Marvel Studios VFX Team Files to Form Union

While two major guilds in Hollywood are currently on strike, another important cog in the motion picture machine is looking to form a union. Visual effects are a pretty integral part of modern movie making, and a decidedly underserved group when it comes to guild/union protections. After several years of will they/won’t they, it would appear an in-house Marvel Studios VFX team is moving forward with plans to join IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees).

This news came as a “supermajority” of more than 50 Marvel Studios VFX workers signed cards with the intention to be represented by IATSE on August 7th. They also filed for a unionization election with the National Labor Relations Board the same day.

“For almost half a century, workers in the visual effects industry have been denied the same protections and benefits their coworkers and crewmates have relied upon since the beginning of the Hollywood film industry,” VFX organizer for IATSE Mark Patch said. “This is a historic first step for VFX workers coming together with a collective voice demanding respect for the work we do.”

It’s a huge step, to be sure. We’ll let you know what we hear about this and other news.

Wednesday August 9th will mark the 100th day of the WGA strike (and SAG-AFTRA’s 26th).