I'm David Thomas Graves, and I'm Running for Executive Board of IATSE Local 728

This is my third run, and I’m not here to play it safe.

In the past, I’ve been called too radical. I’ve been told my ideas were too bold, that my support for things like Bitcoin or my political views made me too different to trust.

But here’s what they didn’t tell you: I tried to pass a job placement program to help our members find meaningful work outside the industry when times got tough, because I refused to watch our union family suffer in silence. I saw a problem, and I brought a solution. That’s who I am.

I’m not running for a title. I’m running to lead: The Executive Board isn’t just a seat—it’s a responsibility. We make decisions that shape how this union spends, operates, protects, and prepares. We direct the future of this Local. And if I have a seat at that table, I will fight like hell to make sure it serves you.

I own the fact that I go against the grain. I own the fact that I challenge the system. I own the fight to protect your job, your union, and your treasury.

Because I don’t serve the status quo, I serve you. Every member. Every crew. Every check-in, every checkout. And I won’t stop until 728 is stronger, smarter, and built for the future.

IATSE isn’t just a union, it’s a lifeline.

It’s the grip that holds the ladder steady. The call that comes when you haven’t worked in weeks. The friend who checks in when the job wraps and the lights go out.

IATSE means belonging to something bigger than your classification. It means knowing that whether you’re new to the game or a 30-year veteran, you matter. Your time matters. Your safety matters. Your future matters.

Yes, we fight for contracts, but contracts aren’t enough. A contract doesn’t pick up the phone when you’re struggling. A contract doesn’t pay your rent during a strike. A contract doesn’t retrain you when the industry leaves you behind.

The real power of this union is what we build beyond the paper. It’s in the education we offer. The financial security we protect. The mental health resources we fund. The policies we write with courage, not convenience.

What IATSE means to me is this:

• A union that protects your job and your life.

• A union that shows up not just at the bargaining table, but at your kitchen table.

• A union that refuses to be just a contract machine, and becomes a true community of care, strength, and action.

That’s the union I believe in. That’s the union I fight for. That’s what IATSE means to me.

I – Integrity in Leadership

We lead with transparency, accountability, and honesty. Every decision should reflect the trust our members place in us.

I believe leadership starts with truth. I’ve pushed for more transparency in financial reporting and decision-making within our union. As a board member, I will expand this by pushing and building clear, member-first systems that keep every decision visible and every dollar accountable.

A – Accountability and Action

We don’t just talk, we act. Fiscal responsibility, strategic planning, and strong financial oversight are not goals, they’re requirements.

I’ve never waited for permission to do what’s right for our members. From advocating for modern financial tools to leading bold conversations about union sovereignty, I’ve shown what it means to act. On the board, I’ll ensure accountability isn’t just a word, it’s a commitment. I’ll back every promise with a plan, and every plan with action you can see.

T – Training for Tomorrow

We invest in our craft by preparing our members for the future, through education, cross-training, and tech innovation.

Our craft is evolving, and we must evolve with it. I’ve worked alongside our crews, led LED teams, and brought cutting-edge skills to some of the biggest productions in the industry. I’ve helped create job transition programs and pushed for training that actually matches the future of our work. I’ll keep fighting to make Local 728 the most skilled, most employable, and most future-ready local in the industry.

S – Solidarity Without Exception

We are one union. We lift each other up. We protect every member, on set, off set, and at the bargaining table.

Solidarity is the backbone of our union, but only when it’s real. I don’t believe in toxic solidarity. That’s the kind that demands silence instead of honesty. That’s the kind that says, “Fall in line,” even when you know something’s wrong. That’s not unity, that’s obedience. And obedience isn’t solidarity. It’s fear, dressed up in union colors.

Real solidarity is messy. It’s loud. It challenges leadership. It defends the craft. It means standing up for each other, even when it’s uncomfortable, even when it goes against the grain. I’ve never played politics with people’s lives. I’ve stood with members in their darkest hours, not for credit, but because it was the right thing to do.

I’ve helped create member assistance proposals, collaborative outreach tools, and real financial support systems that put people first. That’s the kind of solidarity I believe in. Not slogans. Not groupthink. Courage. Action. Truth.

Because if we can’t tell the truth inside our own house, we can’t protect it from the outside. I’ll always fight for a union where solidarity means courage, not compliance, action, not apathy, and protection, not politics.

E – Economic Power for Every Member

We’re building a union with the financial strength to support its members, not just in crisis, but in opportunity.

I’ve been leading the charge to modernize how we think about money, bringing in bold ideas like Bitcoin-backed reserves, member-focused safety nets, and long-term investment strategies. The goal? Build a union that doesn’t just survive, it thrives. I will make sure our financial foundation is strong enough to support members in times of crisis, growth, and everything in between.

What Local 728 Means to Me

To me, Local 728 is home. It’s not just the union I pay dues to, it’s the people I’ve worked beside, sweated with, built rigs with, and watched rise and fall through the chaos of this industry.

728 is where I learned that our craft isn’t just light, it’s legacy. It’s the quiet pride in a perfect wrap. The call sheet taped to a lunchbox. The long hours. The family missed. The friendships earned one cable pull at a time.

But this local isn’t just a job hub, it’s a powerhouse of potential. 728 is full of some of the smartest, most resourceful people in the entertainment industry. People who solve impossible problems in the dark, under pressure, with a smile. People who deserve a union that matches their excellence, not just on the contract, but in every corner of their lives.

To me, 728 means protection. It means preparation. It means possibility. It means building systems that outlast a single job. It means using our collective strength to offer real support, mental, financial, educational, because survival should not be the baseline for union members.

It means standing up for each other even when it's uncomfortable. It means taking risks to do what’s right. It means having a leadership team that listens, leads, and never forgets who it works for.

Local 728 is more than a roster, it’s a community. A brotherhood. A sisterhood. A crew. A family.