The Official Bulletin - Quarter 2, 2019

show,” Raymond said. “For example, the San Francisco Opera
House has a very sophisticated automated fly system that’s the
only one of its kind in San Francisco. The members who work
there were first trained by the manufacturer, and now they train
other crew members. But there’s no reason to train anyone not
working there. All of the touring shows bring their own automation
crews, so what we do is have our members work with the
traveling crews so they’ll learn the technology and are able to
do the work the next time around.
“We have more general classes, too,” he said. “We teach a
lot of automated lighting classes, because there are at least six
manufacturers in the business whose products work similarly.
In addition, the Local 16 Training Trust provides any member
with $1,250 to get training from a specific manufacturer or
another source that the Training Trust can’t provide.
“I think the most important thing is making a point of asking
manufacturers to participate,” Raymond added. “In all my
career, I have had only one manufacturer refuse to train people
on the new technology they’ve come up with. All the others understand
that training benefits them, because then they know
our members will take care of their gear, use it properly, and
maximize what it can do. There’s a nexus there that needs to
be exploited more.
“All of these approaches are critical to ensuring we have
the most qualified people,” he emphasized, “which means we
can control our destiny when it comes to populating jobs when
shows, conventions and other events come to town.”
MAKING KING KONG A GENTLE GIANT
Silicon Valley might have the reputation for technological
innovation, but when it comes to applying and implementing
the automation revolution, no group of workers is more on the
cutting edge of change than the members of IATSE.
Virtually every single technological breakthrough of the
past two decades is now used in the entertainment industry.
Artificial intelligence, automation, digitization, fiber optics, computers,
tablets and smartphones are all omnipresent in motion
pictures, broadcasting, tradeshows and on stage.
“Computers are physically shrinking, while getting more
powerful in their capacity to process massive amounts of data
and perform complex tasks — almost by the minute,” said International
President Matthew D. Loeb. “Fiber optics, 5G, Wi-Fi
and Bluetooth have exploded the capacity for people to communicate
with one another and with machines at the speed of
light. Meanwhile, hardware — whether we’re talking cameras,
lights, motors or screens — is getting smaller, lighter and more
versatile.
“That’s why IATSE continues to
grow — and why our commitment
to staying ahead of the change
curve will be the secret to our
members’ future success.”
International President Matthew D. Loeb
“But technology in and of itself means nothing,” he said.
“It’s people who make the technology work. A computer and
series of complex motors might turn King Kong’s scowl into a
smile, but it’s skilled craftspeople who do the programming,
send the message, and maintain the equipment. No matter
how automated our world becomes, nothing happens without
the human element.
“And nothing makes me prouder than to see how our members,
each and every day, master every new technology put in
front of them,” Loeb said. “From IATSE’s founding 126 years
ago, we’ve always been the people who bring magic to life.
What’s different today is that the magic they’re bringing to life
was unimaginable five, ten or twenty years ago.
“It might be a cliché to say that brains now matter more
than brawn in the workplace, but the fact is, our members need
to bring it all to their crafts,” he added. “And tomorrow, they’ll
need to bring something new that they haven’t done before.
That’s why I’ve made training such a high priority and why the
training being done at the International and Local levels is the
linchpin in our long-term success.
“The fact is this: Technological change has both benefits
and drawbacks, but it’s happening as we speak and we cannot
resist it, nor should we,” Loeb emphasized. “Our employers
want state-of-the-art productions with all the latest breakthroughs
and we’re here to deliver it. It’s our job to make
technological change work for us, rather than against us. It’s
our job to keep the old work, capture the new work, and anticipate
the next breakthroughs so our members stand ready to
jump in with both feet. That’s why IATSE continues to grow —
and why our commitment to staying ahead of the change curve
will be the secret to our members’ future success.”
PHOTO CREDIT:
FOR ‘DEAR EVAN HANSEN” AND “KING KONG” – MATTHEW MURPHY
FOR “KING KONG” - CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY, CO. AND JOAN MARCUS
FOR VOLUMETRIC CAPTURE STAGE – MICHAEL MANSOURI AND RADIANT IMAGES
SECOND QUARTER 2019 31