By Lee Pfeiffer
Some years ago when I joined the Writers Guild of America, I went to a party where a veteran screenwriter said that members of the profession generally gripe that they are treated like second class citizens in the Hollywood hierarchy. He then repeated the old joke about the dumb would-be starlet who actually thought she could find fame and fortune in the film business by sleeping with the writer. It may be time to rethink that thought process. At least writers have the WGA to look after their interests. When we go to the movies, we take for granted the talents of the visual effects artists who bring the astounding special effects to reality. However, as fimmaker Lee Stranahan points out, these are among the most under-valued of today's creative movie making team members. Although many members of the film world's most powerful unions get royalties on non-theatrical revenue streams from the films they work on, visual effects artists have no such benefit. There is also no union representation for them, and- as Stranahan pointsout- they are often listed after the caterers during the credits roll. Stranahan makes a poignant plea for James Cameron, the most notable supporter of visual effects technology, to take up the cause of these artists. Click here to read