Joining the union (Motion Pictures Editors Guild)

R

RockmanX3

Well-known member
As an editor here in southern CA living in the Los Angeles area, I've been hearing in order to make real money as an editor, I would have to join the union.

I know the Motion Picture Editors Guild is the union service for film, sound, etc editors - http://www.editorsguild.com

According to the wages section, picture editors have the opportunity to earn $2,653.16 weekly. A couple of people have told me that decent editors can earn about $2500-$4000 weekly and the top Hollywood editors earn up to $10,000 or so weekly. :shocked:

However, I've also heard that joining the union doesn't guarantee more work, but they put your name on a roster and you're eligible to work on the bigger budget productions.

According to their requirements, I already have 153 days as an editor, along with all the necessary paperwork. I start on another job for a client next week which will take 2-3 months and I'm certain I'll have the 175 day requirement fulfilled after this job. I'm pretty sure I can afford the $3000 fee. All of my work has been non-union so far.

I see alot of famous editors as part of the union, so should I make the jump? If anyone has experience with this, let me know.

Thanks.
 
For me a major factor would be whether or not joining the union precluded you from working on non-union projects in the future. Some unions it does, others it doesn't. I have no idea about this one but it's certainly something to research before deciding.
 
RockmanX3, you should accumulate all of your necessary paperwork, but I'd hold off on joining the union until you can get a union job. Union dues for a picture editor cost $1000 a year, and there is no point in paying those dues until you have to. It seems that you're just starting out, and unless your uncle is Steven Speilberg, it might take a couple of years before you're at a level where you'd be offered a union job.

When you're at that point where you can get union work, then it is really easy and quick to get into the union provided your paperwork is in order.

Ultimately, if you're a professional editor working in Hollywood, your goal should be to work union. Every studio film and most network television shows use union editors, and so do a lot of the high profile indy films. Name your favorite Hollywood films, and I'll bet all the editors were union.

I've been in the union for 7 years now and I'd have to say that the best things about it are the health plan and the overtime. The Motion Picture & Television Industry Health Plan is one of the best in the country. As long as you work at least 300 union hours every 6 months, it won't cost you anything. With the union, you not only get overtime, you also get vacation and holiday pay, and night premium pay. If your employer abuses you, they definitely have to pay for it.

Unlike SAG, once you're in the M.P.E.G., you can still work non-union if you have to, but they do encourage you to try to get the show to become signatory if possible.
 
Big thanks for the replies!

I was thinking of rushing into it as soon as my next gig is over, but it looks like I'll wait a while.

Forgot to add: One of the directors I worked with previously is trying to become a signatory later this year, so chances are I may have to join, but nothing is set in stone yet.
 
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Reality television, for the most part, is still non-union. A friend of mine made the jump from editing one of the most popular shows on E (non-union) to editing a new "sort of" reality show that is just breaking on ABC. He went from about $2,500.00 per week to $6k per week on the new ABC show. He had to join the union when he was on Big Brother and now this ABC show. No worries for him, he is making some major bank these days!

I agree, don't join the union until you need to. Being in a union can mean you will get hassled as will your employer if you work on non-union shows, although this is more a viewpoint of production crew, (I am going through the whole getting hassled by 600) I am not so sure it is the same with post people?

Dan
 
puredrifting said:
Reality television, for the most part, is still non-union. A friend of mine made the jump from editing one of the most popular shows on E (non-union) to editing a new "sort of" reality show that is just breaking on ABC. He went from about $2,500.00 per week to $6k per week on the new ABC show. He had to join the union when he was on Big Brother and now this ABC show. No worries for him, he is making some major bank these days!

I agree, don't join the union until you need to. Being in a union can mean you will get hassled as will your employer if you work on non-union shows, although this is more a viewpoint of production crew, (I am going through the whole getting hassled by 600) I am not so sure it is the same with post people?

Dan
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A friend of mine is doing reality TV to "pay the bills" and hasn't joined the union yet. Yeah, one of the things I was worried about is not being able to work with some of my old non-union directors if I became a union member.

I do have dreams to work on the big budget hollywood productions and it's still going to be a very long journey, but I'll always keep the dream in mind. Right now I still gotta work my way up.

This has been really great advice, thanks everyone!

:dankk2:
 
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