New AFM Local 47 member Samson Trinh is a music copyist, composer, and orchestrator based in Los Angeles, specializing in music for film, television, recordings, and live performance. Film and TV music credits include The Disinvited, Audience Award winner for Best Feature at Dances With Films (Los Angeles), as well as the holiday films A Date by Christmas Eve and A Christmas Arrangement, which continue to air internationally on major networks and streaming platforms.

Samson shared his thoughts on becoming a Local 47 member.

“The union was one of the first organizations I became aware of as I started becoming part of the music community here in LA. Before I joined, my first real encounter with Local 47 came in 2023, when I participated in Catherine Joy’s Score Production Workshop.

More recently, I attended a panel hosted by the American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers (ASMAC), where Booker White, Geoff Stradling, Richard Bronskill, and other panelists discussed the art and profession of music preparation and copyist work. They emphasized the importance of union membership not only for becoming part of the professional community, but also for scale rates, contract protections, and benefits such as a pension.

That was especially meaningful to me as someone pursuing music preparation. I appreciate that the union establishes scales for work such as orchestration and copying, where compensation can depend on things like the amount and type of music being prepared. Having those standards gives musicians and music preparers a professional baseline rather than leaving rates completely up in the air.”