravich, Business Representative, Secretary 1979, passed away on Febru- ary 17, 2014. think the sleeping giant woke up on work week,’ travel/distant location condi- First Notice February 22 when hundreds of IA tions, drive to’s, holidays, etc. My goal is to Don J. Abernathy, Dominic members from every back lot local educate members on the working condi- E. Adame, Tyler C. Arnold, I gathered to take a proud, strong and tions you encounter every day. I also know James L. Boyer, united stand against runaway productions that when you’re actually at work, getting Michael D. Galdamez, and for the expansion of AB 1839. I the job done is the first and foremost in Benjamin A. Salvetti, Eric want to thank the roughly 100 Local 728 everyone’s mind and many times, contract Ulbrich and Ryan W. Tank- er. members who took time out of their Sat- provisions aren’t the main focus. It isn’t urday to come to the event. While some until afterwards that you’re sitting around Second Notice press reports understated the number of and might question things and think, “well, Joshua Coffman, Jaime attendees, I know it was literally ‘standing what’s going on?” These seminars won’t Dunford, Mitchell Ebert, room’ only at Pickwick Gardens with eliminate or relieve me of what I do; rather Payton Ewing, Adam Kem- many attendees parking blocks away so they are designed to let members know ble, Justen Laughlin, they could hear firsthand from a variety specific provisions. You might not need Carlos Leal, Paul Monroe, of speakers. to know exact details on how the contract Andrew Joseph Munie, Kyle The kick-off rally was a great event works, but you do need to know the provi- Robertson, Alex Tamayo, but now the real legwork begins on AB sions that make it work. You need to know Charles Trotter, and Josh- 1839 – The California Film and Televi- the rules so you can say, “I know Patric ua Vasquez. sion Job Retention and Promotion Act. mentioned this in a seminar.” This important piece of legislation would I want to make questioners out of our New members renew the state’s tax incentive program for members and make you aware so that you Congratulations to the another five years, would lift a $75 million question the conditions and that you know following new members budget cap on productions and would your rights. There is a whole myriad of who were sworn in: on Feb. allow all network and cable dramas to be contract rules and you don’t have to know 6, Mark Farney; on Feb. 26, eligible. Our current incentive program all the intricacies but you do need to know Ryan Babroff; on March 6, is only $100 million a year and is a far the provisions that are in place. There are Thairone Harvey on March cry from New York’s incentive program provisions for almost everything we do 8, Nathan J. Schirmer and which offers producers $420 million a and yes, there is a lot of gray area – but on March 11, David M.M. year. We can’t even compete, yet I believe the rules are in place to protect us. This is there are producers that want to keep going to be an ongoing series to make sure their productions in town: the demand for everyone is safe and educated. I want to ATTENTION MEMBERS the tax incentives is far greater than the reiterate that I am always available and if $100 million the state is currently offering. any concern arises while you are on the job The next As the bill moves through the senate your first line of defense is to contact me. General Membership Meeting and the assembly, I will continue to keep On a different note, there have been all of you updated. In the meantime, some updates in our health care coverage. will be held we need everyone active and engaged. In order to reduce our overall out-of-pock- at 9:00 a.m. (sharp) on Although the bill has 59 co-authors, it et expenses, MPI and Express Scripts have is critical that all of us make our voices made some formulary changes. I’m sure Saturday, May 10, 2014 heard. Many of you have already volun- you’re asking, “What the hell is a formu- teered and have started working on the lary change?” It’s when one manufacturer’s IATSE Local 728 campaign. But, we could always use more generic is less expensive than the other. 1001 W. Magnolia Blvd. help! Do you have a few hours to donate Express Scripts has the right to shift to a to help save your job!? Please visit www. different drug manufacturer. There are also Burbank backtoca.org or our website to find how some name brands that will be discontinued PLEASE BRING YOUR you can help. because there are now generics available. In other news, in May I will begin Additionally, certain companies have raised UNION CARD holding “Contract Seminars” to explain their prices ridiculously high on some phar- things like the ‘any five of seven day’s Continued on Page 6

PAGE 3 Entertainment Jobs

The Event Kick-Off ver 1,000 back lot union members and supporters gathered on February 22 at Pickwick Gardens in Burbank for what turned out to be a large and enthusiastic event to kick off the Entertain- Oment Jobs Recovery Campaign. Rally Event Chair The standing-room only event was chaired by IATSE Local 80 Busi- Local 80 Business Agent ness Agent Tom Davis and featured a variety of state and local poli- Thom Davis ticians including former Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel, who is currently running to replace Henry Waxman in the Congressio- nal 33rd District, and Assembly member Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) who introduced AB 1839 to the state assembly in mid-February. The rally also featured a number of labor and union heavy hitters including Maria Elena Durazo, Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. Teamsters Local 399 Secretary-Treasurer Steve Dayan vowed to support the IA and offered to send a powerful mes- sage to leaders in Sacramento with a caravan of Teamster semis assem- bling upon the capital. Although the parking lot filled up quickly and many had to park sever- al blocks away, attendees were fired up. During the rally, union members were asked to sign up for a number of different volunteer efforts. Mid-way Former through the event, IA representatives reported that the support had been Los Angeles City overwhelming and they had run out of sign-up forms. Controller The successful kick-off event put the spotlight on filming in Los Ange- Wendy Greuel. les, the daunting statistics, what needs to be done now before it’s too late, She is currently and how every voice needs to be heard. The speakers all emphasized that running to fill Henry although AB 1839 has 59 co-authors, state representatives need to hear Waxman’s seat in the from the thousands of workers in the industry, including the vendors and Congressional 33rd businesses that are supported by a thriving filming community. District. “This is not about creating jobs, this is about recovering jobs,” Local 728 Business Representative Patric Abaravich pointed out before the event. We are trying to recover jobs that aren’t here anymore and we need your help.”

The Daunting Statistics California has lost nearly all big budget feature film production and most television productions

Of the 54 big-budget feature films produced in 2012 and 2013, only ONE was shot exclusively in California

In 2013, just 39 of 137 television one-hour series was filmed in California

From 2005 to 2013, California’s share of the one-hour TV series market declined from 64% to 28%, resulting in the loss of an estimated 8,500 jobs

In the last 15 years, feature film production in LA has dropped nearly 60%

According to a 2007 study commissioned by the San Francisco Film Com- mission, every job lost in the film industry results in a loss of $112,000 in “This effort is a rare example of spending to the local economy government appropriately taking steps to stem the loss of jobs out of state,” More than 40 U.S. states and 30 countries now have programs in place to AB 1839 Co-author Assembly Member lure feature projects away from California Mike Gatto PAGE 4 Recovery Campaign AB 1839 Event Expanded Film and Kick-Off Television Job Yes, We Can! Creation Act henever I’m with any folks in the Wentertainment industry I make a ssemblymembers Mike Gatto point of throwing out there that I’d love to A(D-Los Angeles) and Raul Bo- meet George Clooney. canegra (D-Pacoima) introduced AB But if truth be told, as much I think 1839 on February 19, 2014. It was George and I have a rendezvous with co-authored by 59 additional legisla- destiny, I’m much happier tors – 50 assembly members and 9 to be with grips and costumers, makeup state senators. artists and set designers, prop masters, The bill takes a number of steps camera operators, drivers and the scores to improve and expand the state’s of other highly skilled union members, current incentive program. Some of the proposals include: without whom, George would not have Maria Elena Durazo, Secretary-Treasurer a job. You all helped make LA – “Holly- Los Angeles County Federation of Labor o Lifting the budget cap on feature wood” – the entertainment industry films eligible to apply for the pro- capital of America. You helped build LA’s signature industry … A signature industry that’s a gram. A film of any size will be able vital economic engine to Los Angeles and the whole state of CA. to apply to the program, however The unions of the LA County Federation of Labor are going to stand with you to make only qualified expenditures of up to sure “Hollywood” does not become Detroit, a once great city that lost its signature industry $100 million will be eligible for the to foreign competition and cheap labor. The automobile capital of America is no longer the credit industrial heartland. The automobile capital of America is now in Tennessee, Alabama and other southern states that offered massive incentives for Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes, o Allowing all new one-hour televi- Toyota and other manufacturers to locate there. sion series, regardless of where they Massive incentives to locate in another state … Does that sound familiar to you? air – broadcast, cable, Netflix, etc. – Every single one of your jobs that we lose and I mean “we,” is a blow to the future of the to be eligible to apply for the middle class in LA. program We are already fast becoming a city of the haves and have-nots. We recently commis- sioned the highly respected research organization, the Economic Roundtable, to do a study o Allowing television pilots to be of LA’s economy. What that study showed shocked even us. 46% of all workers in the city eligible to apply for the program of LA work at poverty level wages – less than $15 an hour. 46%. 810,000 workers trying to live on 15 bucks an hour. o Extending the program for five I’ll be damned if we are going to stand by and let the last worker left in Hollywood turn additional years off the lights after all the jobs are gone. Hell no! But good argument alone won’t keep your jobs here. That same energy, that same cre- o Offering a 5% increase in the tax ativity, that same blood, sweat and tears that you use every day to create the artistry that we credit for filming done outside of the see on the screen, you need to put it in this battle. Los Angeles zone (to a total of 25%) Let’s make calls together. Let’s write letters together. Let’s descend on Sacramento to- gether. Let’s fight and win to keep a middle class. We’re with you. Si se Puede! Yes we can! o Offering a 25% credit for television shows relocating to California in the - Maria Elena Durazo’s speech* at the rally first year

*Reprinted with Permission by the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor o Modifying the requirement that 75% of production days occur in California to 75% of principal pho- tography days occur in California, to ensure more jobs are created here

What’s next? The bill has to go through a number of steps. It will be referred to the Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media Committee for a hearing this spring.

Continued on Page 8 PAGE 5 Important Information Doing More than Regarding HIRING Making Ends Meet Any Local 728 member repre- senting an employer by filling calls or who is in need of assistance with such, must contact the Local office by Pascal M. Guillemard, Treasurer-Call Steward during business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday e are quickly coming up on the steady income all year long is more chal- by calling 818-954-0728, texting annual April to July television lenging than ever. to 818-438-0728 or emailing tcs@ hiatus season. This can be a Cable television shows and live event iatse728.org. W If you urgently need to fill a call financially challenging time if we haven’t shows, such as The Voice, American Idol prepared well. Planning for the slow times and Dancing With The Stars have non-tra- outside of regular business hours, is a must and should be done with every ditional shooting schedules that have you must contact the Call Steward at 818-438-0728. paycheck. Our industry subjects us to helped to flatten out the ups and downs of Members seeking weekend work income peaks and valleys far more than the traditional television season, with work should notify the Call Steward on in other industries, therefore, making wise on productions such as those commencing Friday during business hours. choices is not an option; it is an absolute and wrapping outside of the April to July Anyone who hires off roster necessity if we are to survive without the window. or hires any member who is not burden of financial stress in our family A shrewd financial plan for our indus- current witht their dues may have life. try members should include trying to save charges filed against them and are The nature of our work is very cyclical. 15-20% of each paycheck until 4-6 months subject to assessment penalties. We may find ourselves working many years of current living expenses are saved up. on a series such as CSI, Grey’s Anatomy It’s not easy to impose that sort of disci- or NCIS, or for a busy gaffer or rigging pline on ourselves. But when you have that So, if you’re looking for someone who gaffer on a variety of productions, or just cushion, work slow-downs and hiatuses are likes heavy rigging, or someone for a lamp bouncing regularly from job to job. Living far less likely to cause us to wake up in the operator position, or a live-event stage check to check becomes all too easy, es- middle of the night worrying about how to hand, or five members to move stuff from pecially when you’re finding steady work. take care of our financial obligations. here to there, our members can be specific But what most of us all discover, sooner The versatility of the Call Board is about what kind of work they are skilled or later, is that the regularity of those pay- growing as more members are calling to at, what jobs they prefer getting calls for, checks can be as temporary as the film sets discuss their work skills and preferences which jobs they prefer not to get called we work on; here today, gone later today. and adding their names to the Availability for and what pay scales they are willing to Add into the mix that DP’s, CLT’s and list. Best Boys need to know that if they work for, thereby increasing the potential CRT’s retire, move on or fall out of favor, choose to save themselves time and hire for just the right match between those the many scales of pay we’re working for from the Hall, every effort will be made to hiring and those seeking jobs. If you want these days and the lack of a competitive match specific needs with members from to put your name on the books, I will ask California State incentive program that the Availability list with the skills needed, you all about these preferences and get it has driven big budget feature films out of while still calling members in chronological all dialed in. the area, keeping good paying jobs and a order without preference. - Pascal

Business Rep’s Column Continued from Page 3 maceuticals and durable goods (diabetic test Another modification is with Delta the Local’s 75th anniversary with a very strips). Another change includes Express Dental coverage. Delta has three types of special event on June 21st. You and a guest Scripts shifting people to less expensive plans and the one most of us use is pre- are invited to join us at the Motion Picture companies. This will only affect a very small miere. That coverage is 70-30% and Delta Home in Woodland Hills from 2-6 p.m. for amount of people. We are being notified by is shifting it to 60-40%. What we need to the celebration. Please save the date and Express Scripts that we have the option to do is contact our dentist and check to find look for more information coming soon via shift to a generic equivalent or keep what out if they are a Delta PPO provider. If so, email. If you know you will be attending, we have but that will cost a lot more money. they should move you to the PPO which is there’s no need to wait for the formal invite. Express Scripts and MPI are notifying the a 80-20% plan. Almost every Delta dentist Members are encouraged to contact the providers; if some of these changes include is both a premium and PPO provider, but Local and RSVP as soon as possible. you, your provider will be notified and you please check with your dentist to make sure. will be shifted to the equivalent or pay the On a final note, we will be celebrating higher cost. PAGE 6 Tragedy in Georgia the unthinkable happened to one of our own

by Alan M. Rowe, Safety & Training Director

eorgia is a long way away from made a very specific point to make sure have easily cost lives. If you have to shut Southern California but the haz- everyone had two things on them at all down a generator, or anything that impacts Gards are just the same. times: a flashlight and a knife. If there was a process, make sure that you have a sys- By now everyone has heard of the a fire and we had to get out of the stage, tem in place to notify everyone who may tragic day when our sister Sarah Jones we were not to waste time going around be affected by your action and give them went to work on a film set and never came the translight, we were to go through the the opportunity to make their work safe. home. As the investigation is ongoing, I translight. While I have the utmost re- The last thing we ever want to do in the can’t speak to the details of the tragedy but spect and admiration for this gaffer, this name of safety is to create a greater hazard I feel it is important to learn from this so insight was not due to genius, it was due to than the one we are trying to avoid. events like it may never happen again. experience. Early on in his career, he was To ensure our safety, we must identify One undeniable fact is that the crew working on a set where a special effect got hazards that will affect us and make sure was on a train trestle when a high speed out of control and the set quickly became we have a plan to deal with unexpected freight train unexpectedly appeared and engulfed in flame. He didn’t have a plan, so situations. Know how to get to safety in everyone had less than 60 seconds to get his exit route included busting through a the case of an accident. Have an emergen- out of the way of the train. (Why they plate glass window. He made it out, though cy action plan to shut down a generator in were there or who was at fault is a topic not everyone was so lucky. He learned case of emergency. Know where to kill the for another day.) As individuals, what can from that accident and now so has every- power if one of our fellow crew members we learn from this situation? one who works with him. gets locked-on to a piece of equipment First, wherever you are working, you The importance of the emergency and how to rescue them if you can’t kill need an exit route. What is the best way to action plan cannot be understated. One of the power. Learn first aid, CPR, and how avoid a hazard? Get away from it! Emer- our members was gaffing a show on lo- to use an AED. Take your safety, health, gency Action Plans and Exit Routes are cation where lightning was common. The and security seriously as well as those not just for when a special effect is going generator operator saw lightning and pan- around you. to happen, they are necessary every day icked. He shut down the generator without The unthinkable happened to one of on set. In fact, OSHA is so concerned a thought of what was happening on set us on February 20, 2014. It is done and about this topic that one of the required or even notifying the gaffer. Fortunately, nothing will ever change the events of modules in the OSHA 10 class is titled everyone survived the unexpected plunge that day. While I never met Sarah Jones, I Exit Routes, Emergency Action Plans, and Fire into darkness. On a set like the circus in know the world is a different place because Protection. The underlying thought is that if Big Fish we might not have been so fortu- she didn’t come home that day and our you always know your path to safety, your nate. At any given time we had performers industry will ever be changed. Let us all chances of surviving a tragic situation are on high wires and trapezes, loose wild an- work together so a tragedy like this never greatly increased. imals, and our star in the “Ball of Death” happens again. Once when I was programming a with three stunt performers on mini-bikes. feature with a lot of translights, the gaffer A sudden blackout in that situation could Celebrating Proud Years You and a guest are cordially 75invited to join the Local 728 Executive Board, Officers and Staff for a memorable event celebrating our milestone anniversary Saturday, June 21, 2014 The Motion Picture Home,Calabassas 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Kindly RSVP to Local 728 1-800-551-2158 or 1-818-954-0728

PAGE 7 Studio Electrical Lighting Technicians NONPROFIT I.A.T.S.E. Local 728 US POSTAGE PAID 1001 W. Magnolia Blvd. HUNT. BCH CA Burbank, California 91506 PERMIT #438

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www.iatse728.org post rally What You Can Do! Go to www.iatse728.org TODAY to volunteer.

You can make a huge difference by donating a few hours of your time in a variety of ways: Send a letter to your State Assembly Member and Senator supporting AB 1839 Ask friends, family members and co-workers to send a letter of support Approach vendors/small business owners asking that they endorse our campaign Speak to community/faith-based group that you’re involved with and ask them to endorse our campaign Participate in a delegation visiting State Assembly members and Senators Attend public events supporting our campaign Share a compelling story about how you and your family have been affected by the lack of work in LA Also visit www.backtoca.org and filmla.com to learn more