Hey fam! The Mouse is refusing to recognize the unionization efforts of its production workers. If you’re not familiar with what PAs or PMs do, I’ll outline it briefly. The tl;dr is that NO ANIMATION WOULD GET DONE WITHOUT PRODUCTION WORKERS. They are the glue holding together every single production of your very favorite cartoons!
They take notes in all the meetings with the artists.
They make sure the artists are meeting their deadlines (and showing up to the meetings in the first place).
They help us navigate studio servers to find the files we’re looking for.
They send us our time cards, and make sure we get paid!
Production workers do all this and more, often for minimum wage. The hardships that they suffer as a result–the long hours, the unpaid overtime, the abuses of power–are horrific.
You’d really think that they’d be compensated fairly for these jobs! Can you imagine trying to live in Los Angeles or New York on minimum wage with a job that definitely won’t allow you time to pick up a second or third one??
This isn’t some Change.org petition. It’s not going to sell your email to spam companies. This is through IATSE (our union)’s website.
TELL DISNEY YOU STAND WITH PRODUCTION WORKERS!!!
if you’re not in this job, you would never know how intense, involved, and straight up complex animation production is, but because it’s mainly administrative, behind the scenes, and most skills are taught, production staff are often viewed as highly replaceable and unimportant. not everyone is nice to us, and more and more studios are stripping production personnel of our “corporate” status, meaning if the show ends or gets cancelled, studios aren’t required to relocate us to another one. when this happens to artists, the guild protects them, but production will lose all benefits and will need to file for unemployment until they can find a new job (which isn’t easy in the animation industry these days!). remember, a season of a show takes only about a year and a half to make. losing all benefits and having to file for unemployment every year and a half is NOT a way to build a career nor is it a stable and sustainable way to live!
to follow up on OP’s points, here’s some more stuff production staff does:
STORYBOARD AND ANIMATIC
managing the master project file, which sometimes means scanning, cropping, camera adjusting, and typing hundreds or even thousands of panels, dialogue, and action notes by hand into storyboard pro if the artist drew them in photoshop or traditionally
pinning up and taking down boards for pitches and reviews (yes, manually, with push pins on walls). every note drawn on those pieces of paper needs to be scanned and sent to the artists.
inputting new and revised panels into the board project file and then exporting them to the animatic editor, which necessitates memorizing the board front to back because artists don’t always track their panels or tell you which ones have been updated and you have to know instinctively.
conforming, which means going panel by panel and comparing it to every frame of the animatic to make sure they’re a complete match, which happens multiple times and usually requires quick turnarounds.
RECORD
reaching out to recording studios, voice directors, and talent agencies to coordinate record times and availabilities.
creating the schedules, typing up scripts, adding line numbers, updating line counts, exporting boards, collecting audition tapes, arranging catering, watermarking literally everything, and making sure everyone involved gets the right stuff and the most updated versions of that stuff ahead of time.
circle takes.
sending the raw selects to the dialogue editor, arranging radio plays, and sending the clean selects to the animatic or post editors.
DESIGN AND SHIPPING
creating all the templates artists need to design a show’s assets (hundreds of them!), which includes pulling board references so they know exactly what to draw, compiling brush libraries, mood boards, and vis dev pieces.
tracking the progress of hundreds of designs across multiple episodes in every stage they’re in (and as OP said, making sure the artists turn them in on time).
creating a reference list (a GIANT spreadsheet breaking down every single use of every single design in every single scene of the episode–takes DAYS to create for just one episode!)
preparing shipments of everything the animation production facility (usually international) needs to make the cartoon, which involves a lot of exporting, layer adjustments, cropping, re-exporting, and cataloguing.
POST
acting as the main point of contact for those overseas animation facilities, which often means trying to field questions from a non-native english speaker every day.
making sure the showrunner and exec producer review weeklies/dailies quickly and thoroughly and the notes get to the overseas studio on time.
configuring the retake list so the production can stay under budget (determining retake categories and footage count, which are connected to prices–involves a surprising amount of math!)
assembling retake materials, including creating lists of tasks for artists to do, getting them the shots or designs they need to fix, and making sure all fixes are completed in time.
CONTRACTS
negotiating rates with every non-corporate player involved in the making of a cartoon and making sure all NDAs and legal contracts are signed and correct.
sending boards, designs, animatics, (and as OP said, time cards) to dozens of people with highly specified jobs who require very specific items to do those jobs, making sure they get them at the right times, and making sure whatever they send back (be it notes, sheets, or lists) makes it to the appropriate party so the right action is taken.
and this is all in addition to very stereotypical secretarial work like taking notes at meetings like OP said, managing the showrunner and producer’s calendars, and maintaining a pleasant atmosphere for the crew (coordinating game nights, decorating the office, organizing parties or lunches, etc.). production is expected to know everything, what’s going on at all times, and how to fix it, which is a lot of work and often, a lot of pressure!
By keeping a tray full of no prepare necessary food, in the fridge it can be used to aidneurodivergent or fatiguedpeople.
By putting food like, cheese and crackers, or whatever is a safe food for you personally on thetray, it can be takeneasily to the couch or bed to be eaten from whenever you are hungry.
This prevents executive dysfunction or fatigue and any reason preventing you from eating. You need to care of yourself because everyoneneedsfood to stay alive including you.
You deserve to eat even when on a bad brain day and are unable to prepare a meal for yourself.
Ifnot having a full meal doesn’t satisfy you, a snack may even give you the energy to make a full meal afterwards!
I can’t draw very well and hated that I couldn’t draw my DnD character, a tabaxi cleric named Merry Thing, but then I remembered I’m pretty good with a needle and thread so I made her
All made by hand, hand embroidered details, and I even crocheted the lace trim on her shift!
Update: I made Thing’s twin brother, Cheeky Night! Cheeky is my favorite npc in the campaign and I couldn’t have a Thing without him. He’s an absolute bastard of a man but I love him so much. The belt he’s wearing I wove by hand with embroidery floss, and the designs on his vest are symbolic to the campaign and his character.
Anyway I love him, I love my tabaxi twins, and I never want to use metallic embroidery floss ever again.
These guys have been getting notes again so I thought I’d mention that they got me a full time job at my favorite locally owned fabric and yarn store.
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but if the phrase “self care” doesn’t resonate with you, try calling it “system maintenance” and see if that clicks.
the best way to support libraries is to use libraries. go get a card, check something out. not a big reader? they got movies. they got games. yes, like botw and fallout and let’s go eevee. they also have cds that yes, we workers know you take home and rip to your computer. we also do it.
if you have a well funded library you might even have access to maker spaces that have 3D printers. or video/audio recording equipment. libraries aren’t these tomb silent homes for books any more. they’re community spaces. they’re full of life and things.
put a middle finger up at jeffrey bezos and support your local library
did i mention we have printing services that are significantly cheaper than anywhere else? printers are evil, let us handle them for you.
Library worker here and can confirm all of these! I’m at a small-to-medium library and we offer ALL of this:
- wifi hotspots that can be checked out for weeks so you can have internet on the go or at home
- CDs, DVDs, blurays including usually multiple copies of new stuff
- A tech lab with a 3d printer, computers for graphic design and game dev focus, VR headsets, and a soundbooth for recording
- Study rooms for solo or groups
- Printers, copiers, faxes, and scanners for just about anything you need taken care of.
- Including a new printer big enough to make giant posters, maps, and business-grade ads.
- A seed library, both floral and food-related.
- A computer lab programed to erase your data and reading history so you’re never at risk while visiting sites like domestic abuse hotlines
- Laptops pre-programmed with Adobe and Office software so you don’t have to buy them
- Monthly author visits
- Ebooks including comics on tons of various platforms
- Classes for those who want to learn how to or better their computer skills
- Art you can check out to hang on your wall for as long as it’s available, including the work of local artists who get paid for their art, especially if it gets popular and we want even more of their stuff.
- Monthly papers ranging from local newspapers to multi-national magazines on just about any topic you can imagine.
- Notaries with extensive legal knowledge including renters rights, getting you in contact with immigration protection, and contacts with pro-bono lawyers.
- A connection with all the libraries in the state, so if we don’t have something, we can have it shipped to you within a matter of days.
- Books translated into multiple languages
- A donation bin for old books/DVDs/VHSes that often turn around and get sold for two or less dollars
- A food donation site for local food banks
- A “suggest a purchase” section on our site where you can support your favorite indie writers/musicians by suggesting their work if we don’t already have it
- We’re growing butterflies this year, and in prior years we hatched chickens! \o/
- An outreach program for the elderly and disabled who hand-deliver almost everything I’ve just mentioned
That’s a huge list and again I have to stress that I work at a library that’s not considered to be very large. And one of the biggest things we get rated by is not how many books we own but by how many people use all of those services I mentioned. They exist for YOU! Use them!
Hey all! I’m still quite alive, just adjusting from starting a new day job. Art is still my main time love though, so while posts and updates will be slower, there’s still going to be weird beauty for your eyeballs now and in the future :)
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Currently, I’m inking pages for Hope For Early Spring - updating on the o'P every week - and getting some new drawers into my studio. I’m also in the latest @wapgallery show so mask up and come take a look fri through sunday! :)
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#washingtondc #wheaton #art #artwork #ink #penandink #scificomics #indiecomic #blackandwhite #blackandwhitecomics #lines #pen (at Washington D.C.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CS1zy1YLMlp/?utm_medium=tumblr
I heard about a pipeline protest, what’s going on?
There is a proposed pipeline expansion being currently constructed that will bring nearly 1 million tar sands per day from Alberta, Canada to Superior, Wisconsin.
It’s known as the Line 3 Pipeline. Indigenous ppl have been protesting it with the help of allies. As of recently though the situation has escalated to police brutalityand suppression of rights, including treaty rights.
Why is Line3 so bad?
Good question. A brief peek at this map makes it very clear to see why the Ojibwe ppl would be upset.
Pipeline 3 violates several treaties with the Ojibwe people. Treaty rights surpass the authority of even the constitution.
But that hasn’t stopped police from breaking those rights and making over 600 arrests since the protests started.
The placement of it puts at risk the water that 18 million humans and wildlife rely on. That’s 23% of all of public freshwater, nearly ¼ of our entire supply. x
It also will be carrying several kinds of tar sands crude. which is a carbon intensive oil which contains 37% more carbon than conventional oil, meaning worse for our environment than normal oil.
The pipeline would have the climate cost equivalent to 50 coal power plants
The company in charge if it is infamous for it’s spills. They’ve already spilled drilling fluid more than 5x. x
Theyre even abandoning their first attempt at the pipeline once the replacement is constructed because of all the issues it’s had (that’s right, they’ve failed once already) x
As such, Water Protectors have been protesting against it. Going so far as locking themselves to equipment, crawling in pipes, and getting arrested. Anything to stop construction.
Not only that but the pipeline has given cause for concern that there would be an increase in MMIW2SG (Missing and murdered Indigenous Women, 2 Spirit, & girls, a national crisis) The concern is not unfounded.
In March, the anti-violence and anti-human trafficking nonprofit Violence Intervention Project requested reimbursement from Enbridge’s public safety fund for anti-human trafficking efforts associated with the project. x
Recent Timeline of Events & Escalation
July 27th it was found Blue Lives Matter was going to start organizing to “help” the police. x
July 28th the White Earth Nation ordered a 48 hour cease & desist, which Enbridge ignored. x
July 29th HR- 1374, a bill that would allow foreign corporations (like Enbridge) to publically hire state officials to brutalize/kill protesters that disrupt “critical infrastructure” (like pipelines) passes the House and goes on to the Senate. x
July 29th police started using rubber rounds & pepper spray. x
July 30th A vehicle swerved into Water Protectors. x
July 30th Additionally, Enbridge spilled drilling liquid again (called a frac-out) on the same day. x
July 30th 2 Enbridge workers are found in a sex trafficking sting x
August 1st we learn Water Protectors have not been allowed to change out of the clothes covered in the chemicals law enforcement used, their dietary needs have been ignored, and they’ve been treated poorly while in custody. A call to action is posted x
Follow Indigenous creators/media. A good place to start are the ones I’ve linked through out this post & going through the #StopLine3 tags
We’re having a very hard time trying to spread awareness due to media suppression so please spread this like wildfire
Leave comments under (big) creators that pride themselves on being green or eco-friendly asking them to raise awareness.
Answer the call for action and contact the Pennington County Jail and demand humane treatment of Water Protectors. Read the script too if that’s easier:
I am calling today to demand that water protectors are treated humanely and fairly, that their dietary needs are respected and their medications be given properly.
Tweet their accounts as well. Demand humane treatment
@/govtimwalz
@/ltgovflanagan
And contact your state representatives & tell them you WILL NOT vote for them again should this HR-1374 pass. That this bill is against your interests as a constituent & NOT a reflection of your states values.
Different camps have different security practices. Some camps welcome you to come directly there, some want to have you vetted first to protect themselves and their work.
Despite the fancy survey, changes to the UI and TOS reveal we’re getting the service in the future whether we want it or not. Obviously, Post+ is a terrible idea that is trying to bank revenue on user content. Unlike patreon or onlyfans, tumblr’s primary focus is on FAN content. The legality of this is NOT in the users favor and as the new tumblr TOS states, said users will be entirely liable for whatever legal matters arise.
SO WHAT ARE WE DOING?
Besides filling out the survey, it’s time to show tumblr we mean business and show our displeasure by hitting them where it hurts.
Ad revenue.
We’re proposing a 24 hour log off as phase one of this protest.
WHEN IS THE PROTEST?
August 6th 2021
12 am Eastern Time (US)
4am UTC
5am BST/London
6am Central Europe Time
7am Moscow Standard Time
9:30 Indian Standard Time
12 noon Hong Kong Time/Australian Western
1:00 pm Japan Standard Time
1:30 pm Australian Cental time
2:00 pm Australian Eastern Time
August 5th 2021
11pm Central Time (US)
10pm Mountain Time (US)
9pm Pacific Time (US)
THE END TIME IS 24 HOURS FROM START TIME!!!
So no posting, no queues, no likes, and no reblogs!
WHAT IF I CAN’T/WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?
Like this post and share it AS MANY TIMES AS POSSIBLE. Use the hashtags #tumblrlogoff2021 or #postplusprotest on ANY and ALL social media.
WILL THIS WORK?
Maybe, maybe not. It’s an attempt at doing SOMETHING.
BECAUSE I’M A TIRED IDIOT, USE THIS TO DOUBLE CHECK YOUR TIME ZONE!!!!
I saw this on Tiktok and thought it needed to be passed on. Pololū Valley is sacred land currently at risk of being developed into yet another “scenic tourist attraction” for profit. Activists like @/melemaikalanimakalapua on Tiktok are fighting to have this petition seen by as many people as possible in order to prevent the senseless destruction of this land.
Note that the petition says not to donate to change.org–donations to change.org do NOT protect Pololū Valley.
I hope that by spreading this to tumblr, I can help it reach more people. Please sign this and reblog it if you can!
^^ A link with more information (especially pertinent for Hawaii residents)! There is no central donation fund for the activists yet, but I will update if one is added.
PLEASE do not stop talking about Palestine and spreading information, especially from Palestinians, whether it’s here or on other social medias you use more often. Palestinians themselves have said over and over again that spreading this on social media helps, I’ve seen some people say that it feels different this time now that the world is starting to hear their voices. and please donate if you are able to
