Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1546034
12 C I N E M O N T A G E G U I L D N E W S By Guild Staff O n Saturday, May 16, members of Local 700 working in sound and music came together both virtu- ally via Zoom and in person at the Guild's Los Angeles and New York offices for the Guild's much anticipated Sound and Mu- sic Town Hall. Th e to n e fo r t h e to w n h a l l wa s e s - tablished early by Local 700 President F. Hudson Miller, who opened the discussion by highlighting the historic significance of his role. "My name is F. Hudson Miller, and I am the first sound editor to be elected president of the Editors Guild in its 90-year history," Miller said. " Let's hope that this get-to- gether can also be an agent of change for our members who work in sound and music. We are here to listen to you, our members, and discuss the issues that are affecting our sound community." The message throughout the day was clear: the Guild is committed to listening to the sound and music communities. N a t i o n a l E x e c u t i v e D i re c t o r S c o t t George echoed Miller's sentiments during his opening remarks. "All crafts are a crucial fundamental part of the Guild," George said. "Every craft deserves to be a priority for us." Local 700 sound and music representa- tives took the stage to introduce themselves and reaffirm their commitment to support- ing members working in sound and music. Together, their message was unified: we are here, we are present, and we are committed to being available to our members. As the town hall transitioned into its Q&A portion, members at the Guild's Los Angeles and New York offices and others who joined virtually voiced questions, in- sights, frustrations, and concerns affecting the sound and music communities. The conversations were candid and, at times, SOUND AND MUSIC MEMBERS GATHER FOR LANDMARK MPEG TOWN HALL difficult, but they reflected the importance of creating a space where members could openly share their experiences. In one specif ic hear tfelt exchange, where a member voiced her frustrations with the union contract (among other issues), George acknowledged both the va- lidity of her concerns and the responsibility leadership has in addressing them. "You have every right to be frustrated … thank you for being honest with me." Despite the challenges of the discussion, George emphasized that fostering these kinds of conversations has been a priority since stepping into the role of National Executive Director last year. His goal, he explained, has been to help create an envi- ronment within the Guild where difficult but necessary conversations can take place. While smaller roundtable discussions with sound and music members had been held previously, this marked the Guild's first-ever Sound and Music Town Hall — a significant step toward continued dialogue and action surrounding the issues facing the sound and music communities. ■ P H OT O : G U I L D S TA F F SOUND TALK: President F. Hudson Miller delivers his opening remarks.