What happens when a union designed to protect workers ends up gatekeeping their success? In this episode of Tom Talks Film, I examine how IATSE Local 600—Hollywood’s most powerful camera union—fails to support underrepresented cinematographers. From outdated contracts and symbolic DEI initiatives to nepotism and a culture of silence, Local 600 often leaves queer, BIPOC, and working-class artists stuck at the margins. This is not an anti-union rant—it’s a pro-worker call for structural reform. I explore how exclusion, mentorship failure, credit disputes, and informal hiring practices undermine the very idea of solidarity. Sources Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and International Cinematographers Guild, Local #600, Basic Agreement, (2024) Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and International Cinematographers Guild, Local #600, Basic Agre...