The Strength of a Union

To Utah Lawmakers and Representatives: 

The History of Film

As I have been learning in school, thanks to the Golden Age of Hollywood back in the years of World War II, the United States of America has become the home of the biggest film industry in the world. Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta--all as the main producers for some of the biggest content watched today. In the last half century or so, Utah has also had a growing name with it’s every expanding welcome to the filmmakers trying to make a big film with less of a budget. Because of Utah’s film incentive programs offering up to 25 percent tax credit, many larger productions have found the Beehive state more appealing than others to production budgets. 

Current Impact

Films such as High School Musical 1 and 2, National Treasure (2004), Footloose (1984), The Sandlot (1993), Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, are just some of the many iconic films made in this diverse state--production companies such as Sundance, Disney, and Hallmark making this a home base for most of their produced content.

Because of the growing nature of the industry in this state, it is important to constantly develop ways to help these films keep wanting to come back--and not only that--but workers need to want to work here too. 

Potential Positive Progression

The idea of a union was first brought to the spotlight back in the age of Modernism, where social movements brought the Romantic idea of individualism to the forefront: Humans had value; therefore, they should make changes to help the masses succeed. Individualism was the idea that the individual person is not anymore just a piece in the larger framework of society, aiding in the sustenance of the bigger picture, but an individual person asserting their own importance, their uniqueness. 

Without the union, and in Utah’s current state of legislation, employers, particularly film producers, are able to hire and fire at will. Not taking into consideration a person’s qualifications and impact on their reputation in the industry. If a set is non-union, it gives the employer the sole power over wages, benefits, and schedules.

Because of this idea that people have value, changes were able to be made from movements like the civil war and women's suffrage. This push for reform being the way people are able to better navigate and control their lives. 

Utah has a unique position of being the fastest growing state, and still being a right to work state. Utah is among the top of the list of states that pushes toward the most anti-union movements. Because of this, many film productions rely heavily on the fact that they can choose unethical shooting schedules, pay, and benefits. The worker has no voice, and if they try and speak up, they could face potential backlash like immediate dismissal.

Unions give an employee purpose and drive on set. A union allows for bargaining with a contract, and the biggest thing for film set that it allows: SAFETY.

Many people who are not familiar with film set etiquette, would be surprised to find out that with union shoots in big-shot places like Los Angeles, union laws keep people safe. With union laws, a Production Assistant (PA) is not allowed to touch anything that has to do with the electric and lighting department. So much that, while reading up on my studies (I am a current film student emphasizing in Cinematography and lighting) people have been fired on union shoots were an unknowing PA plugged in a coffee machine without consulting with the production’s Gaffer (Head of lighting and electricity department). This resulted in a blown circuit and the need for rescheduling. This equaled one fired PA, and one very mad gaffer who then had to explain the need to postpone filming—which meant more of all the costs associated—and why.

Now, that isn’t the only scenario where union laws keep crew and cast members safe. Let’s say an electrician notices that the camera seems precariously placed, and touches said camera, trying to stabilize it. Little did he know, this camera was set up on a rig and the only people allowed to touch camera equipment are Assistant camera crew and the Director of Photography. Because of this electrician’s mistake, the camera falls and hurts his leg. Unions keep workers safe.

Because of this idea that people have value, changes were able to be made from movements like the civil war and women's suffrage. This push for reform being the way people are able to better navigate and control their lives. 

Utah has a unique position of being the fastest growing state, and still being a right to work state. Utah is among the top of the list of states that pushes toward the most anti-union movements. Because of this, many film productions rely heavily on the fact that they can choose unethical shooting schedules, pay, and benefits. 

If Utah were to change its stance on unions, and help employees receive fair working conditions, it would not only help the individual person, it would also give the state strength in numbers. Meaning, “Unions are associated with higher productivity, lower employee turnover, improved workplace communication, and a better-trained workforce” (unionplus). So, if we were to see an increase in the way we treat and perceive and welcome unions here in Utah, the film industry would find itself progressing. Not only would it help the progress of the individual’s success—but also that of the industry in the state as well; this shift then would bring more work and more qualified filmmakers to this, the Beehive state.

Links to websites used for research and quotes: 

https://www.unionplus.org/page/benefits-union-membership

https://utahemploymentlawreport.com/utah-right-to-work-laws/