Hello guys, Il be moving to New Jersey in 6 months and I have been an AVID editor for the past 5 years, working for a Television Station in the Philippines and for Royal Caribbean INternational. I hope somebody can enlighten me on how things work when joining a Union, and or choosing not to join one. Thanks very much!

 I maybe mistaken, but I've never heard of a union that is exclusively made up of Avid Editors. The two big technician's unions in the states are NABET (National Association of Broadcasters, Engineers and Technicians) and IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees). Most union jobs are located in the big networks and TV broadcast stations.

Hi,

What Royal Caribbean ship(s) were you on?  I worked as a broadcast tech for them for about 3 years, and spent most of my time on the Vision, but I also did some time on the Monarch and the Majesty.

As for the union thing, I think you only have to join a union if you get a job where union membership is required.  I spent a few years in NYC, all on non-union gigs, so I was never in a union (just to be clear, I'm not anti-union.  It just never came up).

good luck,
Carl

 For editors there is the Motion Picture Editor's Guild -

Michael

camoscato:

As for the union thing, I think you only have to join a union if you get a job where union membership is required.  I spent a few years in NYC, all on non-union gigs, so I was never in a union (just to be clear, I'm not anti-union.  It just never came up).

Same here, all my jobs have been non-union, except when I was Production Manager at Mobile Video - the staff there were NABET. However, being management I was not.

 And although not an official union, there is the American Cinema Editors.

camoscato:

I worked as a broadcast tech for them for about 3 years, and spent most of my time on the Vision, but I also did some time on the Monarch and the Majesty.

I've cruised all of these ships many times. You guys did a nice job - especially with airing the live entertainment that we might have missed on stateroom TV. I've heard whispers that RCI  isn't very nice to its employees . . .Any truth to that?

Hi Andy,

Thanks for the compliment.  It's been about 5 years since I was on ships, but if it hasn't changed, how nice your life onboard is depends largely on what job you're doing.  People who wait on tables or work in the bar or clean cabins have long days, little time off, limited entertainment onboard, and get paid a minimum monthly salary (something incredibly low like $40/month) because they are expected to make most of their money in tips.

People on the staff (video techs, sound & light techs, singers & dancers, activities staff and youth staff) have it much better.  Again it depends on your specific job, but most of them get at least one day off per week, and may have some days where they only work a few hours.  All of them are paid a decent monthly salary (nobody's gets rich, but you can save a lot of money since you don't pay for food and rent), and are allowed to go to passenger areas, whereas cleaners and waiters are only allowed to socialize in crew areas.

Overall, though, I thought it was a lot of fun, and I'd recommend it.

adios,
Carl

 I am on the Navigator right now and Wes says hi, he is my head tech at the moment. Well this is my first and last contract because  my lucky fiancee wants me by her side already (dont tell her I said that).

Anyways, thanks for the info bro.

 thanks larry!

 You're quite welcome. Always glad to help.

makasalanan:

I am on the Navigator right now and Wes says hi

Ha!  I was there back at the birth of Wes' shipboard video career, and it was a sight to behold, let me tell ya.  Tell fatboy I say hello, and I'm looking forward to seeing him again soon.

Good luck with the transition to land, and feel free to send me a message if there's anything I can help with. 

adios,
Carl

  And although not an official union, there is the American Cinema Editors.

Just an FYI, you don't just join the ACE, you are invited to join by the current membership.

Michael

MichaelP:

  And although not an official union, there is the American Cinema Editors.

Just an FYI, you don't just join the ACE, you are invited to join by the current membership.

 

Michael

 

 thanks for the info sir.

The union thing is really a "catch 22". You need to be in the union to get a union job, but you have to have a union job to get in the union.

So how does it work?

You get someone with a union gig who really wants you. Then they hire you and you get in the union.

That's all there is to it. Simple in theory, difficult in practice unless you have the contacts.

But there is ALWAYS a work around. Way back when I was in school, I made a student film in which one of the actors I cast was SAG. So I had to sign a special contract with them that basically said if I ever made a penny on it they would take my first born. Who cares, it's a student film.

Guess what? All the other actors (mostly students at the school) were invited to join SAG since they were in a SAG production.

See how easy it is to skirt the rules in this game? The union wants lots of new members as that equals more dues, even though they have to feign a degree of selectivity.

Have fun. Be creative. And remember, no one will ever not hire you if they really want you because of some union status.