On several podcasts recently, I heard from “working” screenwriters, producers and actors who are currently on strike. Instead of repeating the talking points, demands and accusations that have been covered incessantly, these podcasts discussed how the workers got into the industry, what it has been like working there pre-strike, the financial realities and the lives of the workers.
As I listened, I kept thinking, “How pathetic“. But contrary to the hand wringing of the media and stickers, I wasn’t thinking this about the “unfairness” of the industry and the compensation for the workers.
They told stories about being raised in middle class to upper income homes where they never had to worry about money. They went to expensive colleges, often fully funded by their parents, obtaining masters degrees in film studies, journalism, and production. One even said his studies were entirely focused to prepare him to be a “Film Director”! (To me, that’s as realistic as majoring in “Famous Person”, “Rock Star” or Professional Athlete.)
After college, they moved to LA or Hollywood to pursue their dreams. They described the struggle of years of writing spec scripts and pitching them without getting any work. They talked about being under financial pressure because any writing or acting work they got was piecemeal and at low rates. They whined about never being able to afford a house since an average house cost over $1M dollars.
They talked about high rent. They talked about being out of work for extended periods of time. One complained of having $200K in student loans.
As I listened to all of this, I kept wondering how they could afford rent, food, transportation and the costs of daily living.
Then that question was answered – mom and dad (and in one case, wife). They all relied on someone else to subsidize their lives.
One couple has been in LA for 10 years. They have a child. They have had occasional writing jobs and even produced a show that never aired. Neither of them has ever worked a real job.
Another man, who’s been moderately successful carved out a career over 25+ years. He was able to do this because his wife is a hard working white collar professional who brings in a steady high income with benefits while he chases his dreams. Without her putting in long hours in an office, he could never afford to spend months (and sometimes year) earning nothing while kicking around coffee shops, cafes and restaurants.
I have no sympathy for any of them.
The irony was that these podcasts were setup to generate sympathy for the strikers. After all, the work and pay is unreliable. Although we hear about the mega-salaries of the superstars, there are far more people working at the low end of the spectrum making less than $24K annually.
Wah! Cry me a river.
They all said they had no idea how complicated working in Hollywood would be and how the pay system worked. They all believed if they worked hard and put their time in, eventually everything would work out fine.
You chose this. Quit whining.
You bemoan the fact that you did not understand the industry before you worked in it.
Guess what? That works the same way for the rest of us too. Very few people enter a profession with a deep understanding of what they are getting into.
You stayed long after you understood. That’s your choice and your fault.
I totally get wanting to be paid well for doing work you enjoy.
I want to be a paid earn millions for sitting around and thinking up strategic solutions for business problems, doing some occasional executive coaching or sitting on a board.
But I am not a child. I am an adult who lives in reality. No matter how much I want this, nobody’s going to pay me.
The same goes for the Hollywood strikers.