IATSE Local 695

Production Sound, Video Engineers & Studio Projectionists

Departments

News & Announcements

Important Update to Dues Payment Policies

Regular Dues Policies to Resume in Fourth Quarter This Year

This is a reminder that with the start of fourth quarter 2021 on October 1, the Local will resume all regular dues payment policies. Most of the membership is all caught up with dues by now but for those who are not, you may want to take advantage of a series of measures the Board has authorized to assist members. These include low-interest loans, no-interest payment plans, and COVID-19 Hardship Relief.

For complete details on these policies, members can visit our website and see the “Important Update” at the top of the “News & Announcements” page, or they can contact the office. Be aware that Hardship Relief applications must be received by September 1, 2021.

Stay Safe & Report Your Job

The call sheets and added info you provide us allow the Local to track productions for safety and contract compliance and help us organize shows to create more union job opportunities. It also allows us to contact you and your crew if we receive information you should be aware of. Whether IA or non-IA … on long or short assignments … please report your jobs to:
www.local695.com/membership-services/job-reporting

COVID-19 Return to Work Safety Protocols Amended

The Return to Work (RTW) safety protocols agreement has been revised and extended through September 30, 2021. This new agreement contains many changes regarding vaccination, testing, transportation, and meal protocols. Members are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the revised agreement, which is available on the Local 695 website.

COVID-19 Vaccinations

Please be aware that the Delta variant of the virus, which has now become the dominant strain circulating throughout the country, is many times more transmissible than the previous one and that we advise you to pay strict attention to all appropriate precautions. All individuals in the U.S. over the age of 16 are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccines free of charge. Members who have not yet done so are encouraged to get vaccinated as soon as possible for the safety of themselves, those around them, and those unable to receive the vaccine due to unrelated health complications.

New Mask Mandates

Los Angeles County officials have issued a new indoor mask mandate, effective as of July 15, 2021. These new orders apply to all residents, regardless of vaccination status. All members are encouraged to follow county health guidelines and do their part to help stop the spread of COVID-19, both at work and in the community.

MPI Update Regarding COBRA Extensions

Members who may be eligible for up to six months of federally subsidized/no-cost COBRA continuation coverage through the MPI were recently sent information about this coverage by the U.S. mail and email. MPI strongly encourages members who would like to enroll in subsidized/no-cost COBRA continuation coverage to do so by completing the electronic election form (eForm) available on the MPI website for eligible members when they log in to their personal MPI account.

MPI only sent information to those members determined to be potentially eligible for federally subsidized COBRA continuation coverage. Members who have never earned the minimum hours required to be eligible for coverage through MPI, dependents who have lost eligibility due to age or other life events, and members who have previously exhausted their COBRA continuation coverage rights are not eligible for this subsized/no-cost coverage. In addition, those members or their dependents who are eligible for other group coverage or for Medicare may not receive this subsidized/no-cost COBRA continuation coverage.

While a paper copy of this election form will be made available to eligible members for their completion, MPI strongly encourages using the election eForm by logging in to www.mpiphp.org. You’ll need to log in to access the eForm, as the form is not available online under dependent accounts.

Check MPIHP’s website www.mpiphp.org regularly for updates on this topic.

New Members

Local 695 Welcomes its New Members

Mikhail Bhalla A-2
Chris Burr Y-16A
Jason Cotton A-2
Ronald Crooks Y-7
Milo Cross A-2
Julianna Cruz Y-16A
Dustin Delker Y-1
Nicolas Espinosa III A-1
Veronica Guidi-Louvieve Y-16A
Eric Irshay Y-16A
Joey Mendoza A-2
Nikolas Murphy Y-1
Alexandra Parral Y-1
Madeline Phelps Y-16A
Jonathan Santos A-2
Greg Sills A-2
Brendon Simmons Y-4
Kevin Sprayberry Y-4
Scott Stephens Y-4
Chris Torres Y-4
Vance Whitmore Y-7
Scott Widder Y-4
Jestin Willard Y-16A







Our Contributors

James Delhauer

James Delhauer was born in Southern California and never made it very far from home. Since 2014, he has worked as a television engineer specializing in Pronology’s mRes platform. He joined Local 695 because he desperately needed friends. James is Co-editor of Production Sound & Video.

Simon Hayes CAS AMPS

Simon Hayes AMPS CAS is a second-generation Production Sound Mixer who began his career in commercials and mixed his first feature at twenty-seven years old. He has since mixed more than fifty-five feature films and was honored with an Academy Award for his contribution on Les Miserables (2012). Simon is currently serving on AMPAS’s Sound Branch Executive Committee.

Scott Marshall

Scott was born and raised in Northern Virginia, and with the encouragement of fellow members, decided to move to Los Angeles with the goal of joining Local 695. He accomplished that goal relatively quickly and joined as a Y-7A. Some of his work as a Utility Sound Technician includes Earth to Ned and Station 19. He can also solder a mean cable.

Ed Novick

Ed has been mixing for features and television for nearly forty years. He enjoys being challenged at work, but should be careful what he wishes for.

Jennifer Winslow

Jennifer has been a member of Local 695 since 1990 and is currently serving as an Executive Board member and Trustee. A Utility Sound Technician and Boom Operator, some of her feature credits include Problem Child, Lone Star, and Be Cool. Her work in television includes Star Trek DS9, Chicago Hope, Dear White People, and Everything’s Gonna Be Okay.

Photos courtesy of the respective contributors.

From the Editors

As autumn falls upon us, there is cause for celebration. As restrictions continue to ease and the various sectors of our economies resume normal business operations, the world is beginning to look more like the one we used to know. Though we must continue to be vigilant and stop the spread of COVID-19 in our communities, we hope that the darkest days of this pandemic are now behind us as a new normal continues to take shape.

In this edition of Production Sound & Video, we take a look at the Sound Mixing nominees for this year’s Creative Arts Emmy Awards. Jennifer Winslow brings us an important report from the Women’s Committee. Ed Novick takes us behind the scenes on the challenges of mixing The Guilty in the time of COVID while Simon Hayes concludes his article from the set of No Time to Die, the 25th film in the James Bond franchise. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Sports EVS Operator Edgar Lopez, who shared some insights into the joys and obstacles of working for the Los Angeles Angels and the Anaheim Ducks. Then I shared my thoughts on the ongoing global chip shortage and how it may impact our members in the coming years.

There’s a lot to unpack in this one.

James Delhauer &
Richard Lightstone CAS AMPS

From the President

There is no experience quite like that of walking into a new stadium. After several seasons spent with the Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego and later the Rams at the Los Angeles Coliseum, walking into SoFi Stadium was the culmination of years of anticipation. For this football fan, it should have been a momentous occasion. However, the pomp and circumstance was dampened by the widespread impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Walking into the stadium after painted a clear picture of just how much the world had changed. There were no fans, no peanut vendors, and no drunken away team visitors. There were just seventy thousand vacant seats, waiting to be filled.

To those of us who had become old hats within the world of broadcast sports television, some adjustment was necessary as we grappled with the new realities of what our work would be like during the pandemic. Social distancing and zone protocols forced us to stay within designated areas. Watching the players warm up from the sideline, a favorite perk of the job, suddenly required testing and clearance for player safety. The rush and excitement of game days were dampened, filling the air with a somber tone not typically associated with the cheering, roaring world of sports television.

COVID protocols varied from sport to sport and venue to venue. Many sports elected to “bubble up” in order to keep their 2020 seasons on the books. Those that worked within those bubbles encountered new psychological challenges. Our members found themselves oscillating between lockdown at work and lockdown in a hotel in order to preserve those bubbles—separating themselves from families and loved ones during a global catastrophe. The effects were grueling to say the least but, from what anecdotal experiences have been shared with me, those fortunate enough to have been working were just grateful to be back at work. After all, the operators and technicians that previously traveled with teams for away games were forced to stay home in order to comply with COVID staffing requirements. Those who were able to work counted themselves as fortunate next to their peers and colleagues who found themselves unable to support their families.

When I approached the football season in fall of 2020, I was forced to reimagine what my season would look like. I no longer needed to fight my way through crowds to make it from the field level to the press box. I no longer had to wait for half an hour to ride an elevator to the transmission station near the dock. In some ways, COVID made my work easier. But it was also far less fulfilling. After all, what are sports without their fans?

The work itself was mired in changes. “Away Game” productions were cut from game day schedules. Simulcasts of both home and away games emerged as talent was cut down and left back in the studio or at home for commentary. World feeds, fixed control room environments where talent could provide live commentary to audiences, were often established hundreds, if not thousands of miles away from games. The cost of this new method of production was readily apparent. Something visceral and real was lost. Commentators were no longer rubbing elbows with players and coaches. The on-the-ground sense of the arena and subtle nuance of each player’s character was lost.

Jonathan Sepulveda, an EVS Playback Operator, stated that “On-the-road coverage is not as immersive of an experience as we’re used to. We’re missing out on that hometown feel and coverage.” Masters of their crafts like NHL’s Doc Emrick and NBA’s Marv Albert, both who retired during this COVID pandemic, can never be replaced in an environment where new talent is not forced to tell the stories of the sports environment.

Furthermore, the job opportunities and resources that come with having an additional away game production vanished. Home crews were suddenly expected to pick up the slack for the content normally provided by away productions. This decision, though necessary at the pandemic’s height when social distancing protocols were of the utmost importance, have continued even as lockdown restrictions have eased. Now many sports broadcast operators are wrestling with the notion that there are fewer positions available and fewer opportunities to work while productions demand ever more content from those workers they do hire. This brought me to something of a philosophical question. If you take away the talent on the field and the production crews that bring games to life, does sports entertainment still have the same electricity and luster it had before the pandemic?

The beginning of another NFL season is just weeks away and we who bring these games to millions of people across the globe are expected to rebuild and deliver once again. Full-capacity seating is becoming commonplace once more. In the coming months, I will have the privilege and pleasure of walking into a full and roaring SoFi Stadium for the first time in its history. This brand-new stadium will come to life and fans across the country and the world will unite in celebration.

Nonetheless, production crews battle a new type of mental and emotional hurdle—As we continue to wear masks and adhere to COVID protocols, we are surrounded by maskless fans who may or may not be vaccinated. The initial gut reaction of going back to work in crowds is scary and nauseating. At venues like the Los Angeles Coliseum, operators have to consider when they use bathrooms that are open to the public. Efforts must be made to minimize time and contact with those who do not work in production. Furthermore, we need to be mindful of how our co-workers are adjusting to this new normal and be compassionate toward their beliefs and viewpoints in the matter. Safety is an important key to any production.

On August 21, the Los Angeles Rams play the Las Vegas Raiders in a pre-season game. I will be forced to walk seven flights of stairs to get to the press box from the ground level because the elevator line will be too long to wait. But I will hear the cheering from the crowd radiate through that new venue like it was promised and then delayed. As one EVS Operator said to me as we talked about the upcoming season, “Isn’t that why we’re really there? Isn’t it great to hear that noise from the crowd filter into the truck?” Welcome back, fans, but please be safe.

Be Strong. Stand Proud. Be Courageous.

Jillian Arnold
President

From the Business Representative

It is summertime, the town is busy and so is your Local. I’ve been working as the Co-chair of the Legislative Committee of the California IATSE Council (CIC) with the DGA, SAG-AFTRA, Teamsters and the building trades on a new bill (SB 144) that will expand the current Tax Credit Program 3.0 by an additional $180 million over the next two years. The bill and the additional funding is needed because we had a funding shortfall in the area of new TV programs relocating back to California. With help from the state’s 2021 budget surplus, we were able to get this additional funding. Today as I write this, the bill passed the Assembly 62-0 and then the Senate 37-0. Now it’s off to the governor’s desk for his signature. In addition to the $180 million, the bill also included $150 million in tax credits for the development of new and renovated sound stages. This will create jobs for our Sisters and Brothers in the building trades and it will provide additional stages to draw more production back to California.

For members who were having a difficult time filing online and fighting through the huge backlog at EDD, Local 695 and the CIC worked together to assist members in getting their much-needed benefits. With the CIC, we lobbied for the CARES Act, which included increased unemployment benefits to help struggling families. And we helped write AB 276, which is the legislation that removed penalties and improved access for those who needed to take a loan from their Motion Picture IAP account. We also worked with EDD to add entertainment industry job classifications to make it easier for our members when they file online for unemployment benefits. These are just a few of the achievements we’ve made through our membership in the CIC.

Our workplaces have become much safer as the vaccination rate goes up, but if you have not gotten around to it yet, I hope you find time to get vaccinated very soon for the safety of your co-workers, yourself, and your family.

In Solidarity

Scott Bernard
Business Representative

News & Announcements

Important Update to Dues Payment Policies

Back in March of 2020, the Board of Directors responded to the industry-wide shutdown with fifty percent dues reductions for the last three quarters of 2020. The Board also discontinued the application of all late fees and put a hold on any expulsions for non-payment—both of which continue to be in effect at this time.

Fortunately, things have improved a great deal since the shutdown. With strict safety protocols in place and with the rate of vaccinations rising daily, many of our members have made a safe return to work. Our Available for Work List is showing record low numbers and work levels in most areas of the industry are strong. Even so, we realize that some members have not yet fully recovered from months with little work, and some are still waiting for their areas of the industry to open back up.

With all of this in mind, the Board of Directors has been exploring ways to address the different situations our members find themselves in. Beginning with the third quarter of 2021, the Board has authorized a gradual return to full-payment policies as required in the Local 695 Constitution & Bylaws, with new measures put into place to assist members during the transition period, including no-interest payment plans and hardship relief.

For complete details on these new policies, members can visit our website and see the first item on the “News & Announcements” page, or they can contact the office.

MPI UPDATE REGARDING COBRA EXTENSIONS

Members who may be eligible for up to six months of federally subsidized/no-cost COBRA continuation coverage through the MPI were recently sent information about this coverage by US mail and email. MPI strongly encourages members who would like to enroll in subsidized/no-cost COBRA continuation coverage to do so by completing the electronic election form (eForm) available on the MPI website for eligible members when they log in to their personal MPI account.

MPI only sent information to those members determined to be potentially eligible for federally subsidized COBRA continuation coverage. Members who have never earned the minimum hours required to be eligible for coverage through MPI, dependents who have lost eligibility due to age or other life events, and members who have previously exhausted their COBRA continuation coverage rights are not eligible for this subsidized/no-cost coverage. In addition, those members or their dependents who are eligible for other group coverage or for Medicare may not receive this subsidized/no-cost COBRA continuation coverage.

While a paper copy of this election form will be made available to eligible members for their completion, MPI strongly encourages using the election eForm by logging in to www.mpiphp.org. You’ll need to log in to access the eForm, as the form is not available online under dependent accounts.

Check MPIPHP’s website www.mpiphp.org regularly for updates on this topic.

COVID-19 Vaccinations

All individuals in the United State over the age of 16 are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccines free of charge. Members who have not yet done so are encouraged to get vaccinated as soon as possible for the safety of themselves, those around them, and those unable to receive the vaccine due to unrelated health complications.

Stay Safe & Report Your Job

The call sheets and additional info that you provide to the local when you report your work is not only helpful, but crucial at times as well. We can reach our members if there’s been an issue reported to us by another local, whether it be one of safety or concerning payroll.

Additionally, we can ensure that shows are contractually compliant when you report your work to the local. We need your help so that we can help you!

Whether union or non-union…
On long or short productions…
Please report your jobs to
www.local695.com/membership services/job-reporting

New Members

Local 695 Welcomes Its New Member

Eugene Reyes Y-4
John Fonseca A-1
Tylar Moore Y-16A
Leonardo Montero II Y-7
Santiano Luis Machuca Y-4
Moises Rodrigues Y-4
Andrew Giarruso Y-4
Shan Siddiqi Y-4
Jason Cornejo Y-16
Seth Fine Y-4
Leslie Metts – Y-16A
Nicholas “Nik” Castanon A-2
Terrell Woodard III Y-16A
Chris Rubin Y-4
Morgan Spadone Y-7
Michael Alaynick Y-8
Amaqnda Quesada Y-4

TERRY FOUNTAIN
1954-2021

For the past eighteen seasons, Terry Fountain was the Production Audio Engineer for The Ellen DeGeneres Show. He started the show on day one and did not miss a single day of taping during that time. For his work on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Terry received eight Daytime Emmy Awards. Prior to that, he spent eight years with General Hospital, where he was awarded one Daytime Emmy Award.
 
Terry was also known for his audio work on shows like Who’s the Boss?, America’s Funniest Home Videos, and the 55th Annual Academy Awards. His music career included working with George Benson, Bad Company, and Led Zeppelin.
 
Terry passed away on March 11, 2021, at his home.
 
He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

In Memoriam

David Kelson
Y-1
September 4, 1956 – March 1, 2021

Terry Fountain
Y-1
January 15, 1954 – March 11, 2021

John McCoy
Y-7a
May 20, 1936 – February 11, 2021

James Nord
Proj.
September 17, 1940 – Feb. 14, 2021

Our Contributors

Amanda Beggs CAS

Even before graduating from college, Amanda began working as a Production Sound Mixer in Savannah, Georgia, and Costa Rica. She then relocated to Los Angeles where she has been mixing features and television for more than a decade. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Cinema Audio Society, and is a member of the Television Academy. She also serves on the Equity, Diversity and Outreach Committee for Local 695.

James Delhauer

James Delhauer was born in Southern California and never made it very far from home. Since 2014, he has worked as a television engineer specializing in Pronology’s mRes platform. He joined Local 695 because he desperately needed friends. James is Co-editor of Production Sound & Video.

Jamie Gambell CAS


London-born and raised, Jamie Gambell CAS fell in love with motion picture sound the very moment a Star Destroyer flew into a shot at the Hackney Odeon Cinema. After working in the UK, he moved to LA to continue his career, becoming a Local 695 member in 2008. He currently lives in Glendale, CA, with his wife, two kids, and a crested gecko.

Richard Lightstone CAS AMPS

Richard began his career in Montreal, and continues to mix in Los Angeles. He is the Co-editor of Production Sound & Video, served on the Executive Board of Local 695, and President of the Cinema Audio Society for two terms.

Scott Marshall

Scott was born and raised in Northern Virginia, and with the encouragement of fellow members, decided to move to Los Angeles with the goal of joining Local 695. He accomplished that goal relatively quickly and joined as a Y-7A. Some of his work as a Utility Sound Technician includes Earth to Ned and Station 19. He can also solder a mean cable.

From the Editors

Welcome to the summer edition of Production Sound & Video. Television and feature production is close to pre-pandemic levels, and fourteen months later, Los Angeles is at the Yellow Tier, the lowest risk level in the Statewide
Color-Coded Tier System.

Scott Marshall gives us all the sound winners and nominees for the CAS, AMPS, BAFTA, and Oscars. Ron Hairston tells us how he pays it forward, and DaVinci Resolve is explained by Co-editor James Delhauer.

Amanda Beggs describes her adventures on Finding ’Ohana, and Craig L. Woods holds court on his career and life in the industry. Jamie Gambell expounds on the four-person sound crew.

Stay safe out there and enjoy.

Richard Lightstone CAS AMPS & James Delhauer

From the President

In late March and early April, I found myself glued to the news. The small town of Bessemer, Alabama, made made headlines when the workers in one industrial warehouse began a quest to unionize against Big Tech’s biggest employer: Amazon. Conditions within the warehouse had become grueling. Workers toiled for ten hours each day without adequate time for rest, all while being tracked and monitored by management via mobile phone apps. Their battle to unionize was a fight for more than just equitable wages; it was a fight for respect.

The news coverage of this battle was comprehensive as labor hawks on both sides of the aisle eyed the developing situation with keen interest. Celebrities and politicians came together to lend their voices to the cause. Senator Bernie Sanders made a personal visit to the warehouse in support of the impending vote. President Joe Biden also weighed in on this issue, praising the workers in a struggle many believed to be futile. The week-long vote was suspenseful for anyone following the prolonged battles of labor being waged in our country.

Then on April 9, the motion failed. Nearly eighteen hundred employees voted to oppose the effort to unionize, while less than eight hundred members cast their vote in favor. I was devastated. Bessemer vs. Amazon highlights just how difficult it is for the labor system to unionize any of the Big Tech companies, to say nothing of the largest and most anti-union among them. Those that opposed unionization created a narrative that a collective bargaining entity couldn’t deliver on the promise of pay rate increases and improved working conditions. They argued that Amazon already pays over minimum wage scales, provides a package of health care benefits, and matches 401(k) contributions. The Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union that tried to organize the Bessemer warehouse continues to assert that Amazon employed scare tactics to incite fear in those employees who were unknowledgeable about union practices or the legacy that the labor movement has in this country. It is easy to view the defeat in Bessemer as just that—a defeat.

However, this incident has raised attention in the press, leading to renewed union interest in other Amazon warehouses, as well as other areas of manufacturing. Awareness of unions in the American workforce and the good they represent are gaining traction. Our values resonate with a workforce that is overworked, underpaid, and looking for any recourse. This is especially true of our younger generations, who are staring down the barrel of one of the most inhospitable job markets in American history.

When faced with the decision to unionize or remain without representation, the question becomes, What Does the Union Mean to You?

This incredibly intimate question is different for each member. Our Local has built its legacy over the course of ninety years. Diverse technicians from every walk of life have been a part of making it the force it is within the labor movement today. When I asked myself this very question, there were too many answers to count. But in light of the COVID-19 crisis, I have become more aware than ever of the importance of continuing healthcare and pension benefits of all members and their families. I am eager to fight for family services like paid maternity and paternity leave and I am grateful for the resources available for members to continue education in their skill sets in order to expand their knowledge and learn new technologies.

The union also means working towards safer working environments and better working conditions both during and after the pandemic. I appreciate the industry wide initiative to keep our sets as COVID free as possible. I am thankful to the AMPTP and IATSE for brokering policy that allows employees to be tested on a daily/weekly schedule. I have been covid tested over one hundred times since mid-August, on various shows. There is a comfort in knowing the certainty of my health during a pandemic, so I can concentrate on my work without the anxiety of infecting others. On the other hand, the issues of short turn around and meal penalties continue to persist. I do not appreciate the sixteen meal penalties amassed in a single day due to poor scheduling on behalf of production. The need for rest and mental breaks is imperative in our high paced, stressful environment.

The Amazon vs Bessemer Warehouse union vote is not over. As of the printing of this article, the future of this vote was resting on the laurels of a mailbox installed on the Amazon premises in February of this year. Amazon employees were encouraged to drop off their votes at this mailbox via alerts on their phone. Evidence of email exchanges between the USPS and Amazon’s top execs were used in overturning the election. The presence of the new mailbox on site is both confusing and intimidating to employee voters. We won’t know the decision of the National Labor Board to throw out this election for quite some time, but it has raised interesting questions about Unions in America today and more importantly, what our union means to us.

Be Strong. Stand Proud. Be Courageous.

Jillian Arnold
President

From the Business Representative

Moving Forward
As life continues to open up and live entertainment venues are once again operating and hosting shows, I look back and realize how our union made a difference in the lives of our members and their families during this pandemic. The IATSE and Local 695 joined with the LA County Federation of Labor to sponsor several food drives; handing out thousands of meals to union families. The IATSE donated $2.5 million to three entertainment charities: the Actors Fund, the Motion Picture and Television Fund, and the Actors Fund of Canada. This money was earmarked for IATSE members and their families to provide financial relief during this global crisis.

Many of our IATSE brothers and sisters who work in live entertainment have been out of work for sixteen months, so the West Coast locals joined together to raise money to support their families during this shutdown. We come together to make one cohesive production even though we may work in different crafts and jurisdictions, we also come together to support our fellow union family in such stressful times.

In our last publication, we talked about labor playing a pivotal role in the rebuilding of America. The current labor situation in the United States leaves a lot to be desired. The original purpose of the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 was to encourage collective bargaining. However, nearly every amendment to the law since 1935, and most egregiously, the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act, has made it more difficult for workers to form unions. The function of the Labor Relations Board is to uphold workers’ rights to unionize, collectively bargain, and to work together to improve their workplace. Yet, as it stands today, the Board has no ability to levy fines when companies have broken the law; such as when an employer fires an employee for starting a union campaign.

The way the laws are written today, if a union election is won, a company can drag out the negotiations and never come to an agreement. Between 1948 and 1973, the New Deal laws of 1933 were expanded and hourly wages rose by more than ninety percent. Over the next forty years (1973-2013), hourly wages rose by just more than nine percent while productivity increased seventy-four percent.

Research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology shows that more than sixty million people would vote to join a union today if given the opportunity. We need to support the rights of nonunion workers and give them the opportunity to fair wages, health and pension benefits, and safe working conditions. We all benefit from unions made stronger through increased membership. A recent Gallup poll shows that union approval stands at sixty-five percent, which is one of the highest approval ratings in the past half-century.

We must seize on the current support for unions and strive to enact change. One way organized labor can help is to support the PRO Act (Protect the Right to Organize) which has made it through the House and is currently sitting in the Senate. Passing this bill would be a substantial step forward in achieving our goal to rebuild America.

The PRO Act is one of the most important pieces of labor legislation to be written in decades. The Act protects the basic rights of workers to join a union by introducing meaningful and enforceable penalties for companies and executives that violate workers’ rights. Not only does it give workers the right to choose a union and organize their workplace, but it also ensures that workers can reach a first contract quickly after a union is recognized by expanding collective bargaining rights and closing loopholes that corporations use to exploit workers.

In addition, the Act would stop the abuse of misclassifying some workers as Independent Contractors. What the PRO Act does not do is take away the rights of Independent Contractors, as the proponents against the Act would lead you to believe. Legitimate Independent Contractors can still take advantage of the state tax laws when filing their taxes.

A fundamental right of every working woman and man should be the right to organize. What can you do to help everyone achieve this right? You can write your senator
and ask them to support the PRO Act of 2021. Go to the AFL-CIO website for information on how to get involved. https://aflcio.org

The PRO Act is about giving workers a voice, not taking away freedoms. Without unions, workplace discrimination continues to increase, wages continue to stagnate, and the gap between the rich and the poor exponentially increases. Now more than ever, we must support labor organizations in order to move toward closing that gap and creating a system in which people can lead balanced lives and not have to choose between eating or taking vital medication because they aren’t being paid a wage that has increased with productivity and inflation. I urge you to call your senator to support the PRO Act.

In solidarity,

Scott Bernard
Business Representative, IATSE Local 695

News & Announcements

Covid-19 News

Depicted from left to right: Venus Leone (Sound Trainee),
Jeff Zimmerman (Music Playback), Chris “Catfish” Walmer (Boom
Operator), Rachel Schroeder (Utility Sound Technician), and Devendra
Cleary (Sound Mixer and 695 Vice President)

As the production lull of the holiday season and new year comes to an end, many of our members have made their way back to work or are in preparations to do so. In light of the spikes in reported case numbers following the winter holidays, all members are urged to remain vigilant in adhering to CDC, local, and state guidelines both at work and at home. Members who witness a breach in protocol on set should SPEAK UP. Please take precautions to keep your work areas socially distanced and sanitary in order to reduce the spread of the virus. We all need to take care of one another as we enter the next stage of this pandemic.

COVID-19-Related Financial Hardship Assistance

Members in need of COVID-19-related hardship financial assistance for rent/mortgage, utilities, or food may apply at Labor Community Services of Los Angeles and should visit www.LCS-la.org

Additional resources can be found from the following: The Motion Picture & Television Fund, Will Rogers Motion Pic Pioneers Foundation, Behind the Scenes, California United Ways COVID-19 Relief Fund, and Actors Fund. Members seeking further information are encouraged to contact the Local 695 office.

Vaccine Notifications

UCLA Health has begun inviting eligible patients to schedule their vaccinations. Invitations will be sent via email from sender “UCLA Health” (myhealth@e.uclahealth.org) with the word “Invitation” in the subject line. If you do not have an email on file with UCLA Health or unsubscribed from email updates, your invitation will be sent by mail to your home address.

Vaccinations are being administered by LA County. Availability of vaccines and appointments are expected to continue to increase in the coming weeks and months.

CSATF Required Training: COVID-19 Prevention

Members are at risk of being turned down for work because they have not completed the 35-minute online COVID-19 Prevention Class? This course is required for members working under the IATSE West Coast Agreements (those members listed on the Contract Services Experience Roster). To register for C19 online, go to www.csatf.org and select portal, sign in, log in, and select the COVID-19 Prevention Class to enroll. If you have any questions, please email training@csatf.org or call (818) 565-0550 ext. 1200.

New Members

Local 695 would like to welcome the following new members.

Benjamin Becker Y-7
Naomi Kahlon A-2
Garret Corral Y-1
Timothy Parks Y-7A
Griffith Scott Y-4
Darryl Webste Y-7A
Zach Flejter Y-4
Christian Berry Y-4
Payton Paulson Y-7
Alan “Max” Rich Y-7
Vanessa Spinetti
aka Venus Leone Y-16A
Agildo Lasaro Ribeiro
aka Lamps Y-1
Yisel Pupo Calles Y-16A
Britney Darrett Y-16A

Local 695 Committee Sign-Ups Are Here

There is no doubt that we are stronger together. Our members represent the best and brightest in their fields and it has been through their participation in the Local that it has remained strong in spite of the challenges we face. Members interested in exploring new participation within the union are encouraged to sign up to volunteer for one or more of the following committees:

• 24-Frame Playback Advisory Committee
• 695 Future Growth & Steering Committee
• 695 Quarterly Magazine
• Broadcast Engineers Advisory Committee
• Constitutions & Bylaws Committee
• Education Committee
• Equity, Opportunity, & Diversity Committee
• Projection Committee
• Retired Workers Committee
• Safety & Injury Prevention Committee
• Social Media & Events Committee
• Sports Advisory Committee
• Technical Trends Committee
• Video Assist Advisory Committee
• Women’s Committee
• Young Workers Committee

Members interested in committee sign-ups are encouraged to reach out to the office for more information.

In Memoriam

James Crear
Y-4/KTLA
Dec. 19, 1952 – Jan. 27, 2021

Brian Johnson
Y-7
Apr. 8, 1976 – Jan. 31, 2021

Our Contributors

James Delhauer

James Delhauer was born in Southern California and never made it very far from home. Since 2014, he has worked as a television engineer specializing in Pronology’s mRes platform. He joined Local 695 because he desperately needed friends. James is Co-editor of Production Sound & Video.

Simon Hayes AMPs CAS

Simon Hayes AMPS CAS is a second-generation Production Sound Mixer who began his career in commercials and mixed his first feature at 27 years old. He has since mixed over 55 feature films and was honored with an Academy Award for his contribution on Les Miserables. Simon is currently serving on AMPAS’s Sound Branch Executive Committee.

Richard Lightstone CAS AMPS

Richard began his career in Montreal, and continues to mix in Los Angeles. He is the Co-editor of Production Sound & Video, served on the Executive Board of Local 695, and President of the Cinema Audio Society for two terms.

Scott Marshall

Scott was born and raised in Northern Virginia, and with the encouragement of fellow members, decided to move to Los Angeles with the goal of joining Local 695. He accomplished that goal relatively quickly and joined as a Y-7A. Some of his work as a Utility Sound Technician includes Earth to Ned and Station 19. He can also solder a mean cable.

Jay Patterson CAS

CAS member Jay Patterson’s career in sound started in 1967 as a professional child voice for radio drama. He started mixing for film in 1986. He’s been a Production Mixer on over forty Movies of the Week (MOW), winning the Cinema Audio Society Award in 1997 for the ABC MOW Into Thin Air: Death on Everest, shot entirely on the Pitzdal Glacier in the Austrian Alps. Though primarily working in episodic production since 2000, he enjoys occasionally making indie features. Patterson was a five-term Vice President of IATSE Local 695, and is currently a Trustee of the Local. He currently lives in Culver City with his wife Susan, two small chihuahuas, and a very large German Shepherd.

David Wyman CAS

Born in Sevenoaks, England, David has been involved in sound recording since the age of 14 when he first stepped into a recording studio. He went onto do over-the-shoulder doc-style work in his early twenties for a small film company in London. Moving to Los Angeles in 1996, David worked full time in the sound departments of commercials, music videos, TV and film, finally branching out in 2001 as a feature film Sound Mixer. After a BAFTA nomination for Deepwater Horizon and many other critically acclaimed movies, David continues to ply his craft in the New Orleans or wherever production takes him.

From the Editors

Springtime has sprung and we are seeing more productions resume as our members go back to work. The light at the end of this fetid tunnel has never been nearer. Hopefully, our members and their families are staying physically and mentally healthy as we fully transition into the new realities of our industry.

In this edition of Production Sound & Video, Scott Marshall will give us a look at the AMPS and CAS Awards sound nominees. Co-editor Richard Lightstone sits down with mixer Jose Antonio Garcia to learn about the production of The Little Things and David Wyman takes us behind the scenes of the movie Greyhound. Simon Hayes discusses “The Modern Sound Crew” while Jay Patterson tells us about frequency coordination on the set. Co-editor James Delhauer talks about the new storage unit available from Pronology, built by Local 695 members for Local 695 members, and then has a conversation with some of the women pioneering new fields of broadcast engineering to discuss the unique challenges they face at work.

We can all learn a thing or two from this edition.

James Delhauer & Richard Lightstone

From the Business Representative

I was on one of my countless Zoom meetings when someone came into my office with a look of total confusion to tell me the Capitol was under attack. I really could not comprehend what I just heard. What? Are you kidding me? I never thought a mob could or would attack the center of our country’s democracy. At a joint session of Congress, our elected representatives were going through the solemn democratic process of counting electoral votes by state to confirm the result of the 2020 presidential election.

This congressional procedure is how democracy works. It was not till later that evening that I had time to watch what happened, and to see the full scope of the attack that had taken place. But also that very same night, and only hours after the insurrection had been turned away, we all watched with pride as our elected representatives returned to our Capitol to carry on with the business of the nation.

Despite this outrageous attack we have some good news. In a great surprise for all, Georgia elected two Democratic senators. Not only do the Democrats have the White House but we have both chambers of Congress, too, albeit with razor-slim margins. Why does this matter? Because we have leadership that will govern for the people, for the workers, for you and me.

One immediate change that happened was President Biden’s nomination of Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, one of the country’s top union leaders, to lead the Department of Labor. Hard as it is to believe, Walsh will be the first union member to serve in this role in nearly half a century. When President Biden announced Walsh’s nomination he said, “It means protecting pensions. Ensuring worker safety. Increasing the minimum wage. Ensuring workers are paid for the overtime they earned, like we fought to do in the Obama-Biden Administration, but this administration weakened. And making sure that we have a trade policy where for every decision we make, unions are at the table, focused on winning good jobs for American workers.”

We are going to rebuild what the past administration tore down, and it will be Labor that plays a pivotal role in making this happen. I am a proud union member and I’m very proud to see this happen. Having just completed our Local 695 elections, I cannot think of a more honorable position you have elected me to. Thank you. Together, I think we can look forward to a better year, a safer year, and a more prosperous year.

“The Labor Movement was the principal force that transformed misery and
despair into hope and progress.”
–Martin Luther King Jr.

In Solidarity,

Scott Bernard
Business Representative

From the President

One of the most rewarding activities in my life is to guest lecture and mentor young women who are interested in pursuing careers in STEAM fields. Their enthusiasm, curiosity, and drive to explore technical roles within our society fill me with a renewed sense of passion for the work that I love. I believe that when women are immersed in technical fields, they inspire the power to create in other women. Such inspiration joins science, technology, engineering, and mathematics together with the arts in order to become what I like to call the STEAM fields—with the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. As technical fields and coding become a larger part of the infrastructure of our culture, teaching women and younger girls these skills will become of paramount importance.

At the end of my lecture, I include a conversation about the highs and lows of how having a healthy family can co-exist with the power to create. Within these discussions, there is a renewed driving force to revolutionize the perception, stigmas, and the culture around women in STEAM. My primary goal in writing this piece is to bring that conversational footnote front and center within our Local’s daily discourse. One of my biggest motivations in serving as President of the Local is to help create a world where women can have a career in this business and have a healthy family life, side by side. Local 695 is Hollywood’s technical local and we should be at the forefront of this conversation.

As women gain a larger presence in the technical fields of not only our Local and the industry beyond, we are forced to rethink and reshape our social and cultural structures. We are faced with new challenges that leave us struggling to maintain the necessary level of mental and physical wellness, both of the women who operate within these fields and parents in general as they strive to raise their families. We need to start a conversation on the new challenges we face with this reconstruction.

In researching this topic, I look to other industries to see how they are moving this conversation forward. The research amongst women who are in technical fields or are technical adjacent in places like Silicon Valley and the space agencies share much the same sentiments as those of us here in television and film. Women are constantly trying to reinvent gender perception by showing up to call prepared and more educated. The motherhood penalty assumes that women can’t perform their jobs as well after becoming a parent. The difference between workers in those industries and those of us in IATSE is our employment by many entities rather than a singular employer. This means that both our Local, the International, and the AMPTP collectively have to take a look at how we can work on balancing family and career life. These are not just women’s issues. They profoundly affect the lives of men as well. They affect our family.

As a woman who has yet to start a family, I struggle with the concept of balancing my work and the family life. During lockdown, I rescued two young pups who came from a violently abusive situation. Both have severe anxiety and require a considerable amount of time and attention. As a single dog-mom, I struggle to care for them and meet their unique needs while I work. The late nights, unpredictable schedule, and short turnarounds affect them. If this is such an undertaking with two fur babies, I often wonder how I will do this with children of my own. I believe there are many in this business who delay having a family as they struggle to pay off student loans, compete with increasing housing prices, and are saddled with more technological subscription needs (streaming, phones, computers, etc.) than our parents did a generation ago.

I was raised by a mother who started her own business and has since gone on to do it twice more with great success. I look to her and all of those who strive to create this balance as a foundation to build upon. How did they do it? And how can we do it more effectively? I will never forget and always respect those who are stay-at-home or work-from-home parents. You too are part of this conversation and the conversation begins here.

The biggest questions and the hardest to tackle include:

– How do we improve and then maintain the level of mental and physical well-being of our working members who are raising families?
– How can our careers and our families co-exist without one harming the other?
– How can we create maternity or paternity leave programs within the Local, the International, the employer, and the state?
– How can a parent who takes paternity or maternity leave be worry-free of healthcare hours and feel safe to return to work as they focus on the needs of their family?
– How can we find affordable and safe childcare and educational opportunities that are flexible with our demanding schedules?

At the local level, I am encouraging all to join either the newly formed Steering Committee or the Women’s Committee. There, I will encourage the committees to work together on an array of topics all concerning the questions above, in addition to many more.

The Steering Committee’s goal is to help guide the Local as it transitions organically to a stronger organization with more members entering our revolutionized technologies within our jurisdiction. The goal of this committee is to reshape our infrastructure to accommodate our growing membership and help meet the collective’s needs more economically and efficiently.

The Women’s Committee is a suggestion of Trustee and now Chair, Jennifer Winslow, who has been active at bringing family and women’s issues to the Board of Directors. The goal of this committee is to focus on the needs, issues, and concerns of the 165 women within our Local.

I look at this conversation not as a women’s issue, but as a family issue affecting both men and women. Coming together as a local to take care of our families only makes our work family stronger. We have many challenges to overcome in order to strike this balance. If you would like to be part of this conversation and participate in either the Steering Committee or the Women’s Committee, please reach out to the Local. We would love to have you and will value your input.

Be Strong. Stand Proud. Be Courageous.

Jillian Arnold

News & Announcements

Local 695 Election Results

The Local 695 Triennial Election of Officers was held in December of 2020 and on December 17th, Miller Kaplan delivered the certified results to the sitting Executive Board. The following individuals were elected to serve as Local 695 Officers by a simple plurality vote.

  • Vice President Devendra D. Cleary
  • Recording Secretary Laurence B. Abrams
  • Sergeant-At-Arms Chris Howland
  • Trustee Jennifer Winslow
  • Board member Juan Cisneros
  • Board member Veronica Kahn
  • Business Representative Scott Bernard
  • President Jillian H. Arnold

Business Representative – Scott Bernard
President – Jillian H. Arnold
Vice President – Devendra D. Cleary
Recording Secretary – Laurence B. Abrams
Treasurer – Phillip W. Palmer
Sergeant-At-Arms – Chris V. Howland

Trustee – Shawn Holden
Trustee – Jay Patterson
Trustee – Jennifer C. Winslow

Executive Board Member – Joseph Aredas Jr.
Executive Board Member – Juan Cisneros
Executive Board Member – Sara Glaser
Executive Board Member – Veronica P. Kahn
Executive Board Member – Edward L. Moskowitz
Executive Board Member – Steve R. Nelson

Delegates to the International Convention:
Laurence B. Abrams
Heidi Nakamura
Mark Ulano
Jennifer C. Winslow

695 1st Quarter Membership Meeting

On January 16, Local 695 held the first General Membership Meeting of the year, which was conducted via Zoom’s video conferencing platform and has become the standard since the outbreak of COVID-19. IATSE Vice-President Michael Miller was present to swear in the new Board of Directors. Jillian Arnold succeeded Mark Ulano as the Local’s president after a historic 15-year term. We wish President Arnold a prodigious term of office as the first woman and the first broadcast engineer to hold the position and we thank President Ulano for his many years of service.

General topics of discussion included industry recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the continued use of remote meeting tools such as Zoom after the pandemic’s conclusion, and the dissemination of official union business on social media platforms, such as Facebook. On this last point, the Local is committed to using social media only for general informational purposes and not to conduct business dealings. Any members wishing to address or conduct business with or seek assistance from the Local are encouraged to reach out directly to the office staff at (818) 985-9204 or info
@local695.com.

Lastly, Local 695 is proud of its members in action. Any member wishing to be featured on the Local 695 Instagram account are encouraged to send on-set photos to Vice President Devendra Cleary at photos@local695.com.

CSATF Required Training: COVID-19 Prevention

Members are at risk of being turned down for work because they have not completed the 35-minute online COVID-19 Prevention Class. This course is required for members working under the IATSE West Coast Agreements (those members listed on the Contract Services Experience Roster). To register for C19 online, go to www.csatf.org, select Portal, Sign-In, Log In, and select the COVID-19 Prevention Class to enroll. If you have any questions, please email training@csatf.org or call (818) 565-0550 ext. 1200.

COVID-19 News

The 695 website has been updated to include the most up-to-date COVID-19 information, including information on upcoming vaccine availability, safety documents, financial aid options, and COVID-compliance training. For more information, please visit
www.local695/covid .

Optum Health Services

In the wake of the deadly Capitol attack that occurred on January 6 of this year, Optum is offering a free emotional support help line to those in need for assistance. This 24-hour line is available free of charge to anyone in need of aid. Members seeking help are encouraged to reach out to (866) 342-6892 and to take advantage of the resources available at www.liveandworkwell.com. Parental resources are also available for those with children who have been impacted by the attacks as well.

Behind the Sound Cart

A Book Review
by Richard Lightstone CAS AMPS

Once in a long while, a book comes along that skillfully delves into the work of members of the Sound Department. Behind the Sound Cart: A Veteran’s Guide to Sound on the Set, written by Patrushkha Mierzwa, is perhaps the best compendium for Utility Sound Technicians. It should be a must read for anyone in the Sound Department, as well as all the other crafts, management, and entry level technicians.

Using her decades of experience, Patrushkha details the job of a Utility Sound Technician, with a meticulous, but entertaining style. Starting with the history of the UST, sprinkled with many personal anecdotes, and tons of information such as; wiring, booming, communication, show prep, and much, much more.

The Utility Sound Technician is the ‘oil’ that keeps the Sound Mixer and Boom Operator working efficiently, and is also the ambassador for the Sound Department. Everyone reading this book will gain new awareness and much more respect for the incredible work the UST does every day.

Bravo to Patrushkha Mierzwa on tackling this subject in the most entertaining and informative way. The book is available on Amazon.

New Members

Local 695 Welcomes its New Members

Franco Montes Y-4
Darrell Cash Y-4
Anthony O. Ortiz Y-7A
Conrad Perry Y-4
Chad Starewicz Y-1
Robert K. Rogers Y-4
Dylan Reinsma Y-4

In Memoriam

ROGER AVAN
Projectionist
Nov. 3, 1934 – Jan. 6, 2020

PETER HOCHBERG
Projectionist
Dec. 29, 1934 – Dec. 28, 1954

Our Contributors

James Delhauer

James Delhauer was born in Southern California and never made it very far from home. Since 2014, he has worked as a television engineer specializing in Pronology’s mRes platform. He joined Local 695 because he desperately needed friends. James is Co-editor of Production Sound & Video

Peter J. Devlin CAS

Peter began his career in sound as an audio assistant working in radio and television for the BBC in Belfast. In 1987, he moved to the United States. Since 1995, he has been a member of Local 695. He serves on the Board of the Cinema Audio Society, as well as the Executive Committee of the Sound Branch of the Academy.

Simon Hayes AMPS CAS

Simon Hayes AMPS CAS is a second-generation Production Sound Mixer who began his career in commercials and mixed his first feature at 27 years old. He has since mixed more than 55 feature films and was honored with an Academy Award for his contribution on Les Miserables. Simon is currently serving on AMPAS’s Sound Branch Executive Committee.

Richard Lightstone CAS AMPS

Richard began his career in Montreal, and continues to mix in Los Angeles. He is the Co-editor of Production Sound & Video, served on the Executive Board of Local 695, and President of the Cinema Audio Society for two terms.

John Pritchett CAS

John Pritchett CAS was born in Santa Monica, grew up in Texas, and resides in Austin. John has been in IA 695 for 32 years, and in the sound business for 51 years. He has two Oscar nominations: Memoirs of a Geisha and Road to Perdition. He also has a BAFTA nomination for There Will Be Blood.

From the President

A few years ago, I was presented with a full-time job opportunity from a major studio and found myself at a crossroads. As I weighed this potentially life-changing decision, I discussed the possibility of leaving my freelance life with two dear friends of mine, a married couple, over dinner. The husband built his career as one of our Brothers in Local 80, and his wife comes from a union family from the Midwest. I could tell that she was uneasy about my potential career move.

As dinner was wrapping up, my friend excused herself from the table, only to return and request I follow her. We walked into the ladies room, she opened the stall door, and pointed to the drainage grate on the floor.

“Did you notice the grates on the floor in this place?”
I admit, I didn’t.

“Not too long ago, these grates said the word Chicago on them, Chicago. Now they say nothing.”

I also admit, I wasn’t sure where she was going with this story.

“I’m asking you to stay freelance. I’m asking you to stay and uphold the values of craftsmanship we grew up with. Being union is where we grew up. It’s a statement about the standard of work we do. It’s important we keep the IATSE stamp at the end of the credits going strong.”

My good friend was right. The Midwest work ethic that she and I grew up with is deeply rooted in the unions that our families served within. They took pride in the union stamp that graced their products—a pride that I now feel each time I see the IATSE logo when the credits roll on our screens.

I am forever thankful to her for reminding me how a member’s commitment to the collective and participation in its endeavors can strengthen or weaken the presence of a union. That pivotal moment in my career is why I am here today as the next President of Local 695, Hollywood’s Technical Local.

I grew up in the western suburbs of Chicago in a family of artists and tradesmen, both union and nonunion. I grew up in a family of working-class small business, where people worked to achieve the dream of buying a house and providing a better future for their children than the one they had for themselves.

My Uncle Andy is a retired projectionist. He provided me with backdoor entry into movie theaters when I was a teenager. I saw everything and learned to appreciate the craft of filmmaking as a whole. Uncle Andy is an influence who noticed my enchantment with the silver screen and helped to inscribe the work ethic and importance of the Chicago IATSE Locals into the fabric of my being. My Chicago roots will never disconnect from who I am as a worker and a leader.

At such a young age, the ideas of healthcare and pension were still foreign to me but today I view them as the cornerstone of the union movement. Healthcare, mental wellness, and safe working conditions are of the utmost importance as we have been deemed essential workers amidst the COVID-19 outbreak. This pandemic has spotlighted the weaknesses of our culture’s mental health awareness. I encourage you to continue to reach out to family, friends, and members who are struggling during this time. And while new technologies emerge as our production workflows lead us to safer, cleaner, and more socially distanced procedures, we will continue to educate and train our members to continue our strong tradition of being the foremost technical union in Hollywood.

If we don’t maintain a strong collective, the future of television and film will become just like the metal grates in those bathrooms. But that will not happen. I have personally watched our membership rise to the staggering obstacles of the last year, both on set and at home, I believe that our best days still lie ahead.

I am extremely proud of our members and of the IATSE membership at large. The manner in which our 695 artists and technicians are carrying themselves in the midst of a growing, risk-filled pandemic is admirable. I am in awe of the lengths our members are going to in order to keep themselves, their co-workers, and the collective at large safe and healthy so that work can continue. Members have altered their personal lives to stay safe from the virus, knowing that one infection on set can be to the detriment of an entire production. Together, we take this responsibility to heart.

This is family. This is what a union stands for. This is IATSE. As your next elected President, I promise that I will always keep the health and wellness of our members as my priority. I encourage your participation and involvement on all levels within the Local. Please feel free to reach out to me with comments, questions, and concerns at anytime. On behalf of the Board of Directors and the office staff at 695, we are here for you.

Stay Safe. Stand Proud. Be Courageous.

Jillian Arnold

From the Business Representative

Let’s turn this around, welcome 2021.

I remember the call I received last March 11, informing me that a crew member had come down with COVID. Two days later, we closed the Local 695 office, and since that day, we’ve been running most of the Local’s business remotely. Immediately, we circled the wagons and began reaching out to our members to see where we could help. We began the discussion with the management Trustees of the Motion Picture Plan on ways we could keep members and their families insured during this health crisis. Thankfully, the Plans have been managed well enough with many months of reserves, to carry us through the industry shutdown. These reserves were used to allow MPI participants who had coverage before the shutdown, continued family coverage.

We welcome a new year with a new President, Joe Biden, a longtime supporter of labor who knows that a strong economy comes from good union jobs. President Trump catered to corporations and killed most of the environmental and labor protections that took years to build. It is now time to restore our unions, focusing on working women and men to bring back the middle class. This is achieved by inclusion of all workers, no matter the color of their skin or how they identify.

With struggle comes opportunity. Coming out of the industry shutdown, we’ve experienced a need for additional Video Assist Operators on production. Many shows now want to provide Video Assist remote viewing to those people who would normally be on the set but due to COVID protocols, chose to work from afar. We have also seen an increase in the use of video playback on shows with large video walls being used as scenic backdrops. This is the modern version of the process shot used for decades on many productions. All this work has grown during the past year, and our Video Engineers are leading the way in the development of new workflows to meet the needs of today’s productions.

Looking ahead, we now have the vaccines to stem the spread of COVID. Productions will continue to ramp up to pre-COVID levels and more. The production environments we work in will gradually return to normalcy and we will once again be able to travel without fear of getting sick. I am in awe of how this industry took care of its brothers and sisters in the early dark days of the virus. We now see the light at the end of the dark tunnel, with hope in a new President who cares about us, the workers, the backbone of this country. It may be a slower transition than we hope for, but we will turn this around.

In Solidarity,

Scott Bernard
Business Representative

From the Editors

As the sun sets in the fall and we move into winter, productions have resumed and the industry is beginning to awaken from its slumber.

This issue features an overview of Local 695’s firm commitment to diversity and equality in Steve Nelson’s review of the Committee on Equity, Diversity & Outreach. Simon Hayes takes us back to basics with an introspective look at “How Important Is the Production Mix?” Scott Marshall gives us the roundup on this year’s Sound Emmy Award winners. Meanwhile, Willie Burton and team tell us about their work on Christopher Nolan’s Tenet in “Tenet: A Journey.” I also contribute a few anecdotes about recording this year’s MTV Video Music Awards from the (dis)comfort of my own bedroom.

And finally, it is with a mixture of wistfulness and gratitude that we must announce that this will be Jennifer Winslow’s final contribution to our publication’s “News & Announcements” column. Jennifer has graciously dedicated her time and expertise to the betterment of our magazine and we are sad to see her go.

Everybody stay safe and stay healthy.

Fraternally,
James Delhauer & Richard Lightstone

IATSE LOCAL 695
5439 Cahuenga Boulevard
North Hollywood, CA 91601
phone  (818) 985-9204
email  info@local695.com