Synopsis:
In Hollywood, those who work on stagecraft positions (including costuming, lighting, editing, and production roles) typically jump from gig to gig. With such intermittent jobs, there’s no consistent employer to provide benefits like health insurance, sick pay or retirement savings. That’s where unions come in: union membership gives below-the-line workers access to health benefits and retirement savings and positions that typically provide increased wages. For crews in Hollywood, membership is key.
In this episode, Hollywood IQ host Ri-Karlo Handy talks with
DeJon Ellis Jr., a career key grip and IATSE Union leader who brings more than 25 years of expertise in each role to the conversation. The pair discuss how to rise the ranks in Hollywood as a grip, the benefits of union membership, how to become a union member and union leader, and the importance of diversity in union leadership. Whether you’re looking to work on TV or film sets or aim to produce studio-quality content on YouTube, this episode lays out how to take advantage of newly-formed training programs and time-honored union benefits on offer.
Episode Highlights:
- benefits of union membership (including becoming “gang work” eligible — which isn’t at all like what it sounds).
- how union membership helped elevates careers
- navigating the path to union leadership
- the vintage (and exclusive) title of “best boy” for second-company grips
- new and emerging training programs available that are setting much-needed standards for skills training — and where to find them
- union history (including an eye-opening conversation on segregation within unions — it didn’t happen as long ago as you’d think)
- how the music video genre in the eighties and nineties helped the Black and other POC, and women producers and filmmakers to grow in Hollywood
What is Hollywood IQ?
Hollywood IQ is a community where creators, storytellers, and innovators come together. We explore the strategies and tools you need to thrive in film, TV, digital content, and music — bridging the gap between Hollywood’s legacy industry and today’s fast-moving digital creator economy. Each week, we break down the business of creativity, sharing insights and lessons that help turn passion into profit — together.