e. gustavo petersen | cinematographer

17 June – 3:15

Terminus Est!!!  IT IS FINISHED.

I just got back from the local 600 union office on Sunset Blvd.  I dropped off my paperwork, signed what I needed to sign and payed my due.  After more than a half a year, I’m finally a “union man”.  Shazaam!  What am I going to do now?  I’m gonna get me a taco.

9 June – 1 AM

Finally!!!

I was looking around to see what other folks were doing with their websites when I happened upon one cameraman’s site that claimed to be in Local 600.  Curious, I looked up his name.  While there, I decided to look up my name and see if I was finally on the roster.  Lo and behold, there I was!

So what’s next?  Well, I have an appointment on Monday to submit my final union application, accept admission into the union,  I pay my initiation fee, and that’s it.  After that, I’m a full fledged union man.  The only thing left is to wait the six to seven weeks for my card to arrive.  Hazah!

And how long did it take.  I think I started the process on 12 Sept of last year.  I then got actively involved in it again in February of this year.  And now, here we are.  Hazah, hazah!

30 June – 1 PM

I’ve been told that I’m still two weeks away, again.  I just finished filling out a small mound of paperwork from the local to finish up my application (and my hand now hurts).  I figure I’m on step 37 now.  It’s all happening, finally.  And none too soon with production coming up that’ll likely be union shows.  The next task after this hurdle is jumped is to get an agent.  Lunch anyone?!

16 June – 2 PM

At last I’m on the 36th of the 39 steps.  I called today to get an update on my enrollment status and the news is…  a letter was sent yesterday (Thursday) to Local 600 for approval of my days.  I asked if they ever disapprove and the answer was “no one has ever seen that happen.”  (I’m sure I’ll be the first.)  So now I wait a week to 20 days for the local to review my file and then I get a letter from them letting me know that I’m eligible.  After that, I’m not quite sure what happens.

I suppose the point is that as of now I’m almost, quite possibly, just about, nearly, more or less, practically, as good as, close to, virtually, not far from, for all intents and purposes, bordering on, actually being in the union.  Wish me luck!  Like a man driving home with a wicked case of diarrhea, the last mile is always the longest.

10 June – 9 AM

Another week and still no answer.  I got a letter today from the folk who handle enrollment saying, “we need stuff, lots of stuff” (my words, not theirs).  So I called and I was nice (sort of).  Originally, I gave them one set of documents which later proved to be difficult to get employment verification on.  Then, I gave them other set which should have been very cut and dry.  When I called, they started by saying that they needed additional information about letters I’ve asked be taken our of my file – meaning the original set of documents still haven’t been taken out.  Then, they tell me that I’m short 17 of my required 100 days.  (I’ve asked that they remove them some, o’ I don’t know, at least four times.  And as for days, I gave them 111 days.)  So, I got flustered and he got flustered and he told me someone would call me soon to get it all cleared up.

Dissolve to 3 PM (That’s six hours in case you’re wondering!)

Still no call back.  I called, with a smile in my voice, asking to speak to someone.  They ask if I can come in to talk and clear this up in person.  I say, “sure.”  Door shuts, car starts and off I go.  First stop, Kinkos to make copies of everything I have.  (Leave nothing to chance.)  Next, a leisurely drive amidst  frantic Friday traffic on the 101.  Exit freeway, pull-over, pay meter.  I go in and the person I need to speak to left home early – well, it is Friday, sill me!  They bring out my folder and we review what’s in it.  Finally, what shouldn’t be in there is taken out.  And surprise, surprise, my file is missing documents.  I give them copies of what’s missing.  We tallied it all up and they did take out three day which leaves me with 108 days.  But it finally looks done.  I’ll call on Tuesday.