Rob Hoegee

especially when you don't add water

These are scary, unprecedented times in our industry, but if I’ve learned anything it’s that artists and creative people are the most resilient of us, and we’ll be the ones blazing the path through. Keep fighting. Keep looking out for each other. And Uncle Rob loves you.

Just remember our union contract can only do so much. It’s meant to establish a minimum standard for our employment. (Some might argue that’s still not being met.) Ultimately, the existential threats facing us right now are going to take a lot more than a labor contract to fix.

I’ll be voting yes. I know some of you will not. I respect voting “no” to send a message - or out of a feeling of moral obligation. I can even understand the “burn it all down” approach. When you have nothing left to loose, losing everything isn’t that big of a step.

We all want more, and are willing to fight for it, but at a certain point we need to take stock of where we are, where we came from, and where we want to be. Those three things can't happen at the same time.

While we don't have the same kind of bargaining power of the WGA or SAG/AFTRA, it was enough for our negotiating committee to secure a contract that is, by most measures, an improvement. Maybe for you, that's good enough. Some I expect will reject that.

The improvement in our union's negotiating strength over the last couple of contracts is considerable. Thanks to an engaged, organized and vocal membership, we now finally have that one thing we never had before: leverage.

Writers are getting big gains. Some might say historic. Is it everything we asked for? No, but it’s still better than any contract I’ve seen. Pay bumps overall are respectable. Pension and health is safe (which for many including myself is the single most important aspect of our union contract).

Our union is unique because we have so many different crafts within it. We have to look at what benefits the union as a whole in addition to what we can gain for each craft individually. Some contracts see outsized gains for certain crafts and fewer for others. This is one of those years.

I’m not one of those “old-timers” yet, but something of a pragmatist. I try to look at the big picture. What have other unions with FAR more leverage and that actually went ON STRIKE been able to achieve? How does it compare to what we were able to get? All things considered, we did pretty good.

It was no surprise to me that it took as long as it did to get a contract to take back to membership. We can blame the AMPTP for dragging its feet, and we can also thank our negotiating committee for not giving in until they got the best deal they possibly could. And I truly believe they did.

Last year. Hot Labor Summer. Sister unions went to the mat (and the Animation Guild was out in force to support them). Historic gains, but not all they wanted. This year was our turn. We were up against that immovable wall, but now armed with the knowledge that they can and will move. A little.

The studios took notice. And while we didn’t get all of the big asks we were hoping for (and deserved) that year, we were finally able to break through the "business as usual" contracts and get gains the studios would have previously dismissed without even a discussion.

Membership was engaged. Leadership was elected to reflect the goals of the membership. We were organized! During one contract discussion, the turnout was so large TAG had to rent a ballroom at Pickwick to fit everyone. It was abundantly clear that a major change in our union was taking place.

Then streaming happened. Guild membership skyrocketed. With that, a lot of fresh, new voices. There was little interest in the old-timer attitudes. Unlike my “generation” who could only complain, there was now a profound desire to see change actually happen.

An adult animation boom created jobs for many of the seasoned vets, and let us youngsters fill in the gaps with the kid stuff. We pushed for change, even getting seats on the board (not me, but many of my writer colleagues). Still, we were up against that immovable object with little leverage.

The answer: “Just the way it is. We don’t have the leverage." And they were right. I’m sure at one point they too pushed for radical changes (there was even a strike), but over time were beaten down by the intransigence of the studios and the profound lack of leverage the guild had.

Probably the biggest win for writers, which happened not long before I joined, was giving us enough H&P hours for a unit rate 22 minute script to get 6 months of health coverage. (This is still huge for us). Young members like myself asked why we never got what we really needed when negotiating.

Our union basically served as an extension of the studios. The relationship was cordial, if not deferential to the needs of our employers. We got perfunctory gains each cycle and rarely anything that could be considered historic.

839 members: a thread from your Uncle Rob. As a writer, I’ve been a member of the Animation Guild for almost 25 years. Back when I first joined, the union leadership and a good portion of the membership were “old timers”, deeply entrenched in studio jobs. This was pre-streaming. Even pre-photoshop.

I love this!

Frog and Toad fly a kite.

Alert! I need testimonials! Have you watched our charming #frogandtoad series on AppleTV+ ? If so, could you please post a little something about what the show means to you (and your kids)? It's for important reasons. Please share.

I took it as far as they would let me, honestly. It was all there - just not on screen. I fought for a proper kiss. The chaste one we ended up with was still a small victory.

Hello friend! ♥️

Thank you. I agree!

No, but it sounds like the kind of day I would like!

I do this too lol.

House decorated for the holidays. Snow covering ground and plants

Black and white image with flowers and plants in foreground, and house seen in middle ground with trees in background

Some BG design and paint from my time working on Frog & Toad TV series! This is for Toads house (that I also did vis dev for!)

I am currently available and seeking 2D BG positions! Feel free to reach out if you have something I would be a good fit for!

@brianlarossa.com Nicole is the best! I can vouch.

Matching sweaters?