Animation Guild | We are 839 Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1542912
L E T T E R LAST SUMMER, JUST BEFORE TAG'S EXECUTIVE BOARD ELECTION AND RIGHT AS I WAS PLANNING TO THROW MY HAT IN THE RING FOR THE ROLE OF PRESIDENT, I WAS LAID OFF FROM MY JOB AS A STORY ARTIST ON A FEATURE FILM. It didn't totally surprise me, and I at least received a few weeks' notice—but the termination still left me in a state of panicked limbo. Given the state of the industry, I didn't have high hopes for quickly landing a new gig. I had to seriously consider whether or not I would even be able, or want, to run for elected office anymore. It felt like my own industry had rejected me. I started to wonder if this would be the moment that would finally force me to pivot away from animation as a career, as so many of my peers and loved ones have had to do recently. I thought about what other careers might be feasible and applied to some roles completely outside the entertainment sector altogether. I tried to make peace with the idea of doing anything else for a living. But I couldn't—at least, not yet. I sincerely, foolishly, and deeply love working on cartoons. It's all I dreamt about as a kid, and as an adult it has provided me with so much. I met my husband at art school, I have former co-workers who are now lifelong friends, and I'm finally "veteran" enough for high schoolers to tell me that a show I worked on inspired them to pursue animation as a career. How am I supposed to walk away from all that without a fight? Screw that! I choose to envision an animation industry that puts the workers first instead of the shareholders, that values craft over content, and that empowers us to tell stories that change people's lives. That future is still possible, and I plan on fighting for it until they drag me out of the ring. If you're ready to do the same, I'll see you at the Union hall! In Solidarity, Danny Lin | President The Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839 SEE YOU AT THE UNION HALL! ON THE COVER Menacing characters like the panther Jett add to on-court tension in the animated sport film GOAT. Background storyboards include work by the following TAG members: Head of Story Keely Propp and Story Artists Matthew Bordenave, Chase Conley, Benjamin Jordan Lee, Max Perkins.