Boosting Your Film Career: Joining a Union

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Union Membership Benefits Your Film Career

Joining one of the many filmmaking unions is a good idea when you're starting out in your film career. Not only do unions look out for their members by negotiating desirable wages, but union membership can make you more employable. In fact, not being a member of a filmmaking union can make it difficult to thrive in your film career.

Here is a list of several of the major filmmaking unions and organizations:

Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences

Academy of Television Arts & Sciences

American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA)

American Film Institute (AFI)

American Society of Cinematographers (ASC)

Center for Independent Documentary (CID)

Directors Guild of America (DGA)

Filmmakers Alliance (FA)

Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA)

International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts (IATSE)

International Cinematographers Guild

Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA)

Motion Picture Editors Guild

National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE)

Producers Guild of America (PGA)

Screenwriters Federation of America (SFA)

Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE)

Society of Camera Operators (SOC)

Writers Guild of America (WGA)

Get Started in a Film Career

If you're ready to start a film career, getting a degree is a good place to start. Find film career training programs in our directory, and request information from schools that interest you.