Since the industrial revolution, workers around the world have joined forces to form unions<\/strong> in order to “achieve certain goals<\/a>” or standards for the workplace. Many of the unions of the motion picture industry are called guilds<\/strong>. While there are a host of similarities between labor unions and guilds<\/a>\u00a0(such as employee rights, grievances, benefits, and wages), there are also stark contrasts.<\/p>\n Unlike labor unions, guilds have great\u00a0influence \u2014 or rather, control \u2014 over the longterm careers of their members. This is done through various required qualifications, as well as ongoing professional experience in order to continue to be licensed. Let’s take a look at a few of the major motion picture industry guilds<\/strong>\u00a0and see what they offer and require of their members.<\/p>\n The guild for motion picture industry directors (both film and television) is the\u00a0Directors Guild of America<\/a>. This however isn’t the only directors union. There is also a Directors Guild of Canada<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0Directors Guild of Great Britain<\/a>. The\u00a0DGA includes directors, assistant directors, unit production managers, associate directors, stage managers, and production associates.<\/p>\n Labor organization that represents the creative and economic rights of directors and members of the directorial team working in film, television, commercials, documentaries, news, sports and new media. – DGA Website<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n There are many benefits and potential drawbacks to joining the DGA. But the way in which the guild works for you begins with simple economics<\/strong>. As a member of the DGA, you are guaranteed minimum compensation<\/strong> and benefits through negotiated collective bargaining agreements\u00a0<\/strong>which allow the DGA to “address changes in the industry.” Additional basic compensation that the DGA offers its members:\u00a0health insurance<\/a> after “requisite minimum earnings” and a pension plan<\/strong> for retirement. The guild also negotiates residuals<\/strong> (payments) from television reruns, basic cable exhibition, home video, and digital exploitation.<\/p>\n Beyond the economics, the DGA offers its members creative rights<\/a>,\u00a0ensuring that directors retain\u00a0active participation<\/strong> in all aspects of the filmmaking process. These include the rule of one director to a film <\/strong>(though there are ways of obtaining a waiver for this), the right to choose the first AD<\/strong>, the right to engage with casting decisions<\/strong>, the right to direct all reshoots<\/strong>, giving directors a specific period of time to develop a first cut without interference<\/strong>, and legal representation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n One area where the DGA has really stepped up its game: content on YouTube. The official channel for the DGA is an amazing resource<\/strong> for professional and independent directors. There’s an amazing wealth of knowledge<\/strong> with each one of these videos as you’ll see below (via Directors Guild of America<\/a>). This goes directly back to one of the main purposes of the guild:\u00a0educating its members<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
\nDirectors Guild of America<\/h3>\n
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Image via\u00a0Amblin Entertainment<\/a>:<\/em>\u00a0Lincoln<\/a>,\u00a0directed by DGA member Steven Spielberg<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nBenefits and Drawbacks<\/h3>\n
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Image via\u00a0Warner Bros<\/a>:\u00a0<\/em>The Aviator<\/a>,\u00a0directed by DGA member Martin Scorsese<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nRequirements:<\/h4>\n
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