By Scott George
In our industry, much of the most important work happens behind the scenes, in the edit bays and mix stages where our members work. And it’s just as true in the halls of government, where the decisions are made that shape our livelihoods.
Over the past several months, the Editors Guild has been deeply engaged in that second kind of behind-the-scenes work. We’ve been making the case — day in and day out — for policies that support not just our members, but the long-term health of our industry. We’ve been meeting with lawmakers, building relationships, and working alongside allies to ensure that post-production remains a vital part of California’s economy. And just as importantly, so have you.
It’s no secret that our California members have seen jobs leave the state due to tax incentives elsewhere.
That’s why Local 700 has lent its support to AB 2319. This bill, written by Assemblymember Nick Schultz and backed by the California Post Alliance (CAPA), represents an important opportunity to strengthen incentives for post-production work in California.
Our members have stepped up. You wrote thousands of letters in support of this bill. You took the time to make your voices heard. That is not a little thing. That’s impact — solidarity in action.
When Local 700 engages, people listen. We are determined to keep pushing, however long it takes, to get legislation enacted that protects our members’ jobs. At press time, AB 2319 has moved out of Assembly committee and is headed for a floor vote. If we are able to get it over that hurdle, it then moves to the Senate.
At the same time, we have to be realistic about the road ahead. The fiscal environment in California is tight. Lawmakers have already made significant investments in this space, and asking for more — while insisting on strong labor protections — is not easy. It requires persistence. Credibility. And ongoing engagement from all of us.
This may not be a one-year effort. It may take time to get this right.
Even if we succeed, it will not be a magic fix. A California tax credit is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. We are also working with our International and labor partners across the country to push for federal incentives that support domestic production more broadly. At the same time, we must remain connected to the larger labor movement, because the challenges facing working people do not stop at the boundaries of our craft.
Solidarity is not just a principle, it’s a strategy.
The headwinds we face are real. Production patterns are shifting. Competition is intensifying. And the economic pressures on working people across industries are growing. But we have already demonstrated something important: when we organize, engage, and speak with a unified voice, we can move the conversation.
We’ve seen it in the California statehouse. We’ve seen it in the increased awareness of the challenges facing post-production. None of that happens by accident. It happens because people like you decide to step up and be heard.
So what does that mean going forward? Stay engaged. Continue to write, to call, and to show up. Understand that this is not about one bill or one moment, but about building a sustained presence that gives us a seat at the table when decisions are made. In fact, it’s about more than that.
If we stay engaged — if we stay organized and unified — we don’t just ask for a seat at the table. We help set it.
We are in the arena now, and that carries responsibility. It means doing the steady, sometimes invisible work of advocacy.
Showing up even when the outcome is uncertain. Committing to the long game.
But it also means something else: that we have power.
This membership has already proven that it can influence the debate. The question now is whether we sustain that effort by continuing to build on what we’ve started.
I believe we will.
Because what’s at stake is not abstract.
It’s our jobs. Our careers. Our ability to build stable, middle-class lives doing the work we care about. It’s the future of post-production in this state — and the role our members will play in shaping it.
So thank you — for being part of this effort, for showing up, and for continuing to engage.
We’re going to keep pushing. We’re going to keep showing up.
And together, we’re going to keep moving this forward.
Scott George is National Executive Director of Local 700.
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