organizations that represent professionals in the motion picture industry (e.g., directors, actors, writers, etc.), and help those individuals negotiate contracts, receive recognition, pursue rights, protect interests, etc.; aka guilds Examples: DGA (Directors Guild of America), WGA (Writers Guild of America), SAG (Screen Actors Guild), ASC (American Society of Cinematographers), etc.
Equity, BECTU, Musicians' Union – Independent bodies who mediate between staff and employers to ensure that employment conditions and standards are met and maintained. Equity represents actors and stage managers; BECTU is a union for technical and production staff, and Musicians' Union represents musicians and composers.