To: <puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org>
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 19:06:36 -0500
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] A Professional Puppeteers Union?


Hi all.
First, I want to warmly thank Greg Ballora for taking the time to write a 
reply to my long rant about the unions. It was both interesting and thought 
provoking. I am already re-evaluating my points and trying to see all the 
sides.  I love this bouncing of ideas in my head!
It was clearly written and not formed as an attack on my person, for which I 
am grateful.
I appreciate it, Greg. it's good to have honest feedback. Gotta love 
puptcrit!

As many of you know, I am a newbie in the field, with only about 3 years 
working full time (or trying to) in puppet and theatre work. I have lots to 
learn. I hope to always be honest enough to be willing to admit that.
>From Greg's text, I can see enough reasons to research more on the subject, 
and give Unions here another try.
After all, I do have collegues and friends who are in some, and besides 
complaining about it, they must benefit somehow from it, as they have been 
members for years. This warrants an investigation, starting with interviews 
around hot chocolate and pie.


Unfortunately, my few experiences with unions so far have been bad, and so 
have been most of the collegues I've spoken to about it. So I know it must 
have influenced my opinions.
When I write an opinion piece, it is not to simply state what I believe. I 
hope people saw the qustion marks and requests for clarifications on and 
between the lines.

One clarification: Greg, could you write more about the part where you say: 
"Union gigs can get that
way too, but less so, and the producers have to PAY to make you wretched, 
which is the best way to keep them
from doing it."

I'm super interested in what "they" could pay for and how to do it. An 
informed potential victim is less of a potential victim. Thanks in advance!



Here are some precisions and answers to Gregs and others:

In no way did I truly mean to imply that Unions are the exact same thing as 
Corporations. Duck that on late-night-early morning lack of clear vocabulary 
in my second language if you like. (wink wink).
I must have mentionned in the text that some unions are good. Most are good 
to start with.
 just don't like the bigger ones I've seen operate.

As for the "Union in the Matrix and other Sci-Fi movies", I meant to show 
that writers and thinkers were dreading a world where bigger organisations 
got so big that they had a life of their own, and made the world into a 
product to serve their purpose, forgetting or totally denying the needs of 
the actual society it was created to serve and enhance he life of.

Yes, I based my example on Fiction.  Fiction (to me) is more often than not 
the extension of "what might happen", and source for much pondering and 
re-visiting of ideas for further evaluation.
Some seam more real than others, of course, but all, including the Planet of 
the Apes(which I should have mentionned), can teach us plenty on human 
nature and what could go wrong, or right.

Thanks for your attention.



Mathieu René Créaturiste
Marionnettes, Masques, Etcetera...
Puppets, Masks, Etcetera...
creaturiste-AT-magma.ca
www.creaturiste.com
(514) 274-8027 

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