Animation workers and advocates argued that recent technological and business changes have left their craft hanging in the balance during a packed union rally in Burbank on Saturday, with one speaker arguing that “the American animation industry is in danger.”
The Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839) organized the event ahead of negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on a new three-year contract to address hot-button issues such as AI and outsourcing. will deal with Gathering in mid-80-degree temperatures in the parking lot of IATSE Local 80, attendees heard from guild leaders, local politicians, rank-and-file workers and, to name a few, the intrepid (director Guillermo del Toro gave a rousing shout-out). sent, workers to “fight like hell”), who emphasized the urgency and stakes of this year’s negotiations.
The overall message was summed up by union president Janet Moreno-King: “We’re at a crossroads in the industry that we’ve never faced before,” she told the audience. There are jobs, we are defending the spirit of this industry.
Top of mind for both attendees and speakers was the threat of creative AI to animation workers. Addressing the audience, emcee Mike Rianda compared the plot of his 2021 movie to the situation union members face today. “It’s funny that I am. 1723359849 Part of a group of real human underdogs fighting the real threat of robot replacement with AI,” he joked. Legendary character animator James Baxter () emphasized in a short speech that the art of humans “If anyone tells you that AI is just another tool, just another paintbrush, they’re wrong,” he said.
union, which bargains on behalf of more than 5,000 animation workers. Already revealed that regulating generative AI is one of its top priorities for its 2024 negotiations. Also on the docket is addressing the massive layoffs that have gripped the industry in the past few years (the union estimates that nearly a third of its working members have been laid off in the past year alone). ) and outsourcing of work to foreign countries. During the rally, union business representative Steve Kaplan said improvements in wages and benefits would also be on the table.
Negotiations are scheduled to begin Monday at AMPTP’s Sherman Oaks offices and continue through Friday, the last day to extend the union’s current contract.
In an interview at the event with , negotiating committee member and writer Joey Clift () asserted that the union is fighting for the careers of current and future animation workers. “It really, for us, feels like a do-or-die negotiation cycle,” he said.
Dual Writers Guild of America and Animation Guild member Bill Volkoff (), a member of the latter union since 2009, emphasized that he had never seen animation workers so fired. “This is the busiest I’ve ever seen TAG members, and I’m so excited to be here and be a part of it,” he said.
The crowd at Saturday’s event was notably larger than those attending a similar rally held by the guild two years ago, during the final round of its contract negotiations. Although attendance numbers were not immediately available, this year’s union had more than 2,000 RSVPs as of Friday, double the crowd for the 2022 event, according to Clift, a member of the negotiating committee.
It also had an engaged audience. Writer Julia Prescott got a heartwarming response during a speech that said the union would not get a second chance if it didn’t make major changes to the contract now. “The American animation industry is at stake and the kid who’s been drawing since your childhood isn’t going down without a fight,” he said. Storyboard artists Nora Mack and Charlie Jackson ( ) also drew attention for their joint address. “What we’re going to win in this deal is more than slowing the race to the bottom. We’re going to win our industry back,” Jackson said.
Packing in F-bombs, Writers Guild of America West Board member Adam Connor ( ) drew loud applause during his speech to the group. He advocated not seeking the respect of companies when communicating with animation workers. “You don’t need their respect because they’ll never give it to you,” he said. “Their respect doesn’t matter. What matters is your respect. And if you respect yourself enough to say, ‘You know what, I’m not going to work for you. Until I get what I deserve’, you win.
Credit : www.hollywoodreporter.com