IATSE_1st2017_web

Palmer Arena in Danville, Illinois.
When it opened in 1921, the Virginia
Theatre presented live performances of
vaudeville acts, dance, silent movies and
acting troupes. RKO bought the Virginia
Theatre in the 1930’s and sold it to
the George Kerasotes Corporation in the
1960’s where it was used largely as a movie
house until Champaign’s Park District
bought and renovated it in January 2000.
The theatre was added to the National
Register of Historic Places in 2003.
Today, The Virginia Theatre presents
community events, orchestras, concerts,
ballet, musicals and community theatre.
One weekend a month, movie reel classics
are run from an old carbon arc projector
onto a 56-foot wide screen. A local radio
station also sponsors movie nights there,
aptly named “Reel Deals”, where they show
new release feature films for $3 a seat.
Every April, since 1999, the theatre
hosts “Ebertfest” which is a film festival
founded by Pulitzer Prize winning and
world-renowned movie critic Roger Ebert.
Following Ebert’s death in 2013, organizers
raised $125,000 and built a life-size bronze
statue of him.
After several long bargaining sessions
in Champaign, the parties reached an
agreement that includes annual wage increases,
full-time salaried positions, and
a preservation of craft jurisdiction. Local
482 unanimously ratified the agreement.
Vice President Carlson thanked President
Loeb for his leadership, guidance
and support in getting this agreement on
behalf of Local 482. President Loeb remarked
that with the assistance of Vice
President Carlson, Local 482 set goals and
achieved all of them. He congratulated the
Local on a great contract.
Local 667 Treasurer Ari Magder, General
Secretary-Treasurer James Wood and
Local 667 Business Agent David Rumley.
LOCAL 634, NORTHERN
ONTARIO
Re: Organizing Activities
International Vice President and Director
of Canadian Affairs John Lewis, International
Representative Peter DaPrato
and Assistant to the International President
Sean McGuire presented an update to
the General Executive Board on the efforts
of the Canadian Office and IATSE Local
634 (Sudbury) to organize the motion picture
industry in Northern Ontario.
Representative DaPrato explained that
2016 was an outstanding year for Northern
Ontario, seeing six IATSE projects total
$57.6 million in production and a membership
of twenty-four grow to over twohundred.
It appears that 2017 is shaping
up to be another busy year, with a Netflix
production already confirmed and another
two in negotiations. As a result, Local
634 is well on its way to becoming financially
self-sufficient. It is also in the process
of investigating the prospect of establishing
a health plan, health spending account
and life insurance plan for members.
Representative DaPrato also explained
that IATSE Locals 411, 634, 667
and 873, in conjunction with the Directors
Guild of Canada, ACTRA, William
F. White, Clairmont Camera and Cooper
Equipment hosted a two-day Northern
Ontario Training Symposium in Sudbury,
Ontario during Sudbury’s local
film festival, CINEFEST in September of
2016. The event provided an opportunity
for the Northern Ontario Heritage
Fund Corporation (NOHFC), politicians,
media, producers and the general public
to meet and talk with film technicians
working the twenty-four booths representing
all departments required to make
a motion picture. It also provided an opportunity
for attendees to view some of
the training IATSE has provided to its
Northern Ontario members.
President Loeb applauded the continued
efforts of the Canadian Office and
Local 634 in Northern Ontario to both
grow the Local’s membership and secure
quality work opportunities for those
members.
LOCAL 667, EASTERN CANADA
IATSE Local 667 Business Agent David
Rumley and Local 667 Treasurer Ari Magder
presented General Secretary-Treasurer
James B. Wood with a Local 667 lapel pin
recognizing his twenty-five years of membership
in the Local.
President Loeb, the General Executive
Board and local attendees in the gallery
62 OFFICIAL BULLETIN