Art Directors Guild

"Production Designers are artists who adapt their style to all types of films. The scope of their talent is limitless. Their imaginations soar within a practical and economic framework. They make seemingly impossible things possible for filming, all the while under the pressures of money and time."


The Art Directors Guild is a branch off of the IATSE, the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees. This organization is one I strive to become a part of but membership is not an easy one to attain. It was interesting to read that in 1924, sixty-four of the men and women behind the set designs decided to get together to discuss the business and inform each other of new and creative designs in their trade.  In the 1930's Art Directors were given little to zero credit for their major contributions to the film industry. It wasn't until the grand production of Gone With the Wind and the amazing sets behind it and the storyboards that went scene by scene that people started to give credit to the hard work designers do. After WWII the Guild aligned with IATSE and become a strong and powerful guild, one that every art director aspires to a part of much like Directors wish to be in the DGA. 


To be granted entrance into the Art Directors Guild you must do the below which was taken from the website:



Eligibility for application and admission into Local 800 as an Art Director or Assistant Art Director is typically triggered by working for a signatory company in a Local 800 covered classification. Thirty calendar days from the start date the employee is required to join Local 800. And there are four typical scenarios:

a. When a project starts out non-union then signs an IA agreement; that is, it's organized." Employees working in a Local 800 covered classification when the project is organized are "grandfathered" into the union. Please contact the Guild's Membership Department.

b. Employees also become eligible when they work on signatory commercials and music videos.

c. If a signatory company not covered by b), above (say one doing a television show or feature film), wants to hire an Art Director or Assistant Art Director, and the individual is not on the Industry Experience Roster, the company may petition the Local to do so under the applicable Off-Roster sideletter to the Local 800 Basic Agreement. If the petition is granted by the Off-Roster Hiring Review Committee, the individual may be hired and is eligible for admission into the Union.

d. If the individual in c), above, is already on the Roster at the time he/she is hired by the signatory company (see below), the company doesn't require the Guild's permission for that hire, and the individual is eligible for admission into the Union and is required to join after thirty calendar days.


Once in the guild you receive the following benefits also taken from the website:



Workplace grievances resolved by union
- Guaranteed prominent placement of screen credit
- Training and education (seminars, symposia, etc.)
- Access to employment information
- Annual ADG Membership Directory and semi-monthly newsletter
- Annual Awards Banquet
- Film Society screenings


Being a production designer I am working towards the qualifications of membership. The rewards behind the membership are great and incredibly appealing.



Art Directors Guild website
http://www.adg.org/