If you want to join I.A.T.S.E. 667

Camera Trainees must apply to the Camera Trainee Committee. The Committee meets annually, early in the new year to review all potential applicants. For further information please proceed to "Training Programs" on this web site.

Directors of Photography, Camera Operators, 1st Assistant Camerapeople, 2nd Assistant Camerapeople and Video/Electronic categories are required to send a current resume, letters of reference and a cover letter to the I.A.T.S.E. Local 667 office to the attention of the Membership Committee for consideration.

DP's, Steadicam Operators and Camera Operators should include a demo reel with their resume.

The Membership Committee will review the submissions and will be in contact with you.

Stills Membership Application Guidelines

Unit Publicist Membership Guidelines

Stills Membership Application Guidelines

To apply for Stills Membership in Local 667, you must first submit a resumé, as outlined below, to the I.A.T.S.E. Local 667 office. After your resumé has been reviewed, you will be contacted by the office and may be asked to submit your portfolio to the Business Representative. You may then be asked to submit your resumé and portfolio for screening at the next Stills Committee Meeting.

Requirements for application to the I.A.T.S.E. Local 667 as a Stills Photographer include:

1.  Experience Shooting On-set, Unit Photography

• It is essential that you have worked on at least six different productions as the primary unit photographer, totalling a minimum of 30 days. These may include Canadian Film Centre projects, CBC short films, independent low-budget features, independent short films, etc.

• You must have the ability to measure the set lighting using a hand-held light meter (not the meter in the camera) and must understand how and when to use incident, reflective or spot metering devices.

• You must also have experience in dealing with professional film labs, which would include knowledge of such items as push/pull film processing, clip testing, colour correcting duplicate transparencies, and converting colour negative / transparency film to B&W prints.

• It is important that applicants understand how the work will be used by a publicist, therefore, you must display a knowledge of when to shoot vertical vs. horizontal pictures and why.

• You must possess the ability to work collaboratively and unobtrusively in a film set environment.

• You must also be proficient in the on-set use of a Blimp.

2.  A Solid Understanding of How to Shoot Gallery Work

• You must have experience in using strobe.

• You must be familiar with the workings of medium formats cameras and must submit samples of work done in this medium.

3.  Letters of Recommendation

• It is imperative that you submit letters of recommendation from Still Photographers (Local 667 if possible) and Producers with whom you’ve worked.

4.  Ownership of the Following Equipment:

• Two 35mm SLR bodies.

• Approximately six lenses, ranging in focal length from 28mm to 180mm and/or 200mm. Shorter focal length lenses (up to and including 135mm) should be f2.0 or faster.

• At least one camera blimp and two focusing tubes.

• A hand-held incident meter.

5.  A resumé

• The first item on your resumé must be your unit photography experience – clearly listing the title of the production, the producer, production company, the type of production (i.e. feature film, MOW, CFC project, independent short film, etc.), the dates you worked on set and if you were the primary unit photographer.
• The second item on your resumé should be your gallery/studio photography experience.
• The third item listed should be the equipment you own.

6.  A portfolio:

• Your portfolio must include at least four, but not more than eight, pages of 35mm transparencies. A page would consist of roughly 20 images.
• You must include work from at least 6 different productions.
• Clearly indicate if a slide is a "dupe". Slides that are not marked as dupes will be considered to be originals. Since focus is an important part of the evaluation process, this is important to know. Wherever possible, it is helpful for the Stills Committee to see originals.
• Some gallery/studio work should be represented.
• Prints and tearsheets are welcome, but the transparency requirement must be met.
• Your previous unit photography work is the most important and should represent the majority – at least 75% – of your portfolio. Remember that volume does not impress. Edit your portfolio critically, keeping in mind the standard portfolio advice: Less excellent material is better than a mix of excellent and mediocre.

The criteria on which your portfolio will be evaluated are as follows:

a.  Technical expertise:

• Focus, focus, and focus! All submissions should be in sharp focus.

• Exposure consistency

• Good composition

• Use of horizontal / vertical framing, showing an understanding as to when to shoot either and / or both.

b.  Usefulness for publicity departments:

• Have you captured the character that the actor is trying to portray?

• Have you captured a feeling as to what the project is about?

• Do your photos demonstrate that you understand how they will be used and demonstrate your ability to produce the kind of material needed for publicity and advertising purposes?

c.  Overall presentation package

Once these criteria have been met to the satisfaction of the Stills Committee, the applicant may be required to participate in a program, 5 x 1 days in duration. The applicant will observe and shoot on production sets with five (5) different I.A.T.S.E. Local 667 Stills Photographers. The I.A.T.S.E. Local 667 Stills Photographers will critique the applicant’s photography and his/her on-set work habits. Upon successful completion of the program, the applicant will be offered membership in I.A.T.S.E. Local 667.

Unit Publicist Membership Guidelines

Requirements for application to I.A.T.S.E. Local 667 as a unit publicist:

To apply for membership as a Unit Publicist in Local 667, you must first submit a cover letter and a resume along with the items outlined below to the I.A.T.S.E. Local 667 office. The resume should detail your unit publicity experience and must list the title of the production, the producer(s), the production company, and the type of production (feature film or television).  Once your resume and the materials listed below have been reviewed by the Unit Publicists committee, you may be contacted for an interview.  If you are accepted into Local 667, you may be required to train with another 667 unit publicist for a number of days.

Basic requirements for application to I.A.T.S.E. Local 667 as a unit publicist:

• It is essential that you have worked on at least six different productions as the unit publicist. These may include feature films, Canadian Film Centre projects, short films, independent low-budget features, television movies or series.

• Applicants must possess the ability to work collaboratively, sensitively and unobtrusively in a film set environment, observing film etiquette at all times. They must have experience in dealing with the media and know how to pitch a story. They must display a thorough understanding of how their written work, stills and EPK’s will be used in the marketing and distribution of the project.  

Please submit:

• Cover Letter
• CV
• Samples of written material from at least three projects, to indicate your ability to create and complete a press kit.  Samples of each project should include:
• a start of production story or press release
• full production notes
• biographies of cast and filmmakers

• A final publicity report
• Contact sheet identification
• Three letters of recommendation from producers, directors, first or second AD’s and/or still photographers with whom you have worked in your role as a unit publicist