Local 600 Takes its Training On the Road

S hortly after writing an article about the goals of the Education, Training and New Technology Committee in January, the 2005 Training Schedule got roughed out and we began rolling out programs equally to all three regions.

In the first quarter of 2005, we put together and successfully implemented the following:

Central Region: Camera Asst. and Operator Workshops in Detroit and Chicago

Eastern Region: HD Workshop in Boston and AC Workshop in New York

Western Region: Master Lighting Workshop in Los Angeles, HD Workshop in San Francisco, and an HD Mini Workshop at NAB-Las Vegas.

Add to these workshops the numerous panels, screenings, coaching sessions and seminars, and you begin to see the breadth and depth of the ICG Nationwide Training programs.

For a sense of the “typical” training/class, here is an overview of the first workshops in Detroit and Chicago.

With the support of local vendors, we were able to provide the vast majority of the equipment and support gear. In Detroit, Lon Stratton of Stratton Camera provided Arri 435 and 535 cameras and Panasonic video cameras. Ray Larner of Mid America Cine Support came through with both their Sony F-900 and their Panasonic Varicam. Pat Smith and Tom Campau of CineMotion drove in their crane and remote head system. This group made up the local vendor core.

The equipment was augmented by Mark Chiolis at Thomson-Grass Valley. Mark arranged for a Viper camera package and for the technical support of Local 600 member George Palmer, who did an excellent presentation for the large group and in small sections for both the Detroit and Chicago members. Thomas Greiser from ARRI did the same. He traveled from New York with a beautiful new ARRI 235 and Arricam system to describe, to demonstrate, and to build up, thread, shoot, and breakdown during hands-on sessions.

In Chicago, the vendors switched over, but the concept remained the same; to provide an introduction to the highest end equipment, to highlight the wares of the local community, and to fly in “from the coast” only what was not already in town. Tom Fletcher from Fletcher Camera, Mark Woods with Panavision Remote Systems, and Wayne Kubaki and Jules Tomke of Essanay Stages provided the backbone in Chicago. Bob Foertsch and Bob Harvey from Panavision-Woodland Hills were kind enough to provide the final 35mm camera package.

Because coordinating these workshops, particularly with so many vendors, involves so much work, member participation is essential. Central Region Business Representative Jason Rosin and Central Region Director Larry Gianneschi helped us hit our target: 40 of 48 members came out on a snow-slicked Saturday in Detroit; a remarkable 60 plus members braved the weather to participate in Chicago.

Those members found a sound stage filled with new camera technology and excellent instructors in each city. They also had the opportunity to meet with other members of their camera community, catch up and pass out business cards. Workshops clearly serve as both educational forums and networking opportunities.

Local 600 member George Palmer ran down the ins and outs of the Thomson Viper while ARRI’s Thomas Greiser covered the new cameras from his company. Four more instructors taught in each city. Attendees, who broke off into camera operators and camera assistants group, rotated every two hours to another section.

Operator and National ICG Officer Frank Miller went through the techniques of operating on the wheels, but really captivated his small groups with anecdotes from his many years of experience as a camera operator. As a director of photography who teaches HD around the country for many groups, including Panasonic, I took the opportunity to make the variable frame-rate Panasonic Varicam more approachable and break down some of the HD myths.

Each city also got a taste for the intricacies and obstacles of crane work. In Detroit, Tom Campau did the honors of setting up exercises but also emphasized the dangers and necessary protocol for safely working a crane on set. In Chicago, Mark Woods could do no wrong by setting up his very smooth Technocrane and remote head for the participants. They worked with Mark to design complicated and choreographed shots, while also discussing protocol and safe operation.

In a new approach to ICG training, the sixth “station” or rotation found the membership sitting down face-to face in their small group with ICG President Gary Dunham. While I was busy teaching my own camera section, I heard the positive feedback about those sessions and the intense discussions that they raised. As a result, we have incorporated Gary’s camera section into all of the subsequent workshops that his schedule will allow.

While we can bring out the toys and teach the tricks, the real difference on the road has been giving the membership a voice and opening up lines of communication. I often heard: “I have been a member for 20-plus years and this is the first time that I have ever sat down and discussed working conditions, health care, pension programs, runaway production, tax incentives, contracts, calling in jobs, the relationship and responsibilities of the guild to members and of members to the guild, etc.”

To get as much bang for the buck and work with as many members as possible, we decided to bring the first road show to two cities in the same weekend. The attendance numbers proved the demand for the material, but I think it took a toll on the instructors and the union staff. In the future, we will be conducting one workshop per trip.

I’d also like to recognize the local camera assistants who came out to support the workshops and to work along with the instructors: Dave Brush and Shawn Cragin in Detroit; and Dean Simmon and Bob Faison in Chicago.

At the June NEB we will be budgeting and revising the training schedules. We will be taking the information from the road and redesigning some of the workshop content. We will also be looking to each of the regions to put together proposed schedules with rough budgets so we can take accurate information to the NEB (for financial support) and keep the programs running.

I look forward to meeting you during the summer as we enter Phase II of the training programs, including workshops in Texas, Georgia, Delaware, New Mexico, and back in New York and Chicago for Master Lighting Workshops.

Again, the Education, Training and New Technology Committee wants your feedback. In January, I was pleased to get over 50 emails with suggestions and questions about the programs. The line is still open. dialadp@sbcglobal.net. Please take a minute to get involved.

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