Representing Georgia Crews Since 1986.
It Began in Solidarity
In the mid-1980s the people working in Georgia’s expanding film and television industry decided to organize and petition the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Machine Operators of the United States and Canada for a Charter to be granted to Atlanta, the award of which was made official on October 1, 1986.
GEORGIA
Local 479 represents workers throughout the State of Georgia, with the exception of Savannah and its immediate assigns. In 2013 the Local relocated its offices near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, and expanded again in 2016 to accommodate its growing membership.
ALABAMA
In 2016 the International Alliance awarded the geographical jurisdiction of the state of Alabama (with the exception of Mobile and its immediate assigns) to Local 479. This expansion of our jurisdiction increased our area of coverage toward providing fair and safe working conditions to workers in our industry.
The Transformation of an Industry.
From 1986 until the turn of the century, IATSE Local 479 was a very small local, subsiding on short television projects and occasional feature films. In 2003 the Local joined with industry partners to approach the Georgia General Assembly about attracting more film and television work to our state. With the leadership of Governor Sonny Perdue and state legislators, a film tax incentive was enacted in 2004, launched in 2005, and by 2008 an incredible decade of growth had started.
Under the continued guidance of leaders like Governor Nathan Deal, Governor Brian Kemp, and Speaker of the House David Ralston, Georgia became a preeminent destination for blockbuster films and hit programs for television and streaming platforms.
Infrastructure Investment
Investment in new, purpose-built stage facilities began to emerge, and world-class studio facilities like Pinewood (now Trilith), Atlanta Metro, and Black Hall were launched, bringing a level of professional film production never seen before in Georgia.
Insatiable Demand for Georgia Labor
During this same period, Local 479 worked diligently to fill an unrelenting demand for workers, bringing thousands of Georgians into the growing industry, delivering the jobs envisioned by current and previous Governors and legislators.
2008-2018: A Decade of Georgia Growth.
The Covid-19 pandemic changed the world as we know it, and the film industry came together to create a stringent set of protocols to allow our workers to safely resume production.
As crews returned to work, studios launched the most aggressive production schedule ever seen in the history of the industry. More Georgians have been working in the film and television industry than at any point in the State’s history.
2020-2022: Working Under Covid Protocols.
2023: Work Stoppages & Hollywood Strikes
In the Spring/Summer of 2023 the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) conducted independent, overlapping strikes against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) after failing to reach an agreement before their previous contracts expired.
The 2023 Writers Strike lasted 148 days, the second longest strike in the history of that guild. In the final, ratified agreement writers made gains in compensation and benefits, employment duration, residuals, and protections against artificial intelligence.
Members of SAG-AFTRA walked picket lines for 118 days, the longest strike in the history of that organization. A significant majority of members of SAG-AFTRA voted to ratify the new agreement, bringing significant gains in compensation, benefit contributions, a bonus structure for performers on streaming platforms, and additional protections on and off set.
A Year of Hardship for Working Crews
Our members endured tremendous hardship over the course of 6 months of concurrent strikes by the writers and the actors, and for many that hardship lasted longer since the volume of projects had already started to diminish prior to contract negotiations. By the time SAG-AFTRA went on strike against the AMPTP mainstream projects had stopped altogether, forcing the majority of our workforce to seek unemployment and alternative means of income.
Members Helping Members
Feeding the Motion Picture Community
Families affected by industry work stoppages received groceries in a series of food drives thanks to a coalition of IATSE locals, industry partners, and non-profits coming together in solidarity during a period of intense need.
The Local stocked and maintained an extensive food pantry at the office, providing food and supplies to members on a daily basis.
