Hollywood on Pause
Surviving a World Quarantine
Hollywood is living in a world that is truer than fiction. Tinseltown transformed into a Ghost Town seemingly overnight. Nothing has ever hit the industry harder. No strike. No natural disaster. No Weinstein Empire tumble. Zilch.
Most of us who have worked or are currently working in Entertainment chose this industry because it is fiscally recession-proof. But in this time of ours, it is quite the contrary. More than 10,000 productions have shut down in the United States alone. Resulting in millions out of work.
Every year more than 70,000 aspiring actors flock to the City of Angels in hopes of becoming gainfully employed on the way up to fame and fortune. Additionally, 100,000s of craftsmen and women come to Hollywood to work. According to the federal department of labor, more than 2,500,000 people work in the Entertainment Industry.
Producers and production company principals worry about projects that were slated to start in the near future. Some fear they will lose key actors and important crew. Within the last week, it has been reported that hundreds of investors have pulled out of projects at the advisement of their money managers.
Many are wondering what they can do during this time of shelter-in-place.
The hardest-hit population in Entertainment is the nonunionized support and office staff, rental houses, consultants, production services, as well as organized below-the-line labor, which is virtually every other skilled craftsperson necessary to make a show.
An interim fix is to file for unemployment for which most will qualify. Let’s look to the stars for another option. Lots of actors, directors, writers, and skilled “below-the-line” crew members are putting their expertise to work by creating online masterclasses, instructional videos, hosting online viewing parties, and writing articles to generate an income. Some are continuing to work creating solo shows on a pay-per-view platform.
Until the show goes on, entertainment professionals and filmmakers should continue to do what they do best, use their creativity to reinvent.
© Gena Vazquez 2020
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