Contributing to the creation of James Cameron's Avatar series, visual effects artists based in the United States have chosen to unionize following a National Labor Relations Board election.

(Photo : Unique Nicole/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 21: general view of atmosphere at the press preview for the opening of "The Art Of Avatar: The Way Of Water" Immersive Experience celebrating the film now on digital at Lighthouse Artspace LA on April 21, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

Voting to Unionize

Out of the 88 eligible workers at TCF US Productions 27, Inc., a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios involved in Cameron's Lightstorm Entertainment productions, 57 voted in favor of unionization, 19 opposed it, and two ballots were deemed void. 

These workers encompass various roles, such as creatures costume leads and environment artists, spanning across departments like stage, environments, render, post viz, sequence, turn over, and kabuki.

Engadget reported that both management and labor now have a brief window to submit any objections, and unless any issues are raised, the election results will soon be officially certified.

In response to the news, Patrick DeVaney, a post-vis coordinator, expressed his pride in his fellow visual effects workers on the Avatar sequels for collectively securing the right to bargain for more equitable compensation and benefits.

It's important to note that this bargaining unit excludes employees of VFX facility vendors, particularly Weta FX, the primary VFX house on the Avatar films, employing the majority of the over 1,000 artists working on a typical Avatar movie.

While the size of the unionized group may be considered modest, The Hollywood Reporter stated that its significance within the VFX industry labor movement is substantial. This group constitutes the core team answering to Jim Cameron and holds considerable influence.

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The workers initiated their public organizing bid back in December when they filed for a union election with the NLRB. During this time, participants expressed their objectives of obtaining comparable benefits and pay to their unionized peers and having more input into working conditions. 

Kabuki lead Jennifer Anaya emphasized the dedication of her coworkers and their desire for fair compensation and improved working conditions. IATSE has been actively working on organizing the predominantly non-union VFX sector for a considerable period, achieving notable successes over the past year. 

Previous Unionizations

In the recent fall, in-house VFX staff at Marvel and Walt Disney Pictures voted unanimously to unionize, along with DNEG workers in British Columbia. 

The overarching goal of IATSE is to establish a new, nationwide local for VFX artists, operating under the same Basic Agreement as workers at Locals such as 600 (International Cinematographers Guild), 700 (Motion Picture Editors Guild), and 800 (Art Directors Guild). 

The current three-year agreement is set to expire in 2024, with negotiations for a new contract expected to commence in March.

Lab generalist Kristin Kamera expressed optimism about the industry's future, highlighting the significant advancement achieved as VFX workers unite to affirm their value to both studios and the public at large. 

Kamera, who had been apprehensive about the direction of VFX for an extended period, is now excited and genuinely believes in a positive future for the industry.

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