Effects Artists of The World, Unite!

Cinematic graphics teams are starting a unionization drive—long after other trades

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For decades, Hollywood has been a stronghold of the US labor movement, with groups such as the Producers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild defending the interests of everyone from directors to stagehands. But one notable crowd has been left out: the visual effects professionals who create graphics that have grown to account for as much as 60% of film budgets. With artists working 18-hour days, getting few health or pension benefits, and facing thousands of dollars in penalties for quitting before a project is done, Ben Speight aims to change that. “Folks aren’t just saying, ‘Oh yeah, the abuse is bad,’ ” says Speight, a veteran organizer with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. “It’s getting worse, and they’re going to do something about it.”