tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078779326914378322.post6662289203914182242..comments2024-03-22T14:40:33.276-07:00Comments on Blood, Sweat, and Tedium: Confessions of a Hollywood Juicer: Whither Hollywood?Michael Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569781786039595929noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078779326914378322.post-33351725721835983842012-08-30T10:40:22.431-07:002012-08-30T10:40:22.431-07:00Austin --
The aim of this blog is not to discoura...Austin --<br /><br />The aim of this blog is not to discourage young people interested in Industry careers, but simply to provide an unvarnished view of the biz from below decks, where the heavy lifting is done. Given our culture's obsessive fascination with all aspects of celebrity (and resulting over-coverage in the media), I like to provide a little balance in the form of a reality check.<br /><br />I know people who have gone through Local 16's apprenticeship program, and although it does seem to center on duties at the Opera House, many of those people went on to do very well in the local film industry. That's a good way to go, and will provide a much more well-rounded experience than joining one of the many craft-specific Hollywood unions. If you can get into Local 16's program by the time you're 20, you'll be way ahead of the game.<br /><br />Besides, the Bay Area is a much more pleasant place to live. LA isn't all bad -- I've had some good times here -- but it can be brutal at times. <br /><br />It's not so much that there's very little production in California -- there's a lot going on -- but that there's considerably less than we used to have. In essence, the jungle watering hole has shrunk while the animal population has not -- so there are lots of experienced people chasing after fewer jobs. That makes it a lot harder for a newbie lacking connections to break in. <br /><br />Your analysis of the future in those incentive states may be spot-on as well -- and as some states start to fold their programs, the workers there will have to migrate to those locales that still have incentives -- again raising the bar for new people lacking experience. <br /><br />You're right, though; the world as we've known it seems doomed to go over a cliff in the not-too-distant future. Thus far we seem incapable of finding a workable balance between our consumer-culture expectations and the reality of the world's long-term sustainable environmental needs. As the climate changes and the environment suffers, so will the economy -- and that's when politics begins tilting toward the crazies and extremists among us. Things get weird in a hurry. Exhibit A: that political circus down in Tampa the past few days...<br /><br />Working below-the-line teaches many real-world skills that are useful beyond the Industry -- climbing, rigging, the basics of electricity. I'll put my money on grips and juicers in an emergency situation over the pale keyboard droids from a cube farm.<br /><br />Bottom line -- if this is really what you want to do, then do it. You'll have to roll with the punches like everybody else, but will also acquire crossover skills that can pay off no matter what happens down the road.<br /><br />Good luck.Michael Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02569781786039595929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078779326914378322.post-54427637082089258212012-08-29T23:20:18.142-07:002012-08-29T23:20:18.142-07:00Thank you Mr. Taylor for the thoughtful response.
...Thank you Mr. Taylor for the thoughtful response.<br /><br />Its funny, I can't exactly put a finger on it, but for several reasons (one reason being that I could avoid spending my whole life in front of a computer), I have always been fascinated by working in the movies. (Although I'm sure one day working on a set would dispel these fantasies) Anyways, I've always been sure that I wanted to work in film production in some capacity.<br /><br />But lately I have been considering thats not the best idea. There are most definitely much more viable and safer options for careers. Another thing i'm concerned about is that I'm in the wrong place and wrong time. There is little production any more in the Golden State and I'm worried that by the time I'm out in the world, many incentive states will have realized what a waste their programs are and will have capped them, leaving their local studio mechanic's rosters full of people hungry for work, no room for me, and also that in the future, as you stated, its only going to be tougher to survive and make a living.<br /><br />Also, in regards to the IATSE union, one thing that would make me not so inclined to go to hollywood is that the crafts are separated by different locals, versus studio mechanic locals that represent most every craft. I have also had the privilege of talking to a few IATSE Local 16 members who have recommended their apprenticeship program, which is mostly theatre but would still be helpful.<br /><br />But in times of such uncertainty, as I sit here at 11 o'clock thinking about focusing on finishing my math homework, wondering whats it all about and if its really worth it, I have also thought that due to the fact that our planet is surly destined for political, economical and environmental catastrophes in the not-so-distant future, what the hell. I'm going to go for it. Because I'm not so sure I'd be good at anything else.<br /><br />Thanks again for the response. Whether I ultimately change my mind or not, I'll still read your writing.Austin (anonymous)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078779326914378322.post-51870368692915717612012-08-29T09:52:37.623-07:002012-08-29T09:52:37.623-07:00JB --
Sounds like good advice. It's been dec...JB --<br /><br />Sounds like good advice. It's been decades since I worked low-budget (the ancient term for "indy") films, so I'm way out of that loop. In that non-union world, having a broad array of skills can really pay off. <br /><br />In the union world of Hollywood, you can't really cross over between grip and electric without holding dual cards, and that means two fat initiation fees and double the quarterly dues. Some people do that, but it doesn't make much sense to me. On the other hand, I'm told props and set dressing (and maybe special effects) all fall under the aegis of Local 44 here in LA -- so the multi-skill crossover approach makes a lot of sense in the art dept. <br /><br />Michael Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02569781786039595929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078779326914378322.post-91349189889481739212012-08-26T16:19:40.603-07:002012-08-26T16:19:40.603-07:00If there were one piece of advice I would give to ...If there were one piece of advice I would give to anyone below-the-line, it would be: diversify. Beyond those established already, and creatives (Dirs, DPs, Prod. Design, etc) those who are doing well are throwing themselves into multiple departments in ways that was not the norm when I started. More and more G/E are hiring swings, and if you also do camera, so much the better. If art department, get strong carp. skills, but also be able to handle props, paint, etc. If you do M/U, also know hair. Budgets I prepare for indies are getting smaller and smaller, and as the technology drives the rentals down, it, unfortunately, takes crew size, not to mention rates, down with it.JB Brunohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04258303283672775536noreply@blogger.com