IATSE 891 Presents: Apple Box Talks

**WARNING: This podcast contains some coarse language. Listener discretion is advised.**

Today, April 2, marks the 63rd anniversary of the founding of IATSE 891! To commemorate this day, we are joined on the Apple Box Talks podcast by former 891 President, Don Ramsden. Having served as President in three separate stints over the course of three different decades, Don shares some of the foundational stories of how he helped shape the Union into what has become today. Pull up an Apple Box, and let's talk!

Jillian Arnold started her career working in aerospace for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and is now the first female president in IATSE Local 695's ninety-year history, and the chair of the IATSE Artificial Intelligence sub-committee. Ahead of being the keynote speaker for the IATSE 891 AI Day of Learning and Engagement, Jillian joins us from a remote Apple Box to talk all things AI and technical solutions in the motion picture industry.

Pull up an Apple Box, and let's talk!

"Some people say AI is not really artificial, it's actually alien. Alien intelligence. It's not something that we know. It's not like a tool that we've seen before. It has a little bit of an agency...it has a different component to it that I think is creating the fear. And I don't think fear is a bad thing."

With credits to her name such as The Last of Us, Deadpool 2, and Star Trek Beyond, we are joined on the Apple Box by industry leader Gladys Tong. Gladys entered the motion picture industry through the phone book — and now works within the intersection of human-computer interaction in the world of film. With a discussion spanning Star Trek, video playback, and the future of AI, this is an episode you don't want to miss. Pull up an Apple Box and let's talk!

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We are back with Season 2 of Apple Box Talks! To kick it off, we interview Justin Barnes, REEL Green Lead at Creative BC. With a background in environmental economics, Justin talks about REEL Green's efforts in moving the needle when it comes to sustainability in BC motion picture — with a full transition to battery technology as the ultimate goal. Pull up an Apple Box, and let's talk!

"Costumes are the first people to meet the actors. The relationship between the costume designer and the costume team and the actor is vital — it has to be harmonious." Lorraine Carson is a 40-plus year Costume department member at IATSE 891, with credits to her name, such as Nothing Too Good for a Cowboy, Bag of Bones, To All the Boys 2, and Pirates of the Caribbean 5. Come behind the scenes of the Costume department, pull up an Apple Box, and let's talk!

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In 2021, we sat down with the legendary George Chapman, IATSE 891's first-ever Business Representative, on our Apple Box Talks podcast. In memory of George's passing, we are releasing the episode now as we go back into our podcast archives.

George walks us through his story in both his days in the Lighting and Set Decorating departments as well as his time as Business Rep. and then as President. With a library of fascinating stories to share—such as how he was referred by John Wayne for his first job in the film industry—this is an episode you don't want to miss. Pull up an Apple Box, and let's talk.

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**WARNING: This podcast contains references to mature subject matter. Listener discretion is advised.**

This week, we're joined by the department who make the monsters monstrous and the wounds look real, with credits to their name such as Predator, Look Who's Talking, and Six Feet Under. Please welcome Make-Up member Todd Masters to the Apple Box and let's talk!

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891 member Julie McHaffie claims that her work in the Hair Department is "50% skill, 50% personality," and, after joining our podcast to talk us through her motion picture career, we can see why! Julie has many stories to share, from doing hair on the side of a snowy mountain on Alive to keeping the Watchmen’s Malin Akerman static free aboard the Owl ship. To hear these tales and many others, join us on the Apple Box and let's talk!

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"What I am proudest of is that we were able to help these workers do what any workers can inherently do – come together and build worker power. The wins belong to the workers."

In the last part of our Special Edition Education Series, we are joined on the Apple Box by the 891 Organizing team: Sano, Conor, and Brooke. Their organizing expertise has paved the way for 891 to sign historic term agreements in Kelowna and Vancouver Island, and continues to help more and more motion picture workers across the province gain access to the benefits that the Union offers.

Pull up an Apple Box, and let's talk!

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Want to get in touch with the 891 Organizers? Email [email protected].

In this special edition episode for the 2024 Sustainability Production Forum, we welcome to the Apple Box a group of sustainability champions in the BC motion picture industry.

We sit down with Katharine Pavoni (Deputy Director of the Provincial Film Commission at Creative BC), Mary Jo Beirnes (Director of Studios at MBSE Canada), and
Jennifer McNeil (Assistant Business Representative at IATSE 891) for a conversation about the work happening in BC to make clean energy the norm for motion picture production.

Moderated by Apple Box Talks host and IATSE 891 Assistant Business Rep. Hillary Bergshoeff, learn how labour, vendors, and industry partners have come together over the past four years to innovate and empower industry workers as they join the fight for safer and more sustainable productions.

Pull up an Apple Box, and let's talk!

Click here for the podcast transcription.