Animation Guild | We are 839 Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1343869
L E T T E R ON THE COVER House design by Justin Thompson with color direction by Alan Bodner. Image courtesy of Disney Television Animation. A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THAT LOS ANGELES DOESN'T HAVE SEASONS, AND WHILE IT'S TRUE THAT OUR TEMPERATURES RARELY GO BELOW FREEZING OR ABOVE 100°F, WE HAVE OUR OWN DEFINITION OF SEASONS. I COUNT OUR RAINY SEASON AND FIRE SEASON AS SPECIFIC TIMES OF THE YEAR THAT ARE FAIRLY PREDICTABLE. PILOT SEASON IS ANOTHER, BUT THAT IS STARTING TO CHANGE WITH THE NEW STREAMING PLATFORMS THAT DON'T ADHERE TO THE TRADITIONAL BROADCAST TIMELINES. The season that I'm missing, all due to this pandemic, is awards season. Although the hosts of such award shows are doing a great job transitioning to the virtual space, I am sorely missing the camaraderie of attending in person, made more painful by the isolation necessary for everyone's safety. As artists, we usually keep our noses to our Cintiqs with long hours of focusing on our piece of the larger project—working hard to hit our deadlines with the artistry and professionalism expected of us. Getting recognized for our work is a way for us to leave our offices and celebrate with our peers. Even if you aren't getting recognized, it's an opportunity to acknowledge the labor, talent, and creativity of your fellow colleagues. For the last decade or more, The Animation Guild has been one of the sponsors of ASIFA- Hollywood's Annie Awards, and many of us have attended the evening's festivities year after year. Every time a union production or a TAG member wins an award, our block of seats celebrates with loud claps and, yes, an occasional whistle or holler. You can feel the excitement and energy in the air, something that just can't be translated online. I know that in the grand scheme of things award shows may seem frivolous compared with the losses that COVID has carried into our communities, but sometimes that's what you need to get through the dark times—a spotlight at the end of the tunnel, and a little statuette that keeps us hopeful for the future. In Solidarity, Jeanette Moreno King | President The Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839 AWARDS IN THE TIME OF COVID-19