WHO HE IS: Newly elected secretary treasurer/business manager heading IATSE Local 476, Motion Pictures Studio Mechanics?a third generation 476 member.
HOW HE VIEWS HIS JOB: “Having worked in the business for 33 years, I’ve seen problems first hand. Now I am in a position where I can affect positive change.”
After only two weeks in his new position, Hogan faced a job action when members who had been asked to work without union representation were replaced with non-union workers.
Members picketed the commercial shoot of Philadelphia-based producer, ShadowBox pictures. An unfair labor practice complaint has been filed with the National Labor Relations Board.
PROS: “Being able to do my best to solve issues.”
CONS: “Working weekends.”
KEY TO SUCCESS: “Hard-working, Midwest ethics and common sense.”
ON THE SIDE: “Constantly building electrical devices, stereo amps and radios.”
BACKSTORY: A Local 476 officer since 1981, Hogan was president for six years prior to the January election. He sat in for the former business manager, Paul Oddo, from November 2004 to February 2006 while Oddo recovered from a serious illness.
Hogan applied for an electrician apprenticeship when he was 19. He achieved his journeyman’s card three years later and worked back and forth between commercials and features.
BIG BREAKS: “One of the biggest movies that opened up the film business here for features was 1980’s ?Blues Brothers.’
“Working as chief electrician in 1979 on ?Blues Brothers’ not only gave me?and many other people?enough money to buy a house. We have the best technicians outside of Hollywood and our crew became known throughout Hollywood as knowing how to get the job done.
The crew worked so hard on “Blues Brothers” that Hogan earned $3,400 in one week at a rate of $10 per hour.
WORDS OF WISDOM: “Being honest and hard-working is a great Midwest ethic that people from Hollywood envy.”
HIS ULTIMATE GOALS: “Number one: to assure the Illinois film tax credit becomes a permanent incentive; no longer voted on by the legislature on a year-by-year basis as it is currently.
“Number two: to see a state-of-the-art major motion picture facility to accommodate future productions.
“Number three: to address our diversity issues.”
A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION: His family members who paved the way into the industry for him. He listened closely the business stories told by his father, stagehand and studio mechanic Eddie Hogan.
His grandparents, Jerry and Madeleine Hogan, worked together at the old Essanay Studios on Charlie Chaplin and Gloria Swanson westerns and comedies. Jerry was an electrician, Madeleine a wardrobe seamstress.
Local 476 is located at 6309 N. Northwest Highway; phone773/775-5300; Email, Local476@FoxValley.net. See www.IATSElocal476.org.
