There are some groups in America that focus on the quality of the film industry. The process of joining these unions, guilds, and other various societies vary according to the profession they focus on. Here is a list of them that explains their functions.
American Society of Cinematographers
This is a guild of the most respected and renowned cinematographers in America. The guild focuses on the quality of cinematic production throughout all different kinds of mediums, from Hollywood films, to independent films, to music videos, and so on. Members of the guild look for talented cinematographers who can contribute to making the world of cinema a place of respect, dignity, and hard work. They also have meetings where they make sure they discuss the working conditions of all people working in these entertainment industries. Access to this guild is by invite only.
American Cinema Editors
This is a society of some of the best film editors in America. They inform each other, as well as the public, about various issues and new ideas they have regarding the editing industry in particular. They discuss the fact that editors all over the U.S. should receive the credit they deserve for the hard work they do behind-the-scenes.
They have seminars called ACE Roundtables, which was “inaugurated in 1951 to discuss problems shared with other industry groups.”
Screen Writers Guild, East And West
This is a Union that was formed in 1933, which split up into Writers guild of America East and West in 1954. This foundation “sought to establish criteria for crediting authors for creating or contributing to a screenplay” They encourage and help minorities succeed in the film industry. They help various art mediums become registered so that people can own their own work and monetize them. In order to join, you would need to apply with credits earned by creating a diverse portfolio of many visual and audio mediums, along with monthly and annual fees.
Screen Directors Guild
Founded in 1936, this guild “represents the creative and economic rights of directors and members of the directorial team working in film, television, commercials, documentaries, news, sports and new media.” They believe in protecting creators rights; content creators should own their own content. The application process is based on your success your own council’s approval.
All in all, all of these groups seem to be helping people and providing a better future for this industry. If I were to choose one that I would be most interested in joining, it would be the American Society of Cinematographers. Being invited by them would be a huge deal, and I would get to work with other people to keep the legacy of film living on forever. The members of this group hold exclusive meetings, so I would just have to work hard enough to be invited. I do believe they are doing solid work, though it also seems as if experience trumps talent in this case, which I think should not be the case. I think that this guild should continue to be inclusive of people from all sorts of backgrounds and make themselves more accessible to the public, if they are not working on that already. The future of the various film and media industries does not solely rely on them, but they are influencing many aspiring artists who will come to do great things with professional camerawork. They are inspiring creators to work harder and perfect their crafts.
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