Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1535749
4 • THE ARTISAN SUMMER 2025 Dearest Local 706 community brothers, sisters and kin, As your Business Representative for Local 706, I want to extend my sincere gratitude to International Vice President Mike Miller and International Representative Thom Davis for their incredible support, assistance, and guidance for the benefit of Local 706. Additionally, I would like to extend a generous thank you to the Walsh/Di Tolla/ Spivak Foundation for their timely contributions in providing grants to all Local 706 fire victims. Their support truly means a great deal to our members. Reflecting on the recent California fires, Local 706 is taking proactive measures to preserve and protect our collective history. We have begun the process of assigning authenticity and archiving memories that showcase the incredible work of our members, past and present. These photos and artifacts will now be physically and digitally protected for future generations to appreciate. Heritage Committee Chair Mike Smithson has been responsible for the extensive archival work, preserving assets and donating images for display. One of our objectives will be to create a 706 Union Hall Event, presenting a gallery "walking tour" of amazing images and information. More details to come... I would also like to express my gratitude to President Julie Socash for establishing the Heritage Committee, along with Mike Smithson, Ron Pipes, and the committee for their months of hard work, commitment, and invaluable contributions to this vital initiative. Furthermore, we stand proudly with our IATSE members in the Entertainment Union Coalition, advocating for an increase in funding from $330 million to $750 million annually. With two important bills, AB1138 and SB630, we aim to attract more productions to California and raise the tax credit for projects from 20% to 35%. For projects filmed outside LA, the credit would rise from 25% to 40%. Take a moment to write a letter today. Your story matters! And help us spread the word! Together, let's keep California thriving! Cheryl Eckert LOCAL PERSPECTIVE by Cheryl Eckert Business Representative, I.A.T.S.E. Local 706 Cyl E Cyl E e r t path forward. Perhaps with just a few adjustments and a willingness to compromise elsewhere, this allows room for the other party to come forward and give you what you are asking for especially if you are working to try and give them what they want. That is truly what compromise is about. For example, if you are managing a large production with lots of prosthetics or wigs, including a lot of background and you have a vision which does not fit the budget, remember everyone working on the project wants the same thing which is a good successful end result, but they also have their visions and parameters. There are several ways you may be able to figure this out and find the middle ground. Maybe find somewhere to cut your cost by altering a few looks or scaling back and try to work with the other creative departments and production to see if they can meet you halfway and give you some extra help to implement your designs. Maybe find somewhere else in the production schedule to save on manpower or stagger your extra crew to help make days a bit shorter which also saves costs. All of these and other ideas show you are working to help stay within budget but not losing the creative side of your work. Think outside the box, there are always ways to fulfill what you want even if it means you need to take a different path to get there. Sometimes what you think you can't do without allows creativity to come forward and you can end up with an even better result. A few things to remember: make sure to recognize and create opportunities to collaborate and communicate with your team. Always try to see and understand the other side and be willing to listen to other people's ideas. Collaboration and compromise can work with just about everything and blending one's vision alongside another can lead you to exactly where you want to be. Julie Socash President Continued from page 2 FROM THE PRESIDENT Julie So ca sh