Skip to Main Content

Film and Television

Your guide to film and television research at UCLA. Find articles, books, videos, and more.

Introduction

This page provides a basic guide to collections and resources related to the historical and contemporary study of Hollywood labor in the motion picture and television industry. It is intended as a starting point for research and not a comprehensive list of resources. Many of the other databases and tools listed on other pages of the Film and Television research guide can also inform further study of this topic.

Hollywood Unions and Guilds (note: unions typically represent employees, while guilds represent independent contractors):
  • American Federation of Musicians (AFM): Represents professional instrumental musicians in the world with jurisdiction in both the United States and Canada. In film and television, AFM covers musicians involved in scoring sessions, live performances, and recording work.
  • DGA (Directors Guild of America): Represents directors of movies and TV shows.
  • IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees): Represents a wide range of behind-the-scenes workers, including editors, hair and makeup artists, wardrobe department workers, costume designers, broadcast techs, designers, animators, AV techs, and scenic artists.
  • SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists): Represents actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, disc jockeys, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists, and other media professionals.
  • Teamsters Local 399 (Hollywood-Motion Picture Industry: Represents drivers, location professionals, animal trainers/wranglers, casting professionals, dispatchers, chef assistants, and mechanics in the motion picture industry.
  • WGA (Writers Guild of America): Represents writers for film, television, radio, and other media.

Selected Resources

Following Current Topics

Selected online publications that cover contemporary Hollywood labor news.