I.a.t.s.e. 667

D

DDirector

Veteran
The deadline to join I.A.T.S.E. 667 is approaching very soon, and I have been considering to apply as a trainee for quite some time.
http://www.iatse667.com/

Well, I dont know much about it, so I wanted to ask a few things first;

1) My main concern is whether I am applying for the rights union. My main goal is to be working as a Director of Photography in the future.
Because the Director of Photography is such an important position and there is no way I can get a job on the big productions at the moment, I would also like to work as a Camera Operator and/or on the Lighting Department in the meantime if I have to.
So, is I.A.T.S.E. 667 the right union to join?

2) If I apply to I.A.T.S.E. 667 as a Camera Trainee, what will I be first working as?
~ It says I will work as a 2nd Assistant Camera, then again it says that those who want to upgrade can upgrade to 2nd Assistant Camera.
So, what will I be doing then?

3) If I become a member, does that mean I can't do any other work besides union jobs if one happens to come up?

4) I have not applied nor completed and post-graduate programs. I am currently enrolled in college for Film Production and I am in my last year here (3/3). Will it matter if I do not wish to continue, will they still accept me?

5) Is it just worth applying for?
 
1) If you want to be D.O.P. unionized in Canada this is where you would go.

2) you will be working as a camera traniee and you will answer to the entire camera crew. But you will be lowest in the line. So you will take orders from the 2nd, 1st, etc. But you will be training to become a 2nd.

3) You can work on non union projects as you please even though you are unionized.

4) You can apply without a degree, but it helps.

5) If you are accepted you'll have probably a year or year and a half of steady work (training), then you will probably slow down, or not depending on how busy the industry is. So its up to you. You can also choose to leave after training and not work on productions and just pay union fees etc.
 
krunchielloyd said:
1) If you want to be D.O.P. unionized in Canada this is where you would go.
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I talked to one of my teachers and one member of I.A.T.S.E. 873 (I believe) and they said that 667 is more for camera, camera assistants and not more so those who wish to be a director of photography. And that I should lean in towards being an electric instead. Working with Gaffers.

I looked for ones that are for Directors of Photography, but all I could find was C.S.C. which I believe isn't going to be helpful much. It seems as though you need SOLID background experience as a DP to be work getting into that.
 
Spend some time on set as a PA on professional productions before you make this decision, then you can be better informed in order to make up your own mind.
 
Yes, But who is boss of the camera department? The Director of photography. So naturally top spot of camera union would be D.O.P.
 
But the DOP is also the head of the electric and grip department, and there have been indeed DOPs who have come from all three departments.

I struggled with the same issues for joining 669 as a trainee, and I was highly recommended by the indie directors I work with NOT to join the trainee program.

Technically, the 1st AC is the highest ranking member of the camera department.

The DOP is an ARTISTIC position, and is not part of the hired crew. Do not confuse the DOP with a Camera Operator (despite the DOP can be operating a camera).

I've gotten more work as a DOP by associating myself with directors, producers and actors and labeling myself as an artist, than trying to go through the camera or lighting departments.

BUT: the catch 22 is that, some union crews do not like working with a DOP that has "not paid their dues" as a trainee or AC. So its not the easiest decision.
 
I believe I will be joining IATSE 873.
Joining 667 will take way too long to work my way up as a DOP (20+ years from what I h), which is possible from what I was told by many people, including someone who I know is in 873.
However, as an electric I can learn more about lighting and how to light than learning about the cameras. And I would much rather learn more about lighting than cameras as lighting is more important.
In 667, I found out that you are considered to be below 2nd Assistant Camera. Lugging carts, moving stuff around. Not really "camera work". Doing this for a LEAST 1 year before moving up to 2nd A.C. is just not my game.
 
oh, and to add.

With the availability of high quality cameras nowadays, I find learning lighting is the far more difficult task of being a DOP. So I do work for IATSE in both the lighting and grip departments. And then use the techniques I observed in my own shoots.
 
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