Sign up for our Member-To-Member Dues Donation program!
Active, non-retired Local 728 members in financial need can sign up to receive a quarter’s dues donation from another member who is willing to donate one or more quarter’s dues.
The process is entirely anonymous and randomized.
Program Details
Drawings will be held beginning in the week prior to dues being due and continue until there are no more donors on the list.
IATSE Member Aid list
This list was compiled by the IATSE Motion Picture & Television Department and will be updated as we receive corrections to the existing information or additional resources to add. If you are a member with questions about how to apply for specific aid please reach out to your local for assistance.
We regret having to report the passing of Brother Don Navarrette age 78. Brother Navarrette was a 54-year member of Local 728 and IATSE Gold Card holder who took his oath of obligation in December 1970. Known affectionately as “No Neck” Don retired from the industry in 2001 after 37 years on stage. In the 1970’s Don worked on the 12 O'clock rigging crew at Universal which was pushed by Art Frantz. He stepped up to ACLT and worked on countless films and television productions.
We regret having to report the passing of Brother David Blundell age 56. Brother Blundell was a 21-year member of Local 728 who took his oath of obligation in December 2003. David recently retired from the industry.
A Celebration of Life for David will be held on Saturday, August 23rd, in Van Nuys, CA.
Location: Best Ball | 6331 Woodley Ave | Van Nuys, CA 91406 Time: 4PM - 8PM
If you would like to submit a photo of David (digitized) please send to Anthony at the email below.
We regret having to report the passing of Brother Roger Bourse age 78. Brother Bourse was a 48-year member of Local 728 who took his oath of obligation in April 1977. Roger retired from the field in May 2011.
We regret having to report the passing of Brother James R. "Jimmy" Ellis age 38. Brother Ellis was a 13-year member of Local 728 who took his oath of obligation in March 2011.
We regret having to report the passing of Brother Frank Krejsa age 68. Brother Krejsa was a 35-year member of Local 728 who took his oath of obligation in May 1990. Frank retired in May of 2015 after a 25-year career.
Frank worked on countless television and movie productions throughout his many years in the industry, including Terminator 2: Judgement Day, Ghost in the Machine, Casual Sex?, Less Than Zero, and a slew of music videos. In the latter years of his career, he worked on The Jimmy Kimmel Show. Frank is survived by his daughter.
We regret to report that Brother Bret Acquistapace has passed away at age 64. Brother Acquistapace was a 45-year member of Local 728 having been obligated in April 1980. Bret retired in December of 2019. Bret worked on countless television and movie productions throughout his many years in the industry. In the mid-1990's he settled in at Fox Studios working on the shows that were filmed through the Set Lighting Department, eventually settling into working on the lamp dock where he was known as an affable and easy to get along with member of the crew.
We regret having to inform our membership of the passing of Brother Steve Blaich on April 12, 2025, at the age of 80.
We regret having to inform our membership of the passing of Brother Paul Stockwell on May 1st, 2025, at the age of 58.
Brother Stockwell was initiated into Local 728 on May 24th, 1997 and was a member of Local 728 for 27 years. He retired in 2023 and moved to Tennessee. Paul worked as a rigger, lamp operator and ACLT on commercials, television and film productions. He worked on shows such as Room 104, Celebrity Big Brother, The Goldbergs, Grown-ish, Lethal Weapon, Westworld and many more.