First Marvel, now Disney. Visual effects creators join a labor union
Darui Sven
October 5, 2023 4:06 am
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2 min read
Visual effects creators working for Disney have expressed their desire to join the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) in a public vote, which is a union that represents technicians, artists, and craftsmen in the entertainment industry. A few weeks ago, their colleagues at Marvel Studios took the same steps.
Visual effects creators join IATSE
Visual effects creators had expressed their interest in joining IATSE back in August. Read: A historic moment! Special effects creators seek a union in Marvel Studios. Now, artists working for Disney have followed their lead. The decision was made by a unanimous vote of 13:0. With this victory, they will be able to more effectively advocate for improved working conditions. They are demanding, among other things, wage protection and health insurance, privileges enjoyed by workers in other sectors of the entertainment industry, such as makeup artists, set designers, and prop masters.
“We’ve been fighting for privileges that everyone else has had for so long, but there was no hope,” said Mack Robinson, a visual effects creator working for Disney, in an official statement. The victory in this vote was hard-fought, but now I can proudly say that it’s a victory for every worker in the visual effects sector who dreamed of a better, sustainable future.
Mark Patch, a representative of visual effects creators in IATSE, added:
“Today’s clear victory shows visual effects workers from around the world that they have a path to gaining a significant voice in their working conditions and quality of life. We will continue our efforts to secure a great contract, but we must engage every studio and provider to ensure union standards for all visual effects creators.”
Disney employees are the second group of visual effects creators to join IATSE. They have worked on, among other things, the live-action versions of classic animations such as “The Lion King,” “Aladdin,” and “The Little Mermaid.”
Watch the “Lion King” trailer
“The Lion King” hit theaters in July 2019. The characters were voiced by stars like Donald Glover (Simba), James Earl Jones (Mufasa), and Beyoncé (Nala). The film earned $1.656 billion worldwide, ranking second in the global box office.
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