IBEW 1837 Member Helps IATSE 114 in a Pinch

IATSE Business Agent Doug Born was at the APRI kickoff dinner on Saturday evening when he received the kind of text he dreaded. One of IATSE 114’s camera operators couldn’t make it for the big Maine Mariners hockey tournament the next day.

“I didn’t have to look anywhere to know we were out of available camera operators, so we were left in the lurch,” said Born. “But I happened to be standing about five feet from Matt Beck, a business agent for IBEW 1837.”

Born knew Beck previously worked in television at WGME Channel 13 for many years, so he turned to him and asked if he knew anyone who could sub for IATSE at the Mariners match. As it happened, Beck knew of just the man — a longtime colleague, WGME cameraman and IBEW 1837 member Scott Episcopo.

“Scott is a good friend of mine from waaayyy back when we worked together at a TV station in Binghamton, New York,” said Beck. “He’s a really sweet guy and a fantastic photog."

Within an hour, Beck had connected him with Born and he agreed to run the crowd camera at the Mariners game.

“It was a lot of fun,” said Episcopo. “We got great reactions from the crowd, especially when they saw themselves on the Jumbotron. I had people coming up to me and thanking me for putting them on the Jumbotron. The kids were really excited.”

“Scott really saved the day,” said Born. “The need was urgent and it was short notice, but he was nice enough to step up. He did a phenomenal job and now I’ve got a new camera operator on my roster. I was at the right place at the right time and that right place was right next to Matt Beck. Maine labor really is a small town.”