Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1521956
18 C I N E M O N T A G E F E A T U R E By A.J. Catoline W ho is actually working right now? This was the monumental question asked at a recent general meeting, where Editors Guild members packed the DGA theatre on Sunset Boulevard in the heart of Hollywood. Only half the room raised their hands, but members have come to expect this reality. Nearly six months after the historic double strikes of SAG and WGA concluded with successful deals for the actors and writers, Hollywood is still not fully back to work. FilmLA, the organization that handles production permits across the vast location of Los Angeles, reported in mid-April that television shoot days are down more than 32% compared to the same period before the strikes. I f p ro d u c t i o n i s l a gg i n g, t h e n i t i s self-evident what is happening in post-pro- duction. Some workers see optimistic signs that production will pick back up soon. Still, the question remains, how can the Editors Guild help members struggling today? A HARDSHIP FUND FOR MEMBERS In addition to offering a dues waiver program since the third quarter of last year, the board of directors overwhelmingly approved in September the creation of the Local 700 Hardship Relief Fund, which is specifically intended to help Guild members who are struggling financially because of the industry's recent downturn. The board HELP IS HERE A NEW HARDSHIP FUND IS AIMED AT LOCAL 700 MEMBERS IN NEED approved a founding donation from the Guild treasury of $130,000. M e m b e r s i n n e e d c a n a p p l y to t h e Entertainment Community Fund (ECF) at [https://entertainmentcommunity.org/ am-i-eligible-help] for individ ual hardship grants of $1,000. As of mid-April, more than $76,000 has been donated to Guild mem- bers. The ECF administers the application process and disbursement from Local 700's hardship fund, and the $1,000 is in addition to what a member might receive from the ECF in general assistance (with qualifying proof of hardship). If members want to donate to support the fund they can do so at [entertainment- community.org/local700]. "Our Guild cares about its members, it's one of our core values," said Shiran Carolyn Miller, who spearheaded the hardship fund project as a board member representing picture editors. "We look out for each other. I can confidently say that the vast majority of my fellow MPEG members share my belief." A member who recently had $1,000 transferred to their bank account sent a text to Miller, of which she keeps a screenshot on her phone. "it feels so nice to be looked out for like this," wrote the member. "I'm just so touched. I can't tell you how much [this donation] means to me. I just told my Grandma and she cried. Thank you." As Guild members waited for the general meeting to be called to order on April 21, they chatted over coffee and breakfast sand- wiches about the "Many Crafts, One Fight" ahead in the IATSE general negotiations. Members shared they were hearing from post producers that much editorial work may be outsourced to Canada where rates are lower and unions are weaker. "I've been an editor in this business for more than 20 years," one Guild member said, "and I've never seen it this bad." Mem- bers are trying to make it work, improvising to find what employment they can while waiting for more jobs, they hope, to pick back up soon. Despite the unease, there was pride in having a place to come together as a union.