Celebrate Union Blockbuster Movies June 3-9

Union-Made Movies are Best

Labor 411 continues its celebration of union organizations with the unsung heroes of the entertainment world. We often laud the actors and directors of film, stage and other productions, but there are thousands of people behind the scenes that are essential to making it all come together. These are the fine members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, otherwise known as IATSE.

The IATSE represents more than 113,000 members in a myriad of professions and covering a wide range of skills – from cinematographers to animators and make-up artists to theater ushers. Even with more and more production going online, the union’s leadership remains committed in its efforts to organize every nook of the entertainment industry and to ensure that all productions are produced by quality union professionals. Even today, with unions under siege around much of the country, the entertainment industry continues to have one of the highest union densities, with most major blockbusters 100% union made.

This is also a reminder that the summer movie season has begun. See our follow-up to the Oscars Special Product Spotlight below for some great union-made, film-inspired goods for the summer.

In solidarity,

Labor 411

By the Numbers

1893:

Year IATSE was founded.

113,000:

IATSE members; a number that continues to grow.

Product Spotlight: Summer Blockbuster Guide

Almost every film you see in the multiplex this year will most likely have been touched by a member of the IATSE at some point in its creation. That’s how prevalent they are, so here are a few union-made items inspired by some of the biggest films hitting the big screen this summer. Funny enough, the season begins and ends with comedies about the end of the world, with a bunch of sequels in between.

Click here for our list of Summer Blockbusters

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Words of Wisdom

"Besides the famous actors and actresses, the number of individuals employed on the production of a given motion picture may be anywhere from 200 to 1,000 employees. They are not in front of the camera, but supply the absolutely necessary labor to make those movies, and work long, hard hours on a daily basis during the course of a film."

- IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb

Union-Made Movies are Best

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