Netflix & Amazon Film Crew EXPOSE Conditions On Set

Production workers at Netflix, Amazon and other major studios are forced to skip meals & bathroom breaks, working 12+ hr days at minimum wage. The workers, represented by IATSE, have hit a breaking point. This week they voted to authorize the biggest U.S. private sector strike in over 10 years.
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[psycold]

This was the sad reality I discovered once I graduated from film school. The system will use you for your love of the art of filmmaking, and leave you a broken shell of yourself. If you say anything your head is on the chopping block and there is an infinite number of hungry other people who can instantly fill your place, so people feel like they have to pretty much kill themselves just to get their foot in the door.

[dannyhernanny]

I just left the business after 20+ years. The pandemic gave me the time to understand I want more from my life. I hope the change happens because I know how hard the crew works and gets treated like dirt. I wonder if the Rock saw that mention & what he might say.

[CymruEmergencyResponder]

I’m a medic in the UK. Not only do I work on frontline ambulances but I also work as a Production Medic in Film/TV. I take the health and safety of crew very seriously and have before (and would again) called break, which is a huge no as the director is the only one who usually calls break, so the crew could rest and eat etc. I have also shut productions down due to concerns that I have had over crew health/welfare.

[Scorpiogirl_]

To the people behind the camera, people who do the makeup, people who do the cool effects for the movies and other great things, you ALL DESERVE BETTER than what you're given now. $5 to $10 less is just unacceptable.

[fakshen]

This is also affecting non-Hollywood labor markets as well. People are EXPECTING to work through breaks rather than give them to the crews... especially camera and sound crews.

[jonathancastillo]

You guys deserve better conditions!!! My family are riggers, techs, grips etc and they're prepared to go on strike for the betterment of brothers and sisters who are the backbone on any TV show or movie production. I hope the best happens whether the strike does happen or negotiations are made. Union Strong

[adlegacy]

These work conditions are absolutely unnecessary. I may be relatively knew to the Industry (just under 10 yrs), but I immediately saw this is not working, for the the talent behind the camera, nor in front. I'm currently crunching numbers for a feature film production, and budgeting a 5 day - 12 hour a day (with 2 meal breaks) shoot schedule, with all salaries from PA to Director, BG to Leads, all being paid a more than livable wage, I know that's still 60 hrs a week, but no one should be too burnt out from this schedule, and everyone will have at least 2 days off to rest up and come back to the set feeling fresh and rested. I've received some slight backlash from a few people in the Industry, "We can shoot 6 days a week", "1 meal break is sufficient" and "We can shoot 14 hrs a day". I say NO, treat your Cast and Crew, (essentially all employees) well and they will be more than willing to do the best work for you. It can be done! I completely support this Strike! Change is needed. Now!

[pitpride]

It's even more likely they'll get away with it because so many people want in the industry. They know that. They use it. They will tell you upfront, "there's hundreds behind you, just like you that will do it for less. They'll also work longer. We all have to sacrifice for this gift we're given."

[ceciliebridgford]

i work in the industry in NZ and I support you stand tall and make them understand that without crews they have nothing its time to stand up to these big productions

[Ardestani]

Wow, and I thought working in the steel mill for 10 hour shifts 6 days a week was tough. Thank you for making me realize how lucky I am leaving covered in coal dust every day. Falling asleep on a couch sounds horrible . The next time I do rail changes on a blast furnace I will remember how lucky I am to not be on a sunny film set in California .

[blueelf]

100% supporting the strike. I work as an extra/stand-in, and have had several co-workers quit in the last 3 yrs, due to the crazy schedules. They can't have a life or raise a family with those types of schedules and low pay. Don't blame them.

[LivLifeLikeYouLoveIt]

I would of liked to hear from a Production Assistant’s interview/POV. Yes these people are also going through the same thing but from my experience of working in the film industry the PA’s see the most, hear the most, and know the most about what happens on set considering people think they’re worthless because they’re at the bottom level of film industry crew level.

[michellem]

I canceled my Netflix subscription. You serve to be treated as the prod you are! 💖 from NM.
#Unions4ThePeople

[stopit]

1, 000% support you all!! I knew conditions had to be garbage for the amount of shows/movies these streaming giants AND major studios keep pumping out. You guys represent the everyday working man who are worked and used and not treated or paid their worth, this is a problem in so many industries and companies and needs to change. You are representing so many people all around the country.

[mattdorsey]

After working in the industry, in Hollywood for 42 years, I'll say the toughest part has been working with these whiners. Maybe it's about time to ban soy milk.

[victorianromantic]

That “The Rock” movie she’s referring to working on a promo for — I’m pretty sure I worked on the filming of that movie. They started filming in early 2020, but got delayed, due to the pandemic shut down. By fall 2020, they were back into production. That’s when I worked on that show. (I’m a PA, so I’m paid pennies for the same long hours, but with no union protection. PAs are actually skilled workers as well, but since we are basically “entry level, ” we are treated like cannon fodder.) Anyway, I digress — what I wanted to point out here, that since Netflix was so behind on this movie, they really pushed the entire crew. They had most of us working 6 days straight— some worked 14 or more days straight — but the absolute worst who got it, was construction. Like the rest of the departments, they were “Protected” by IATSE.
Netflix had them working 30+ days in a row, 17+ hour days, WITH NO DAYS OFF. I heard that one of them decided to take a Sunday off, and he was fired for it.
The abuse was too much. The only thing IATSE could do for them was ensure they were compensated financially for all the hard work. As if money makes up for health and lost time.

All productions force workers to work too many hours, 12 hours for everyone being there bare minimum standard the same way that 8 hours is standard for your average office job. I say bare minimum, because people are ever rarely done right at 12 hours. 12 hours does not factor in pre-shooting and wrap time. 12 is the minimum, but 14 -16 hours is usually the average for most crew.
(Occasionally you’ll find a production running on “French hours” which is 10 hours, but it means they work without breaks, and is really more like 12 when you factor in the pre-shooting and wrap after shooting. But even 10 hours is too long, IMO).
While 14-16 hours a day is common for your typical film/tv production, these big streaming companies are even more abusive.
This strike is long overdue.

[salvagemonster]

Having worked in Film. There is a ton of down time. There is mostly waisted time on film sets. I can remember sleeping on the set for hours to film one 12 second shot. Working from 7pm to 7am was the norm. But lots of down time.

[Touchgrassplz]

Yess king and queens, get your life back. Don't let Bezos and Netflix bully you! #standingWithIATSE

[DJMCtag]

This is very real, the work conditions have become more than dangerous

[Raven]

I used to PA, 5 years and i know its a crazy game! I quite because among other reasons, I got so sick from long hours, lack of sleep and too much heavy lifting.
And it was interfering with my acting career. Darn right I support the strike!