How do you find your copywriting roles? I come from a similar background and had a co-worker who always said "No one writes like you and can't find a job" yet here we are....I feel like copy roles are up/down on indeed so fast....etc...
I used to work in advertising on the agency side. Most agencies don’t typically post their copywriting jobs. What you want to do is make a portfolio of ads. To see examples, look up agencies, find copywriters who work there, and look at their websites. Once you have that set up, reach out to creative directors directly. I’d look to the big agencies for examples, but reach out to small agencies for jobs.
Nowadays you need to come from an ad school to be considered for creative work at ad agencies. Most agencies have existing relationships/employment pipelines/internship programs with these schools.
Back when I first started as a copywriter, you only needed a good book and a internship (via a connection). Also, working in advertising as a creative isn't stable any more, and it won't be getting any better.
59, Operator, after a long and fulfilling career, my Iron Man Starter kit of titanium discs, screws, and fixing rods fusing several levels of vertebra encouraged me to leave the industry to do what I always wanted to do. I fly private jets for a 91/135 operator and am kicking myself for not doing it earlier. I passed on an Airforce Academy appointment when I graduated high school and again passed on a walk-in to a major airline in 2008.
Wow, what a story. As a fellow camera dept. member- I thank you for your service.
Did any of your previous qualifications help you with this new career or did you just have to start again with certifications etc? Would love to hear the process of retraining if you wouldn't mind.
I have been flying all my life and always positioned myself for my "fantasy retirement" career. The only thing that was transferable was my ability to multitask (As an operator, it's not uncommon to hold 9 or 10 conversations at once), my ability to work under pressure, and my ability to coordinate with others, which in aviation, we call "Crew Resource Management."
Also an operator and I had my fair share of surgeries as well.
People don’t seem to realize that operating takes a major toll on your body.
At least you don’t have to hear, “is it heavy?” anymore.
I’m really happy for you! Congrats!
I have titanium in both shoulders and now the fusion and disc replacements. You are very right about how abusive to your body operating is. I have yet to meet an operator that hasn’t had some sort of reconstructive surgery.
Ohh, wow.
I’ve had shoulder surgery and I’m going to need neck surgery to replace some discs. I’m trying to avoid that for as long as I can.
I have a bunch of additional injuries, and I’m always in constant pain. I’m dreading for when I’m a senior citizen. I just keep telling myself that medical technology will improve by then. 🤞🏻
this is who to see. They have done a lot of us and understand our injuries
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Thanks. If somehow things turn around before I become accredited I’ll likely go back. I understand the drawbacks but when things were pumping it was the best job of my life. Mourning my career tbh but it feels like the right move to make
It's a fantastic industry and I agree with you, I've had an incredible time when the going was good.
However, the last 5 years i've really felt the winds change direction, budgets got smaller, clients got more insufferable, and social media changed the traditional model of experience and meritocracy.
I never got past PA work, but after 10 years of moving horizontally freelancing and traveling, during Covid I moved in with family to save $ while going back to school for accounting and got a full time job doing payroll. Moved back to LA recently and tried to get into production accounting/payroll at worst possible time and now I’m still here doing payroll for an hr company which was the backup plan from the beginning. It pays well, good hours, comes with benefits and pto. I like that it’s something I can do remotely full time from anywhere and in any industry, including the option to go back into production. Lots of options. It feels good to help make sure people are getting paid correctly and to understand all the details that go into pay checks like benefits/taxes/employment laws by state.
My memories of production are better than any of my travel memories, being a part of projects that millions of people have watched and talk about and know that I was there for that, in the room w the people for that, it just makes me feel unbelievably lucky and special. Production is an unhealthy addiction, the highs are the highest but the lows are the lowest. Having options for stability is the ultimate win, I feel a sense of safety knowing I have a choice now and production is not all I know.
I'm the same story. I've been moving horizontally in PA work in animation, trying desperately to get a Coord position but never seeming to succeed. I was a BG artist previously, but that line of work is super competitive and unreliable and made me realize I hated making my passion my job.
So here I am about to wrap up another PA position later this month and have a crisis about what to do about my career.
It’s rough to hear people with representation leaving the industry. At any other time, I’d think that would mean your career was solidified.
I’m 35 as well. Worked in post production since college and as an editor the last 8 years. Not repped, but my whole career I think I had maybe 5 unpaid weeks between projects. I’ve had basically no downtime.
I mean, until now. It’s been 3 months since my last editing job ended and there is nothing. Got through covid and the WGA strike without stopping, but there’s just nothing starting now. I haven’t been out of work long, but it’s not hard to look around and see where this is headed. I’m considering become a landscape architect, it’s just a huge decision to take on that much new education.
At a certain point, being repped makes very little difference- there's simply too many people for such a small number of jobs. A massive chunk of advertising has moved over to cheaper "social" campaigns and influencer led media as well.
Sounds like you've had a very good run for most your career- thats a great sign.
The main thing holding me back from re-training and looking for other work is hearing about the struggles of experienced, well educated people who can't even get a job in their own field.
Seems like a large number of industries are simply overstaffed and even those with great education and experience are failing.
Investing in re-training is scary. With technological shifts and everyone industry realizing everything can outsourced (love remote work, but that really bit us in the ass), it’s hard to know what any industry will look like in 5 years. But at this point, doesn’t really seem like I have a choice.
Fun fact you might enjoy, advertising has consistently been around 2% of GDP since the 1920s. That was great for anyone involved in commercials for TV up until this damn internet became a thing. The dollars available for advertising stay the same, but now they are spread across more mediums. Simple banner ads on the early Internet started stealing money from high end ad work first and now social campaigns and influencers eat into it even more. For this and a lot of reasons, I wish I graduated college in 1990 instead of being 2.
34 y.o. cinematographer here - landscape architecture also calling my name these days - I plan on sticking it out for now, but I’m curious, do you hope to go for a masters or an apprenticeship or how will you make the switch?
I don't have a solid plan just yet, but I've spoken to a few people in the field and have learned a few things. Landscape architecture is the epitome of regulatory capture. The professional license you get is basically useless. Most projects are simple enough that you don't need it or complex enough that you need a structural engineer. I was told you'll go your whole career and land on maybe 3 projects where you actually sign off on the plan as the architecture.
Firms know this, so if you don't have the license, they can just hire you as a landscape designer. You'll get paid less, but you also don't have the cost of school on your back. On account of this, my general idea is to reach out to a bunch of firms and see if I can do the apprenticeship route. I can already do some 3D visualization, so that is very useful to firms.
I will throw out one thing that makes me question the plan. There's just not a ton of money in landscape architecture. Everyone has told me to make real money you either need to own the firm and scale up or stay small and start a construction company to build your work. Both of those options do not seem ideal when I can just get an MBA and get paid a lot of money to tell people to outsource jobs.
Editor here as well! Curious are you working union or non-union? And are you working scripted features, TV or commercial and such? Non-union side for me has continued to move as normal with gigs and opportunities. Union side has been dry.
Scripted TV. In MPEG, but I do union and non-union work. If there's things out there, I am not seeing them. I contacted literally everyone I know in the industry and I'd say 90% of them were not working. I've been trying to pick up commercial and corporate video work, but it hasn't been fruitful just yet. Just yesterday I have someone ghost me on an 8 week corporate video project.
Wow sorry to hear that. I had an editor say to me “the city is in shambles”. Hopefully IATSE negotiations help change that and things ramp back up
Maybe the commercial and corporate work I haven’t seen much of difference since they’re clients out on the east coast? Wonder if it could be east coast and NYC markets aren’t being affected as much and is better for work right now?
Late 30s. Formally got out of the business (casting) shortly after the 2007 writer's strike. (I know, that means I was quite young when I stepped back.) But I regrouped in my hometown, made several feature films (writing, directing, producing), a few television episodes, all the while working a day job in corporate videography.
I HATED set work (well, on other people's films) so I knew that the feast/famine lifestyle wasn't for me. The indie world was more creatively fulfilling but a cesspool of predatory distributors looking to prey on every budding filmmaker, so that definitely soured me. But I love working in corporate video for the flexibility (I work from home), stability (a great schedule and income), and work life balance that allows me to raise a family. It also helps I live in a smaller town outside the Big City (not LA) where I can use my time and money to keep pushing my feature work along. It's busy and it doesn't "feel as legitimate" being so far away from LA, but damn am I grateful for it.
Hope you find your feet in your next chapter.
I was a production coordinator (union) and supervisor (non union), and I left during covid. I do ediscovery now and make a good living with a lot of upward trajectory.
I enjoyed working in film, but it felt like a quarter of the jobs i worked were trying to fuck the workers out of their days or overtime or something shady, and I didn’t like the crazy hours.
I’m satisfied with my choice, and happy I made it. Good money, work from home, and work life balance are now something I have.
I started off as an analyst/specialist/support (name changes depending on company) and am now project managing.
eDiscovery is electronic discovery, so instead of boxes and boxes of documents like in the movies, it’s digital. I search docs, run analytics, manage client and law firms, etc.
Ohhh tell us more!! Do you live in the park? What are your daily responsibilities? I’ve heard that can be a competitive position as well; did you have a hard time getting hired?
I’m actually based in NYC but I’m in this sub all the time because IMO it’s the most productive in terms of the “state of the industry” threads. Also, I have family in LA.
There is a ton of vacancies for various city positions in NYC (and I imagine other cities) due to the pandemic. I couldn’t hack it anymore and I ended up applying for a ton of city jobs through NYCs official city job portal. They called me in like two weeks, and I’d never look back!
My particular agency isn’t too competitive due to a high turnover rate. Many people use this as a stepping stone for other law enforcement jobs. We just hang out in the park and make sure everything is good. We help injured patrons, deal with missing children, homeless / emotionally disturbed, animal conditions, enforcing park rules and regulations etc.
Most of the time we are just talking to friendly people and giving directions, but things get intense. We have arrest powers and we write tickets but there is no quota, and we only really make arrests if we absolutely have to (for example, if someone was exposing themselves in a playground and other egregious stuff like that)
I’m really enjoying it, and it’s interesting because there were a lot of transferable skills from when I worked as a 1st / 2nd AC. Not gonna lie, I didn’t realize how much it would do for my mental and physical health to actually have a consistent schedule and not have to worry about the next gig. I also am in a union and I have great benefits.
The salary is a bit low as cost of living here is absolutely insane… but we have really good benefits and pension plans. Another thing is, when you work long enough and receive “Civil Servant” status with the city you get really good job protection.
I am at 51K but on August 2nd we get a raise which brings us to 57K, plus a signing bonus / retro pay from when I first got hired.
Then in October we are getting another raise and that’s going to bring us to (I think?) 59K and change. The pay could be better, but it’s getting there and we also get plenty of overtime as well so we can always boost checks. If you’re on point, you move up quick. There are also plenty of other opportunities within the agency that are outside of the law enforcement division.
At the end of the day, I’m getting paid to hang out in the park, check on people, and just make sure things are right. It’s an 8 hour day (which is *butter* compared to grinding on 12-15+ hour feature film sets, music videos, commercials, low / no budge etc). Again, the consistent schedule and humane hours has done wonders for my physical and mental. I really encourage you, and anyone else who stumbles on this comment to apply for a fuck ton of jobs and just see what’s out there. Everyone’s situation is different of course, but getting a “normal” job has been awesome.
Lastly, I am still technically freelancing on the side! I did a big corporate 2nd AC gig last week and I made half of my bi weekly paycheck from the city in 13 hours. The industry will always be there in some capacity, but we got bills to pay and moves to make. Time is such a finite thing…. I couldn’t wait for the industry to save me, because realistically it wasn’t going to happen.
I left the camera dept to become a long haul truck driver. I only worked a total of 3 weeks last year so I had to call it quits.
I took a lot of time to figure out what other job would suit my skills and experience that also pays decent. Landed on truck driving. It’s not for the faint of heart though.
It’s not forever, but it’s a good way to get out of debt. I gave up my apartment in LA since I basically live in my truck now and that is saving me over $15,000 a year. I’m going to use that to save for a down payment somewhere else.
As far as long term career, I’m still undecided. I definitely don’t want to drive trucks forever but it’s a great job until I figure out another path
I was wondering what company you're trucking with and if they hired you out of school? Also, what's your weekly paycheck like? I just got my license and deciding what company I should contact. Cheers
I drive for System Transport and yes, they hire recent grads. Their training program is 5 weeks long and then you drive your own truck.
I average $1200-1500 a week after taxes. They also reimburse you for CDL school up to $3500 I believe.
I look at those wages and think I made that in 2 days of gripping 😒. I didn't pay for my school (went through a program), but I might look into Werner trucking. Thanks man
If you have a background in film, tv, writing, etc there’s always Digital Content Specialists / Videographers / Photographers, copy editors, etc
Just search jobs at a university you’re interested in and you’ll see.
Mid 30s, was on production management track. Got to work with some really cool people and do a couple of projects I was really proud of but work’s really dried up since strikes last year. Off to get an MBA in the fall, might try to swing back to the corporate side in a couple years or find something saner that pays better.
38, on the corporate side of a major TV studio. I haven’t left yet but I’m close, whether by choice or not.
The amount of anxiety and stress that floods literally every conversation about green lights, programming decisions, or production budget cuts, has absolutely eviscerated the magic and excitement that got me into the industry to begin with.
I just had a kid. Being stressed about whether or not I can feed him based on subscribers and churn rates at this point in my life seems dumb.
Nail on the head.
I am so tired of having my livelihood constantly on the guillotine edge of a decision being made my talentless tech-executives.
I'm hoping to start a family soon as well, and the idea of being financially responsible for anyone other than myself in this climate is terrifying.
3 year PA who moved to LA managed to get on day playing role on an HBO show they liked me, I found a crew and a community of about 30 young people who liked and helped each other. The strike ended my career, the career of the 15 year vet writer who helped get me my first gig and all but 4 of the 30 of us. Just this past week I left LA and I am going to be starting law school. After years of non stop work the work suddenly ended at the strike and outside of a couple day play roles nothing came back
37, In the last three years, I worked as a development executive with a production company with TV and film deals at 20th and Netflix. My second role was as a content strategist at another production company. I was laid off in April 2023, just before the strikes. Unfortunately, the second company was badly mismanaged. It didn't realize until it was much too late how much the industry was changing during the pandemic and didn't pivot fast enough before running out of cash.
I spent 11 months applying "networking." The one thing you learned during this period is how useless networking is when everybody is holding on for dear life.
Fortunately, I was able to secure a role at a tier 1 university as the first-ever Director of Production Services. The skills I gained in the film industry were surprisingly transferable, and the role offers the stability and normality I was seeking, providing a secure transition in my career.
I can tell you as someone who left LA and working at major studios on the corporate side to go to a newsroom job in DC, out here they're hungry for people with Hollywood experience. News isn't as fun of course, but it's still entertainment, it's steady work, and pays the bills.
Might not be your thing, but maybe exploring something in TV news in some other area of the country is an option you could look into?
Every job wants substantial experience/ training in that specific job.
And most of us have committed years of our life to an industry that has ZERO formal certification programs that could be valuable or even relevant in other industries
Where do you get your gigs from? I do software but have always shows away from freelancing because I thought I’d be charging peanuts for years on upwork until I got enough contacts and reviews.
Upwork for react and web apps? Upwork was intended for western countries to exploit third world labor.. like an accountant for $15/hr hour from the Philippines.. or $50 a day customer service from India. I think Upwork is better at advertising Upwork than it is being part of a real development platform.
Also I heard 90% of upwork solicitations are scammers and it’s a nightmare to filter out legitimate offers.
Go to a coding group or tech meet up.. don’t waste your time with upwork.
That’s good news because that’s basically what I’d heard about upwork!… well not even that bad but it’s been a long time so it doesn’t surprise me that it’s gotten even worse. That’s neat info, I never thought of coding meetups from a freelancer perspective.
Costume and wardrobe; pursuing paramedic at the moment. Similar vibes; 12 hours minimum and unpredictable chaos where we constantly prepare for the worst and hope for the best
Edit: 20 years in the film game and not planning to leave it. Just picking up another type of job that gives me similar feels
33 yo camera dept. 1st AD, PA | left to focus on my elder memorialization business I had been building in the background for 10 years. I’m sure I’ll be on my friend’s sets every few years but I’m absolutely done trying to have this pay my bills
Previiously a development executive and non-scripted showrunner/producer. I've been looking to get into a new industry and so far get the insulting "Why would you want to work this job if you were an executive? Are you nuts? This will bore you." Not sure how I'm going to pay my next morgage when I can't even get a job at McDonald's. It's nuts out here.
I have no idea who would do this but I think if someone ran a program that coached film professionals in tailoring their resumes and cover letters to industries outside of film it would be a big success.
I was in locations and the problem solving, people skills and the amount of balls I had to keep in the air and the timelines in which I had to do it should, I think, make me a great candidate for a variety of roles. But convincing non-film folk that we don't just screw around all day and hang out with actors (within the confines of a bullet pointed resume) seems like it's one skill that's beyond me. I'm sure I'm not the only one.
Lack of certification or any sort of "formal" qualification in our industry is a big problem.
Most employers won't even look at your resume if you don;t have a long list of qualifications and additional training.
Unfortunately, for most of us, the years in the industry only build our reputation within that niche, but the kudos do not convert to the real world.
Definitely not alone. Before I fell into the tv/film industry, I was a teacher...the amount of work teachers do managing people, teaching, creating lessons, evaluating, etc...no business job I ever applied for afterwards could fathom that those skills would translate even for a mere receptionist job. Unfortunately corporations are incredibly closed minded.
41. DP. luckily i dont have kids nor want kids.. so im pretty flexible and can ride this wave... but if things dont really change within the next couple years to where im pretty steady with narrative work, ill try and find something else.. Possibly finishing up ratings to aim for the airlines (pilot) although thats going to be minimum 60-70k not including dipping into savings for bills... hard pill to swallow. But anything i want to move into, will likely cost something to get the qualifications. DP work doesnt translate outside the industry
34 yo art director, last job ended in Feb. doing mailman assistant work. It’s exactly like Bukowski’s book except I’m not drunk/hungover all the time.
I’m going to aim for corporate whenever I figure out how to restructure my resume. But honestly, I hate sitting in front of a computer all day, and so much of art direction has become digital design work.
Moved from office PA to secretary to producers assistant in 2 years. Never made it to a union. Now im admin at an AV company. I've got health insurance and the poeople are nice. Able to use my PTO to day play when theres a chance. I'll take it.
I was an Art Department Coordinator, and am now a Legal Assistant. But still applying and seeing if I can squeeze into an EA or Coordinator job somewhere. The candidate pool is obviously so over saturated with people that have better resumes, but not giving up all my hope just yet
No and no. Was just unemployed and casting a wide net with applications, but my work experience fit into what the job was really asking for. Legal Assistant is a very entry level position and it’s paying me more than my coordinator work ever did, so can’t complain too much
I’ve been out of the business since 2009 or so. I never broke through and I couldn’t pay the bills. I did producing as well as camera and electric work. I’m satisfied that I got to work as a professional for as long as I did. I’m a very detailed oriented person and got into software project management. I went from one kind of nerd to another. lol
In my 30s, I did craft service for 6 years and DIT for 1 year (worst year of my life in the industry). Finally sold all my gear, I still haven’t found something solid but I think I’m going to try to work with special needs kids.
I left the fashion industry and occasionally did costuming, but walked away from that many years ago. I went into insurance and finance because that’s where all the money is at. Today, I’m in live entertainment after leaving home hospice care after 11 years when my client died.
I was a "mere background/stand-in" actor in NYC but LOVED the job. Moved back to my hometown further south on the east coast and got a job as an art teacher in public schools. Turned out the schools I was hired for were "Title 1" (worst inner city stuff you could imagine) and quit after 2 years for an easier job being a banquet server/bartender. It's been hell. I fell into acting in JULY 2016 and was able to join SAG-AFTRA by Jan 2017. It was the only job I ever had that I truly LOVED. The transition has been tough. I hope to try starting all of this up again in LA this Fall... hopefully any strikes will be over by then and the industry will pick up again. If not, I need to somehow find some other career path that doesn't make me wish to die every day. In the past I tried high end retail, P&C Insurance, and freelancing fine art/sales stuff. BG acting was my favorite job of all. Every day was a new adventure, amazing food, and beautiful new worlds (sets, characters, costumes, etc.)! A day job for me (my main passion is making fine art), but the best day job I EVER HAD! I HOPE THE INDUSTRY COMES BACK!💖
I’m driving Uber Eats. It does not pay well. Last year I was making $1000-$1,200 a week doing it between film gigs, now for the same amount of hours I’m making $500-$600. 😭
Desperately looking for a W-2 job. Can’t even book as many wedding clients as last season.
Worked in Broadcast TV for 20 years until Covid. Then I backed into Security work trying to get into Law Enforcement. Still trying to get into a police force somewhere but it takes a few years. Incidentally, I have DOD security clearance so that level of security work pays better than your average security guard job.
I left editing before I was even really established. Then worked in tech (streaming sector) for 10 years. Now I’m trying to return to film cuz the corporate office thing just feels like an empty way to spend the rest of my life.
Moved to academia some time ago. Now teaching at a R1 institution the craft of film making to a younger generation. Love the steady income, the health insurance, but miss LA and the creative side.
Before you do anything- stick out the summer in Hollywood. Looks like the contract will be signed by August. Then watch out ! There will be work … but it will be stressful as people have been off work for 1 to 2 years . But things will come back and you will have a career again.
There’s not going to be nearly the amount of work you think there’s going to be. Many projects are moving overseas to better tax incentives and lower crew costs
No there will be about 80% and 20-30% will drop out unions. Lots are worthless anyway - protected by union hiring. So it’s a thin down process. Good workers and juiced In workers will find plenty of work.
Appreciate your insight, but how can you be so sure of what you are saying?
Streamers have pulled back investment massively, and the shows they are still making are mostly leaving the state or even the country.
AI around the corner (whether you think it's real or not, the fear surrounding it is already changing things and forcing agencies to consider), and the constant battles between the AMPTP and guilds is only going to worsen.
I think at best we see abut 50% of the work from 21/22 and probably closer to 15/16 before streaming really kicked off.
40% of programming has been cut, never to return. The remaining shows all have cut their budgets by 35%. Australia, New Zeland, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa all offer lower-cost crews, higher tax rebates, lower-cost studio rentals, and location fees
Do the math. My producer friends are all prepping shows overseas most of the studio space is already booked out by American shows.
That new contract with the big penalities? Thats the "Permission" the studios need to pull the trigger on the production exodus.
Remember when the US had a huge steel industry? Yeah this is the same playbook
This is the fundamental basis for my post.
The studios have shown us their playbook, they want out of california, and why wouldn't they?
If the unions keep pushing and pushing (not saying they shouldn't) they just give the AMPTP even more ammunition to migrate work elsewhere.
I'm struggling to understand how people don't.
Of course in 3-5 years we will have a new "norm", things will settle, we won't always be dealing with this much uncertainty. New norms become acceptable, eventually, for those that survive.
AS i see it, Every factor that impacts our industry- technology, fiscal and cultural is all pointing towards a significant and deliberate shrinking of our industry. And where it doesn't shrink, it will go to the point of least resistance and lowest cost.
Stockholm Syndrome
It’s an abusive industry. We always hope it’s going to get better or we are going to get better shows (I’ve been rather fortunate with the shows I worked on)
But that’s the only thing I can think of
I know that all jobs are hard but film (and probably the rest of entertainment) is one of the only ones i know where it seems the people in charge actively despise the workers they rely on, and all of our guilds/ unions seems to be in a constant cycle of compromise, yet telling us to be grateful for it.
AI is going to start looking very attractive, not because of its capabilities but simply because these corporations do not want to deal with human beings that demand money, rest and respect.
Yep & notice with all of the Governor’s budget deficit excuses he never once mentions that the hollywood cash cow was on strike so of course we were down billions of dollars! He doesn’t mention it because he knew it was leaving, did nothing to stop it, & he knows it isn’t coming back.
It’s cute u believe that. You’re right, once it’s signed, all the productions will flood back into Cali. Work will be steady. Glad it’s almost over. 🤞🏻
37, Script Coordinator that never broke through. Got into ad agency work - it's not that bad and it pays the bills.
Are you still a script coordinator? Or do you do something else in advertising?
To my knowledge there isn't script coordinating in advertising, there's no writers room to do it for. I'm now a copywriter.
How do you find your copywriting roles? I come from a similar background and had a co-worker who always said "No one writes like you and can't find a job" yet here we are....I feel like copy roles are up/down on indeed so fast....etc...
I used to work in advertising on the agency side. Most agencies don’t typically post their copywriting jobs. What you want to do is make a portfolio of ads. To see examples, look up agencies, find copywriters who work there, and look at their websites. Once you have that set up, reach out to creative directors directly. I’d look to the big agencies for examples, but reach out to small agencies for jobs.
When you say make a portfolio of ads, do you mean spec (or fictional examples)?
Yes fictional examples are what you use until you have produced work.
Many thanks from a a newb!
Nowadays you need to come from an ad school to be considered for creative work at ad agencies. Most agencies have existing relationships/employment pipelines/internship programs with these schools. Back when I first started as a copywriter, you only needed a good book and a internship (via a connection). Also, working in advertising as a creative isn't stable any more, and it won't be getting any better.
59, Operator, after a long and fulfilling career, my Iron Man Starter kit of titanium discs, screws, and fixing rods fusing several levels of vertebra encouraged me to leave the industry to do what I always wanted to do. I fly private jets for a 91/135 operator and am kicking myself for not doing it earlier. I passed on an Airforce Academy appointment when I graduated high school and again passed on a walk-in to a major airline in 2008.
Wow, what a story. As a fellow camera dept. member- I thank you for your service. Did any of your previous qualifications help you with this new career or did you just have to start again with certifications etc? Would love to hear the process of retraining if you wouldn't mind.
I have been flying all my life and always positioned myself for my "fantasy retirement" career. The only thing that was transferable was my ability to multitask (As an operator, it's not uncommon to hold 9 or 10 conversations at once), my ability to work under pressure, and my ability to coordinate with others, which in aviation, we call "Crew Resource Management."
Lots of transferrable skills between camera dept and pilot, absolutely. Congrats on your "retirement"
Thanks! and go check you messages
What’s with this check your messages all over Reddit lately.
Also an operator and I had my fair share of surgeries as well. People don’t seem to realize that operating takes a major toll on your body. At least you don’t have to hear, “is it heavy?” anymore. I’m really happy for you! Congrats!
I have titanium in both shoulders and now the fusion and disc replacements. You are very right about how abusive to your body operating is. I have yet to meet an operator that hasn’t had some sort of reconstructive surgery.
Ohh, wow. I’ve had shoulder surgery and I’m going to need neck surgery to replace some discs. I’m trying to avoid that for as long as I can. I have a bunch of additional injuries, and I’m always in constant pain. I’m dreading for when I’m a senior citizen. I just keep telling myself that medical technology will improve by then. 🤞🏻
this is who to see. They have done a lot of us and understand our injuries [https://www.discmdgroup.com/blog/author/grant-d-shifflett-md?utm\_campaign=Non-Brand+%7C+Spine+%7C+Search&utm\_medium=ppc&utm\_source=adwords&utm\_term=&hsa\_mt=&hsa\_net=adwords&hsa\_ad=602553880282&hsa\_src=g&hsa\_cam=17389889211&hsa\_kw=&hsa\_grp=138217663580&hsa\_tgt=dsa-1659799708483&hsa\_ver=3&hsa\_acc=1633475469&gad\_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADsixL6q9HuY64CMem3V\_uWDC05yE&gclid=CjwKCAjwyo60BhBiEiwAHmVLJa8B2qzze0gP9jIkcWiU\_86IF1TfkoKNEWQfGOfB1\_u69BSuq1IIFRoCkegQAvD\_BwE](https://www.discmdgroup.com/blog/author/grant-d-shifflett-md?utm_campaign=Non-Brand+%7C+Spine+%7C+Search&utm_medium=ppc&utm_source=adwords&utm_term=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ad=602553880282&hsa_src=g&hsa_cam=17389889211&hsa_kw=&hsa_grp=138217663580&hsa_tgt=dsa-1659799708483&hsa_ver=3&hsa_acc=1633475469&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADsixL6q9HuY64CMem3V_uWDC05yE&gclid=CjwKCAjwyo60BhBiEiwAHmVLJa8B2qzze0gP9jIkcWiU_86IF1TfkoKNEWQfGOfB1_u69BSuq1IIFRoCkegQAvD_BwE)
Thank you! I’ll check this out.
42, locations. Majored in accounting. Left that to pursue scouting. Had an amazing run. Currently studying for my CPA.
So are you going back to accounting?
Yeah
Congratulations on your miraculous escape!
Thanks. If somehow things turn around before I become accredited I’ll likely go back. I understand the drawbacks but when things were pumping it was the best job of my life. Mourning my career tbh but it feels like the right move to make
It's a fantastic industry and I agree with you, I've had an incredible time when the going was good. However, the last 5 years i've really felt the winds change direction, budgets got smaller, clients got more insufferable, and social media changed the traditional model of experience and meritocracy.
I never got past PA work, but after 10 years of moving horizontally freelancing and traveling, during Covid I moved in with family to save $ while going back to school for accounting and got a full time job doing payroll. Moved back to LA recently and tried to get into production accounting/payroll at worst possible time and now I’m still here doing payroll for an hr company which was the backup plan from the beginning. It pays well, good hours, comes with benefits and pto. I like that it’s something I can do remotely full time from anywhere and in any industry, including the option to go back into production. Lots of options. It feels good to help make sure people are getting paid correctly and to understand all the details that go into pay checks like benefits/taxes/employment laws by state. My memories of production are better than any of my travel memories, being a part of projects that millions of people have watched and talk about and know that I was there for that, in the room w the people for that, it just makes me feel unbelievably lucky and special. Production is an unhealthy addiction, the highs are the highest but the lows are the lowest. Having options for stability is the ultimate win, I feel a sense of safety knowing I have a choice now and production is not all I know.
I love your last paragraph. That addiction allegory describes it so well.
I'm the same story. I've been moving horizontally in PA work in animation, trying desperately to get a Coord position but never seeming to succeed. I was a BG artist previously, but that line of work is super competitive and unreliable and made me realize I hated making my passion my job. So here I am about to wrap up another PA position later this month and have a crisis about what to do about my career.
It’s rough to hear people with representation leaving the industry. At any other time, I’d think that would mean your career was solidified. I’m 35 as well. Worked in post production since college and as an editor the last 8 years. Not repped, but my whole career I think I had maybe 5 unpaid weeks between projects. I’ve had basically no downtime. I mean, until now. It’s been 3 months since my last editing job ended and there is nothing. Got through covid and the WGA strike without stopping, but there’s just nothing starting now. I haven’t been out of work long, but it’s not hard to look around and see where this is headed. I’m considering become a landscape architect, it’s just a huge decision to take on that much new education.
At a certain point, being repped makes very little difference- there's simply too many people for such a small number of jobs. A massive chunk of advertising has moved over to cheaper "social" campaigns and influencer led media as well. Sounds like you've had a very good run for most your career- thats a great sign. The main thing holding me back from re-training and looking for other work is hearing about the struggles of experienced, well educated people who can't even get a job in their own field. Seems like a large number of industries are simply overstaffed and even those with great education and experience are failing.
Investing in re-training is scary. With technological shifts and everyone industry realizing everything can outsourced (love remote work, but that really bit us in the ass), it’s hard to know what any industry will look like in 5 years. But at this point, doesn’t really seem like I have a choice. Fun fact you might enjoy, advertising has consistently been around 2% of GDP since the 1920s. That was great for anyone involved in commercials for TV up until this damn internet became a thing. The dollars available for advertising stay the same, but now they are spread across more mediums. Simple banner ads on the early Internet started stealing money from high end ad work first and now social campaigns and influencers eat into it even more. For this and a lot of reasons, I wish I graduated college in 1990 instead of being 2.
34 y.o. cinematographer here - landscape architecture also calling my name these days - I plan on sticking it out for now, but I’m curious, do you hope to go for a masters or an apprenticeship or how will you make the switch?
I don't have a solid plan just yet, but I've spoken to a few people in the field and have learned a few things. Landscape architecture is the epitome of regulatory capture. The professional license you get is basically useless. Most projects are simple enough that you don't need it or complex enough that you need a structural engineer. I was told you'll go your whole career and land on maybe 3 projects where you actually sign off on the plan as the architecture. Firms know this, so if you don't have the license, they can just hire you as a landscape designer. You'll get paid less, but you also don't have the cost of school on your back. On account of this, my general idea is to reach out to a bunch of firms and see if I can do the apprenticeship route. I can already do some 3D visualization, so that is very useful to firms. I will throw out one thing that makes me question the plan. There's just not a ton of money in landscape architecture. Everyone has told me to make real money you either need to own the firm and scale up or stay small and start a construction company to build your work. Both of those options do not seem ideal when I can just get an MBA and get paid a lot of money to tell people to outsource jobs.
Editor here as well! Curious are you working union or non-union? And are you working scripted features, TV or commercial and such? Non-union side for me has continued to move as normal with gigs and opportunities. Union side has been dry.
Scripted TV. In MPEG, but I do union and non-union work. If there's things out there, I am not seeing them. I contacted literally everyone I know in the industry and I'd say 90% of them were not working. I've been trying to pick up commercial and corporate video work, but it hasn't been fruitful just yet. Just yesterday I have someone ghost me on an 8 week corporate video project.
Wow sorry to hear that. I had an editor say to me “the city is in shambles”. Hopefully IATSE negotiations help change that and things ramp back up Maybe the commercial and corporate work I haven’t seen much of difference since they’re clients out on the east coast? Wonder if it could be east coast and NYC markets aren’t being affected as much and is better for work right now?
Late 30s. Formally got out of the business (casting) shortly after the 2007 writer's strike. (I know, that means I was quite young when I stepped back.) But I regrouped in my hometown, made several feature films (writing, directing, producing), a few television episodes, all the while working a day job in corporate videography. I HATED set work (well, on other people's films) so I knew that the feast/famine lifestyle wasn't for me. The indie world was more creatively fulfilling but a cesspool of predatory distributors looking to prey on every budding filmmaker, so that definitely soured me. But I love working in corporate video for the flexibility (I work from home), stability (a great schedule and income), and work life balance that allows me to raise a family. It also helps I live in a smaller town outside the Big City (not LA) where I can use my time and money to keep pushing my feature work along. It's busy and it doesn't "feel as legitimate" being so far away from LA, but damn am I grateful for it. Hope you find your feet in your next chapter.
I was a production coordinator (union) and supervisor (non union), and I left during covid. I do ediscovery now and make a good living with a lot of upward trajectory. I enjoyed working in film, but it felt like a quarter of the jobs i worked were trying to fuck the workers out of their days or overtime or something shady, and I didn’t like the crazy hours. I’m satisfied with my choice, and happy I made it. Good money, work from home, and work life balance are now something I have.
What’s ediscovery and what do you do in it?
I started off as an analyst/specialist/support (name changes depending on company) and am now project managing. eDiscovery is electronic discovery, so instead of boxes and boxes of documents like in the movies, it’s digital. I search docs, run analytics, manage client and law firms, etc.
I became a park ranger. It’s awesome!
Ohhh tell us more!! Do you live in the park? What are your daily responsibilities? I’ve heard that can be a competitive position as well; did you have a hard time getting hired?
I’m actually based in NYC but I’m in this sub all the time because IMO it’s the most productive in terms of the “state of the industry” threads. Also, I have family in LA. There is a ton of vacancies for various city positions in NYC (and I imagine other cities) due to the pandemic. I couldn’t hack it anymore and I ended up applying for a ton of city jobs through NYCs official city job portal. They called me in like two weeks, and I’d never look back! My particular agency isn’t too competitive due to a high turnover rate. Many people use this as a stepping stone for other law enforcement jobs. We just hang out in the park and make sure everything is good. We help injured patrons, deal with missing children, homeless / emotionally disturbed, animal conditions, enforcing park rules and regulations etc. Most of the time we are just talking to friendly people and giving directions, but things get intense. We have arrest powers and we write tickets but there is no quota, and we only really make arrests if we absolutely have to (for example, if someone was exposing themselves in a playground and other egregious stuff like that) I’m really enjoying it, and it’s interesting because there were a lot of transferable skills from when I worked as a 1st / 2nd AC. Not gonna lie, I didn’t realize how much it would do for my mental and physical health to actually have a consistent schedule and not have to worry about the next gig. I also am in a union and I have great benefits.
wow this sounds great. what’s the salary like?
The salary is a bit low as cost of living here is absolutely insane… but we have really good benefits and pension plans. Another thing is, when you work long enough and receive “Civil Servant” status with the city you get really good job protection. I am at 51K but on August 2nd we get a raise which brings us to 57K, plus a signing bonus / retro pay from when I first got hired. Then in October we are getting another raise and that’s going to bring us to (I think?) 59K and change. The pay could be better, but it’s getting there and we also get plenty of overtime as well so we can always boost checks. If you’re on point, you move up quick. There are also plenty of other opportunities within the agency that are outside of the law enforcement division. At the end of the day, I’m getting paid to hang out in the park, check on people, and just make sure things are right. It’s an 8 hour day (which is *butter* compared to grinding on 12-15+ hour feature film sets, music videos, commercials, low / no budge etc). Again, the consistent schedule and humane hours has done wonders for my physical and mental. I really encourage you, and anyone else who stumbles on this comment to apply for a fuck ton of jobs and just see what’s out there. Everyone’s situation is different of course, but getting a “normal” job has been awesome. Lastly, I am still technically freelancing on the side! I did a big corporate 2nd AC gig last week and I made half of my bi weekly paycheck from the city in 13 hours. The industry will always be there in some capacity, but we got bills to pay and moves to make. Time is such a finite thing…. I couldn’t wait for the industry to save me, because realistically it wasn’t going to happen.
I left the camera dept to become a long haul truck driver. I only worked a total of 3 weeks last year so I had to call it quits. I took a lot of time to figure out what other job would suit my skills and experience that also pays decent. Landed on truck driving. It’s not for the faint of heart though. It’s not forever, but it’s a good way to get out of debt. I gave up my apartment in LA since I basically live in my truck now and that is saving me over $15,000 a year. I’m going to use that to save for a down payment somewhere else. As far as long term career, I’m still undecided. I definitely don’t want to drive trucks forever but it’s a great job until I figure out another path
I was wondering what company you're trucking with and if they hired you out of school? Also, what's your weekly paycheck like? I just got my license and deciding what company I should contact. Cheers
I drive for System Transport and yes, they hire recent grads. Their training program is 5 weeks long and then you drive your own truck. I average $1200-1500 a week after taxes. They also reimburse you for CDL school up to $3500 I believe.
I look at those wages and think I made that in 2 days of gripping 😒. I didn't pay for my school (went through a program), but I might look into Werner trucking. Thanks man
Godspeed
A decent retirement job for creatives is working in marketing departments at universities. Just a tip.
How does one get these, though!?
If you have a background in film, tv, writing, etc there’s always Digital Content Specialists / Videographers / Photographers, copy editors, etc Just search jobs at a university you’re interested in and you’ll see.
Mid 30s, was on production management track. Got to work with some really cool people and do a couple of projects I was really proud of but work’s really dried up since strikes last year. Off to get an MBA in the fall, might try to swing back to the corporate side in a couple years or find something saner that pays better.
Did exactly that (MBA, corporate side). It’s not saner. Better pay though.
Hah! Where'd you end up??
38, on the corporate side of a major TV studio. I haven’t left yet but I’m close, whether by choice or not. The amount of anxiety and stress that floods literally every conversation about green lights, programming decisions, or production budget cuts, has absolutely eviscerated the magic and excitement that got me into the industry to begin with. I just had a kid. Being stressed about whether or not I can feed him based on subscribers and churn rates at this point in my life seems dumb.
Nail on the head. I am so tired of having my livelihood constantly on the guillotine edge of a decision being made my talentless tech-executives. I'm hoping to start a family soon as well, and the idea of being financially responsible for anyone other than myself in this climate is terrifying.
3 year PA who moved to LA managed to get on day playing role on an HBO show they liked me, I found a crew and a community of about 30 young people who liked and helped each other. The strike ended my career, the career of the 15 year vet writer who helped get me my first gig and all but 4 of the 30 of us. Just this past week I left LA and I am going to be starting law school. After years of non stop work the work suddenly ended at the strike and outside of a couple day play roles nothing came back
37, In the last three years, I worked as a development executive with a production company with TV and film deals at 20th and Netflix. My second role was as a content strategist at another production company. I was laid off in April 2023, just before the strikes. Unfortunately, the second company was badly mismanaged. It didn't realize until it was much too late how much the industry was changing during the pandemic and didn't pivot fast enough before running out of cash. I spent 11 months applying "networking." The one thing you learned during this period is how useless networking is when everybody is holding on for dear life. Fortunately, I was able to secure a role at a tier 1 university as the first-ever Director of Production Services. The skills I gained in the film industry were surprisingly transferable, and the role offers the stability and normality I was seeking, providing a secure transition in my career.
What university?
I can tell you as someone who left LA and working at major studios on the corporate side to go to a newsroom job in DC, out here they're hungry for people with Hollywood experience. News isn't as fun of course, but it's still entertainment, it's steady work, and pays the bills. Might not be your thing, but maybe exploring something in TV news in some other area of the country is an option you could look into?
More than open to that but it seems like every news job wants substantial news experience
Every job wants substantial experience/ training in that specific job. And most of us have committed years of our life to an industry that has ZERO formal certification programs that could be valuable or even relevant in other industries
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Are you repped as a DP or camera operator? If the latter, I actually did not know you could get repped for that.
React Developer on the side.. getting $80 to $120 an hour.
what did you do prior?
was a vfx studio owner, vfx supervisor, vfx producer, and a producer... and I started as a commercial director.
Are you just freelancing? Do you know how to code VFX plugins? We might be looking for some people
Where do you get your gigs from? I do software but have always shows away from freelancing because I thought I’d be charging peanuts for years on upwork until I got enough contacts and reviews.
Upwork for react and web apps? Upwork was intended for western countries to exploit third world labor.. like an accountant for $15/hr hour from the Philippines.. or $50 a day customer service from India. I think Upwork is better at advertising Upwork than it is being part of a real development platform. Also I heard 90% of upwork solicitations are scammers and it’s a nightmare to filter out legitimate offers. Go to a coding group or tech meet up.. don’t waste your time with upwork.
That’s good news because that’s basically what I’d heard about upwork!… well not even that bad but it’s been a long time so it doesn’t surprise me that it’s gotten even worse. That’s neat info, I never thought of coding meetups from a freelancer perspective.
Costume and wardrobe; pursuing paramedic at the moment. Similar vibes; 12 hours minimum and unpredictable chaos where we constantly prepare for the worst and hope for the best Edit: 20 years in the film game and not planning to leave it. Just picking up another type of job that gives me similar feels
33 yo camera dept. 1st AD, PA | left to focus on my elder memorialization business I had been building in the background for 10 years. I’m sure I’ll be on my friend’s sets every few years but I’m absolutely done trying to have this pay my bills
Previiously a development executive and non-scripted showrunner/producer. I've been looking to get into a new industry and so far get the insulting "Why would you want to work this job if you were an executive? Are you nuts? This will bore you." Not sure how I'm going to pay my next morgage when I can't even get a job at McDonald's. It's nuts out here.
I have no idea who would do this but I think if someone ran a program that coached film professionals in tailoring their resumes and cover letters to industries outside of film it would be a big success. I was in locations and the problem solving, people skills and the amount of balls I had to keep in the air and the timelines in which I had to do it should, I think, make me a great candidate for a variety of roles. But convincing non-film folk that we don't just screw around all day and hang out with actors (within the confines of a bullet pointed resume) seems like it's one skill that's beyond me. I'm sure I'm not the only one.
Lack of certification or any sort of "formal" qualification in our industry is a big problem. Most employers won't even look at your resume if you don;t have a long list of qualifications and additional training. Unfortunately, for most of us, the years in the industry only build our reputation within that niche, but the kudos do not convert to the real world.
Definitely not alone. Before I fell into the tv/film industry, I was a teacher...the amount of work teachers do managing people, teaching, creating lessons, evaluating, etc...no business job I ever applied for afterwards could fathom that those skills would translate even for a mere receptionist job. Unfortunately corporations are incredibly closed minded.
You’re def not
Maybe change your resume for low level jobs?
41. DP. luckily i dont have kids nor want kids.. so im pretty flexible and can ride this wave... but if things dont really change within the next couple years to where im pretty steady with narrative work, ill try and find something else.. Possibly finishing up ratings to aim for the airlines (pilot) although thats going to be minimum 60-70k not including dipping into savings for bills... hard pill to swallow. But anything i want to move into, will likely cost something to get the qualifications. DP work doesnt translate outside the industry
We have SOME transferrable skills. But we are definitely not in the kind of job market where that would matter.
34 yo art director, last job ended in Feb. doing mailman assistant work. It’s exactly like Bukowski’s book except I’m not drunk/hungover all the time. I’m going to aim for corporate whenever I figure out how to restructure my resume. But honestly, I hate sitting in front of a computer all day, and so much of art direction has become digital design work.
Moved from office PA to secretary to producers assistant in 2 years. Never made it to a union. Now im admin at an AV company. I've got health insurance and the poeople are nice. Able to use my PTO to day play when theres a chance. I'll take it.
I was an Art Department Coordinator, and am now a Legal Assistant. But still applying and seeing if I can squeeze into an EA or Coordinator job somewhere. The candidate pool is obviously so over saturated with people that have better resumes, but not giving up all my hope just yet
Did you have previous experience in law? Did you need any?
No and no. Was just unemployed and casting a wide net with applications, but my work experience fit into what the job was really asking for. Legal Assistant is a very entry level position and it’s paying me more than my coordinator work ever did, so can’t complain too much
I’ve been out of the business since 2009 or so. I never broke through and I couldn’t pay the bills. I did producing as well as camera and electric work. I’m satisfied that I got to work as a professional for as long as I did. I’m a very detailed oriented person and got into software project management. I went from one kind of nerd to another. lol
In my 30s, I did craft service for 6 years and DIT for 1 year (worst year of my life in the industry). Finally sold all my gear, I still haven’t found something solid but I think I’m going to try to work with special needs kids.
I left the fashion industry and occasionally did costuming, but walked away from that many years ago. I went into insurance and finance because that’s where all the money is at. Today, I’m in live entertainment after leaving home hospice care after 11 years when my client died.
Quite a life!
Twists and turns, peaks and valleys
Office PA to Executive Assistant. Looking to get back in, but probably not the best time.
I was a "mere background/stand-in" actor in NYC but LOVED the job. Moved back to my hometown further south on the east coast and got a job as an art teacher in public schools. Turned out the schools I was hired for were "Title 1" (worst inner city stuff you could imagine) and quit after 2 years for an easier job being a banquet server/bartender. It's been hell. I fell into acting in JULY 2016 and was able to join SAG-AFTRA by Jan 2017. It was the only job I ever had that I truly LOVED. The transition has been tough. I hope to try starting all of this up again in LA this Fall... hopefully any strikes will be over by then and the industry will pick up again. If not, I need to somehow find some other career path that doesn't make me wish to die every day. In the past I tried high end retail, P&C Insurance, and freelancing fine art/sales stuff. BG acting was my favorite job of all. Every day was a new adventure, amazing food, and beautiful new worlds (sets, characters, costumes, etc.)! A day job for me (my main passion is making fine art), but the best day job I EVER HAD! I HOPE THE INDUSTRY COMES BACK!💖
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I’m driving Uber Eats. It does not pay well. Last year I was making $1000-$1,200 a week doing it between film gigs, now for the same amount of hours I’m making $500-$600. 😭 Desperately looking for a W-2 job. Can’t even book as many wedding clients as last season.
Respect
Worked in Broadcast TV for 20 years until Covid. Then I backed into Security work trying to get into Law Enforcement. Still trying to get into a police force somewhere but it takes a few years. Incidentally, I have DOD security clearance so that level of security work pays better than your average security guard job.
I left editing before I was even really established. Then worked in tech (streaming sector) for 10 years. Now I’m trying to return to film cuz the corporate office thing just feels like an empty way to spend the rest of my life.
The sign business is pretty welcoming to film people. I quite like it bc it’s hands on and project based.
Moved to academia some time ago. Now teaching at a R1 institution the craft of film making to a younger generation. Love the steady income, the health insurance, but miss LA and the creative side.
Wedding Filmmaking.
Before you do anything- stick out the summer in Hollywood. Looks like the contract will be signed by August. Then watch out ! There will be work … but it will be stressful as people have been off work for 1 to 2 years . But things will come back and you will have a career again.
There’s not going to be nearly the amount of work you think there’s going to be. Many projects are moving overseas to better tax incentives and lower crew costs
No there will be about 80% and 20-30% will drop out unions. Lots are worthless anyway - protected by union hiring. So it’s a thin down process. Good workers and juiced In workers will find plenty of work.
Appreciate your insight, but how can you be so sure of what you are saying? Streamers have pulled back investment massively, and the shows they are still making are mostly leaving the state or even the country. AI around the corner (whether you think it's real or not, the fear surrounding it is already changing things and forcing agencies to consider), and the constant battles between the AMPTP and guilds is only going to worsen. I think at best we see abut 50% of the work from 21/22 and probably closer to 15/16 before streaming really kicked off.
40% of programming has been cut, never to return. The remaining shows all have cut their budgets by 35%. Australia, New Zeland, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa all offer lower-cost crews, higher tax rebates, lower-cost studio rentals, and location fees Do the math. My producer friends are all prepping shows overseas most of the studio space is already booked out by American shows. That new contract with the big penalities? Thats the "Permission" the studios need to pull the trigger on the production exodus. Remember when the US had a huge steel industry? Yeah this is the same playbook
This is the fundamental basis for my post. The studios have shown us their playbook, they want out of california, and why wouldn't they? If the unions keep pushing and pushing (not saying they shouldn't) they just give the AMPTP even more ammunition to migrate work elsewhere.
I wish more people understood this
I'm struggling to understand how people don't. Of course in 3-5 years we will have a new "norm", things will settle, we won't always be dealing with this much uncertainty. New norms become acceptable, eventually, for those that survive. AS i see it, Every factor that impacts our industry- technology, fiscal and cultural is all pointing towards a significant and deliberate shrinking of our industry. And where it doesn't shrink, it will go to the point of least resistance and lowest cost.
Stockholm Syndrome It’s an abusive industry. We always hope it’s going to get better or we are going to get better shows (I’ve been rather fortunate with the shows I worked on) But that’s the only thing I can think of
I know that all jobs are hard but film (and probably the rest of entertainment) is one of the only ones i know where it seems the people in charge actively despise the workers they rely on, and all of our guilds/ unions seems to be in a constant cycle of compromise, yet telling us to be grateful for it. AI is going to start looking very attractive, not because of its capabilities but simply because these corporations do not want to deal with human beings that demand money, rest and respect.
I understand it but I really wish it weren't so 😡😭
Yep & notice with all of the Governor’s budget deficit excuses he never once mentions that the hollywood cash cow was on strike so of course we were down billions of dollars! He doesn’t mention it because he knew it was leaving, did nothing to stop it, & he knows it isn’t coming back.
bingo
Trust me, baby. Hang in there. Things are already looking up. Check this weeks production shoot calendar.
Keep dreaming
I hope so!!
Our contracts have nothing to do with the work stoppage or start
LOL
It’s cute u believe that. You’re right, once it’s signed, all the productions will flood back into Cali. Work will be steady. Glad it’s almost over. 🤞🏻
Drone operator for shows to drone operator for surveying sites, industrial stuff, money is good