IATSE_1stQrtr_2018_web

Miller, Jr., with International Vice President
and Director of Canadian Affairs
John M. Lewis, Assistant Directors Daniel
M. Mahoney and Vanessa Holtgrewe, and
Representatives Steve Aredas, Scott Harbinson,
Steve Kaplan, Ron Garcia, and
Lyle Trachtenberg reported to the General
Executive Board regarding the activities
of the Motion Picture and Television
Production Department since the last
meeting.
Vice President Miller reported to the
Board regarding the status of the Motion
Picture and Television industry. He discussed
the pending merger of Disney and
Fox, which has the potential to significantly
change the industry. Prior to the
merger announcement, Disney indicated
that it would be creating its own streaming
service to rival Netflix and others,
indicating a continued high volume of
production as Disney and Fox create a
content library for its streaming services.
Disney had previously announced that
it was removing Disney content from
Netflix. Given Disney’s massive library of
classics, and purported new series in development
based on beloved franchises,
Disney is positioning itself to compete
with Amazon, Netflix, and Hulu for viewer’s
eyeballs and wallets.
AT&T’s purchase of Warner Brothers
has been held up by the Trump Administration.
Comcast completed the purchase
of NBC/Universal some time ago. Several
other traditional Studios are rumored to
be acquisition targets as more tech companies
pursue entertainment companies
to provide content.
Streaming video continues to evolve.
Netflix recently produced its first “blockbuster”
style feature, “Bright”. The Trades
have reported that in the first three days of
release on Netflix, and in a few select theaters,
the movie was viewed more than 11
million times. “Bright 2” has already been
greenlit. More content means more work
for IATSE members, and the Department
will continue to track the details of these
productions as it relates to the International’s
agreements and the treatment of
new media. The Department is monitoring
these developments and any impact
on International collective bargaining
agreements and the Motion Picture Industry
Benefit Plans.
Vice President Lewis addressed Canadian
affairs. The International continues
to include the Canadian Binder Agreement
and the Canadian Local Union
Term Agreements as part of the term signatory
group of contracts. The Canadian
Local Unions Term Agreements include
the BC Master Agreement, the Local 873
Term Agreement, and the Local 411 Term
Agreement. There are now 378 companies
which are signatory to the Canadian
Binder Agreement and 184 to the Canadian
Local Unions Term Agreements.
Production levels across Canada are
very high and many jurisdictions have
seen record breaking numbers of productions.
There were 272 signatory productions
under IA agreements in Canada in
2017.
The Department continues to work
with Canadian Locals to encourage producers
to shoot under International collective
particularly in British Columbia.
In Toronto, Local 873 secured agreements
with 41 US productions for a total
production value of $911 million. This
represents 100% of US-based productions
shooting in Toronto and 72% of
total productions. In British Columbia,
Local 891 was able to secure agreements
on 83 productions while other rival organizations
were limited to 11 productions,
which were mainly lower budgeted. The
bigger concern in British Columbia is the
rise of non-union productions. Local
669 has been very active in organizing in
excess of 50 low-budget productions in
each of the last three years.
The two largest agreements in
Canada, BC Master Agreement and the
Local 873 Toronto Term Agreement, both
expire on March 31, 2018. As will be reported
separately, Local 873 was able to
conclude a new term agreement with the
Alliance of Motion Picture and Television
Producers in December. It is a strong
agreement which followed the industry
pattern and was ratified by the members
in January. The BC Council is starting
its bargaining with the AMPTP and the
Canadian Producers Association on the
Monday following these General Executive
Board Meetings. The International
assisted Local 873 and will be assisting the
BC Council as well.
Finally, Vice President Lewis made
note of two non-bargaining initiatives
coming out of British Colombia:
1. Mental Health & Addiction in the
Workplace Working Group
British Columbia has experienced
very high rates of accidental overdoses
and suicides, and the film industry has not
been immune, with many recent deaths of
union members. In May of 2017, five BC
film unions (IATSE Locals 669 and 891,
the Directors Guild of Canada, the Union
of British Columbia Performers (UBCP),
and the International Brotherhood of
FIRST QUARTER 2018 27