By Alan Heim
We are going through a tough stretch. No one in Local 700 needs me to tell them that. Over the past few years, our industry has endured one of the most challenging periods ever. Work has slowed to a trickle for too many of us as studios, networks, and independent productions pulled back. Just when we were hoping things would get moving again, devastating fires swept across parts of Los Angeles earlier this year, affecting not just our work, but our homes, our families, and our communities.
If you’re feeling worn down, you’re not alone. If you’re wondering when the light will appear at the end of the tunnel, you’re also not alone. These have been hard, uncertain days for many.
But I’m writing not to dwell on the hardship, but to share some good news — and a little bit of hope.
First, we are starting to see real signs that work is picking up again. Yes, it’s still painfully slow, but productions are beginning to ramp up. Calls are going out. The energy we all know so well — the hum and drive of our industry — is starting to return. It won’t happen overnight, it may not be steady at first, and we may not return to the intense levels seen at the height of the streaming wars. But the early signs are there. After too many months of stop and start, it finally feels like the tide is turning.
Just as important, I have seen — and continue to see — how strong our union community is. When the fires hit earlier this year, it wasn’t long before members started reaching out to check on one another. Some opened their homes to those displaced. Others donated supplies, time, and money to those in need. Through our Member Hardship Fund, we were able to step in and help some of our union kin when they needed it most. We don’t just talk about solidarity — we live it. And in times like these, that means everything.
I want you to know that your union is stepping up in new ways, too. We’ve been working hard to strengthen communication — making it easier for you to hear from us, and for us to hear from you. We are updating our websites, have boosted our social media, and started a monthly email newsletter, all to keep you better informed about business and labor developments, benefits, events, and the broader issues facing our industry. We will also be hosting member meetings, both in person and online, to make sure you have a voice and a seat at the table. This is your union, and we want to make sure it feels that way every day.
We’re also thinking big about the future. That means not only fighting for good contracts and fair pay — though we will always fight for that — but building a stronger network of support for our members. It means investing in education and training so you can stay competitive in a changing industry — the newly opened practice labs in New York and Los Angeles are a good example. It means building relationships that ensure our work, our skills, and our professionalism continue to be respected and valued in every corner of entertainment.
In short: brighter days are coming. And when they do, it will be because we got through the hard times together — not by giving up or turning inward, but by staying connected and showing up for one another.
If you’re still struggling, please know you are not forgotten. Reach out to us. We have resources that might help — and if we don’t have the answer, we will work to find someone who does. None of us should have to face these challenges alone.
I leave you with a simple thought. Every member of this union, from our newest apprentice to our most seasoned veteran, has something powerful in common: resilience. You don’t make it in this business without heart, without grit. Without the willingness to get back up and keep going when things get tough.
That spirit is alive and well in our local today. I see it every day — in the emails and calls we get, in the generosity members show each other, and in the determination to keep moving forward, even when the road gets rough.
So let’s hold onto that. Let’s keep lifting each other up. Let’s stay connected. Let’s believe, together, that the best is yet to come.
On behalf of your board of directors and Editors Guild staff, thank you for your strength, your spirit, and your trust. Here’s to brighter days ahead.
Alan Heim, ACE is the President of Motion Picture Editors Guild, Local 700.
Be the first to comment