As a long-time fan of Saturday Night Live (SNL), I have always admired the behind-the-scenes magic that brings laughter to millions every week. The recent news about the visual effects workers unionizing with IATSE fills me with a sense of satisfaction and hope.
This year, as Saturday Night Live marks its 50th anniversary, a team of its visual effects specialists have decided to affiliate with one of Hollywood’s longest-standing unions.
Following a consensus among sixteen VFX specialists and supervisors who chose to affiliate with IATSE by signing union membership forms, management willingly acknowledged their union, according to statements made on Monday. These professionals handle visual effects for the show’s pre-recorded sketches, including projects like the “Papyrus” short featuring Ryan Gosling and the “Old Friends” sketch starring Adam Driver.
The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to SNL for comment.
In their statements, current SNL Visual Effects (VFX) team members portray the work environment as challenging and labor-intensive. SNL VFX artist Richard Lampasone explained that the visual effects department has evolved into a seamless, well-structured unit capable of producing hundreds of complex shots in a 24-hour span. He characterized the work as intense, collaborative, and incredibly enjoyable.
Danny Behar, a VFX artist, mentioned that their team usually works for 15 hours each Saturday. He emphasized, “We should be included in important discussions. At present, we’re the only department lacking this opportunity. If we’re to keep contributing to the show, it’s essential that we get the standard benefits enjoyed by other teams, such as fair pay and secure healthcare.
In 2022, postproduction workers responsible for crafting the pre-recorded parts of a show joined forces with the Motion Picture Editors Guild, which is a nationwide union that falls under the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) umbrella.
More to come.
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2024-10-28 22:55