479 NEWS
Business Agent’s End of Year Report 2018
Wow what a rollercoaster year!
2018 held both challenges and great celebrations for our industry. Our state’s political campaigns were in the spotlight for most of the year, and while this caused some to feel uncertain about the future of the entertainment industry in Georgia, Local 479 continued to watch work flood to our state, keeping our membership busy.
We feel confident and excited about 2019’s opportunities.
125 Years of IATSE
This year saw milestones achieved for the IATSE, and Local 479 was there to celebrate with them. IATSE celebrated its 125th Anniversary this past July. Looking back at the past 125 years was a humbling experience, and it’s inspiring to know that though our union was established in the brutally difficult economic climate of 1893, it succeeded in its purpose to protect the working class even then. We have come so far, and Local 479 is proud to be part of such a strong union.
IATSE on YouTube: As we celebrate our 125th Anniversary, we reflect on the history of the IATSE. Since our founding in 1893, the strength and solidarity of our members has bettered the lives of workers throughout the entertainment industry.
2018-2021 Area Standards Agreement
Our biggest contract also underwent re-negotiations in 2018, and we are pleased to have achieved gains in both conditions and wages. Our biggest gain was in relation to the new media aspect of the contract, which refers to streaming content and has recently become one of the most popular distribution platforms. We now have (more…)
Local 479 Members Compete for 2018 Emmys
In July The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced the nominees for the 2018 Emmy Awards, to recognize excellence in the television industry. Four members of IATSE Local 479 were among those listed for consideration in this year’s Creative Arts Awards categories. Please join us in recognizing the achievement of these members for the honor of their nominations, and in wishing them good luck in the upcoming awards ceremony this Saturday night in (more…)
Made in Georgia with Georgia Crews
Last year film crews from the State of Georgia helped produce more than 160 feature films, episodic television and video-on-demand projects. Georgia provided locations and trained crews for each of those projects, from the critically-acclaimed FX Network’s series ‘Atlanta’ (16 nominations for 2018) to the award-winning Netflix series ‘Stranger Things’ (12 Emmy nominations for 2018) to the record-grossing feature ‘Black Panther’ ($699,903,880 domestic, as of July 17, 2018).
Georgia is a great place to produce world class projects of every size. (more…)
How the 2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Impacts Members of IATSE
Last month marked the deadline for Federal and State tax returns for tax year 2017 and like many Americans it’s likely that after you submitted your returns (or filed for an extension) you immediately stopped thinking about taxes until next year. We’re publishing this article to remind our members that Congress recently passed a pro-growth tax plan referred to as The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Public Law 115-97), which was signed into law on December 22, 2017.
This new tax plan will affect your earnings from January of this year (2018) onward, and there are some very good reasons for some in the film industry to begin planning now in anticipation of (more…)
IATSE Safety App Now Available
The IATSE Safety Info App is an information reference and hazard reporting tool for IATSE members. The application provides important safety information, such as studio safety hotline telephone numbers, industry-specific safety bulletins and articles, and a form for reporting hazards encountered on the worksite. (Download links are available at the end of this article) (more…)
Sound Mixer Mary Ellis Nominated for Academy Award & BAFTA
Local 479 would like to extend its congratulations to Local 479 Sound Mixer Mary H. Ellis for her nomination for sound mixing for the feature film “Baby Driver“. Update: Mary has also been nominated for a BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) for her work on (more…)
Governor Predicts More Growth for Georgia’s Film Industry
Please take a moment to read the following passage from Governor Deal’s final State of the State address “Orchards of Opportunity”, delivered to the Georgia General Assembly yesterday morning. Our members should be aware that we have supported the Governor and his efforts throughout his administration and are looking forward to a very prosperous 2018 thanks to the staunch support of Governor Deal and our state legislators. As the Governor stated, we expect to break new records this year, and that’s just good for Georgia.
Thank you,
Mike Akins, Business Agent IATSE Local 479
2018 State of the State Address
[the following is an excerpt from Georgia Governor Nathan Deal’s State of the State address, “Orchards of Opportunity”, delivered on January 11, 2018]
“As we consider the achievements of their respective dedicated teams, we should also take note of a tree we “re-planted” – you might say – which has taken deep root in recent years and borne greater and greater harvests with each passing year. I am referring to the film production industry.
Just ten years ago, this industry generated $241 million in economic impact for the state. This past fiscal year alone, it generated $9.5 billion in economic impact. That’s quite impressive growth for this (more…)
Reviewing 2017 and Looking Ahead to 2018
I am happy to report that 2017 has been a banner year in the Local 479 jurisdiction! The number of projects produced in both Georgia and Alabama has increased 15% from 2016 to 2017, and all of the stars seem aligned for an equal or greater increase as we move into 2018.
Atlanta, in particular, is home to over 60 purpose-built stages spread throughout the metro area among 8 studio lots, with another studio still under construction boasting an additional 9 stages. This growth is expected to bring new production to our jurisdiction, providing even more work opportunities as production companies increase their desire to hire locally.
I am proud to report that at any given time throughout 2017, an average of 80-90% of our Local 479 members were found to be working. This number is based on a couple of factors: our Availability List was continually being requested by productions and seemed inefficient in providing the amount of labor requested, and I received more requests than ever before from people living outside the jurisdiction asking permission to work in town, as productions needed the extra (more…)
Maintaining Good Standing in the Local
One of the primary requirements for being a member of Local 479 is maintaining a status of “Good Standing”. This simply means that you have met all financial obligations to the Local in a timely manner. If you do not meet those obligations you will be considered to be in “Bad Standing” by the Local. Members who remain in bad standing for a period of time will be expelled. Regardless of the amount owed, all outstanding balances are the responsibility of each member. Most members maintain Good Standing throughout (more…)
Aflac Insurance Available to Members at Union Rate
You’ve probably seen commercials featuring the funny talking Aflac duck, but do you know what the company is actually selling? Aflac is a supplemental insurance provider whose Plans pay benefits to policy holders if they are so unfortunate as to be injured at work or to be diagnosed with cancer.
If you become sick or are injured your daily expenses can mount up quickly. Aflac pays you cash for those costs that may not be covered by your major medical insurance.
And Aflac pays (more…)