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LMGI COMPASS
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Winter 2019
Unions Change Lives...
Victoria Harding, LMGI started in the business in Toronto,
1988. She was hired as the production secretary on a fea-
ture film. The financing for the film was shaky, but the crew
worked on faith for a few weeks. One morning, she learned
that the show had collapsed, she shouldn't return to the of-
fice and she would not be paid for the last three weeks. Two
hours later, a union rep (ACFC—Association of Canadian
Film Craftpeople), called. They'd heard of the problem and
offered her a job in their office until she was back on her
feet. The union knew that her position had no associated
union protection, yet they took care of her.
"This was when I fell in love with the business," Victoria says.
"In the end, I only needed to work there for a couple of days
because thanks to a recommendation from an AD I'd just
worked with, I was hired on Season 2 of Friday the 13th: The
Series, and my career was underway. I've never forgotten the
kindnesses that were extended to me by ACFC and other
union members as I faced that financial difficulty."
This is one of a thousand stories of how unions help peo-
ple in the film industry. For 40 years, I've seen the power-
ful advantages of unions for location professionals. Work-
ing in film production is an extraordinary profession—some
stress, but exciting adventure and exceptional challenges—
it can be one of the best jobs in the world. Media produc-
tion engages talented, creative people working in one of the
greatest visual story forms.
by Bill Bowling
THE
POWER
OF
UNIONS
Top
photo:
Dan
Welch/LMGI
