From the Email Bag:

Once you are my student you are my student for life. I teach a lot of students animation and I always tell them that they can email me questions anytime. It works out nicely because they often come up with great questions that should be answered on a wider level. So they end up co-writing my column. And no that does not make them scabs in the writer`s strike. Animation writers are under another union.

Dear Larry Loc,

I was a student in your History of Animation Class in Fall of 2006. I am still taking Animation classes at Cal State Fullerton. I've been searching for internships and came across a(n) internship for Disney Animation. In the specifications for application it said that I needed to belong to a Union. Would you be able to suggest a Union to join.

Thank You,

Alfredo L_ _ _ _

Alfredo,

I think that you would have to join the union at the time of getting the internship. And Disney should have all the paperwork. The one you should be joining as an animator is The Animation Guild and Affiliated Optical Electronic and Graphic Arts, Local 839 IATSE. You have to be working for a studio that has a union contract to get into the union. So jump at this chance to get your union pin. Once you get in, stay in. There is strength in numbers and you will have a better career as a member then you will working non union shops.

Here is their web site http://www.animationguild.org/ and I am forwarding your email to Jeff Massie at the guild. He should be able to give you the information you need.



The Animation Guild and Affiliated Optical Electronic and Graphic Arts, Local 839 IATSE
4729 Lankershim Boulevard
North Hollywood, CA 91602-1864
phone: (818) 766-7151
fax: (818) 506-4805