Movie And TV Crews Describe The Horrible Working Conditions In The Industry

Movie and TV sets can look polished on screen, but the work behind them is often anything but glamorous. Long hours, pressure, and unsafe conditions can turn a dream job into a rough reality.

In these Tumblr posts, people pushed back on the idea that entertainment should come before worker safety. The discussion quickly widened as crew members and other commenters shared what it is really like behind the scenes, from exhausting schedules to the lack of basic protections. Read on.

Here's the post where it started. OP began their thoughts as an unpopular opinion rant

attackofthebteam

It shouldn't leave anyone traumatized

attackofthebteam

The post got people talking fast.

A Tumblr user commented on the post and narrated the things people usually don't know about staff experiences when they work on sets

squeeful

Even beyond them, there isn't a clear line regarding the working conditions to which employers should adhere, as their priority is to keep production going

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That is where the real frustration starts.

People who have experienced the terrors of working in those conditions have been discouraged from taking specific gigs

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There are sets that are being revolutionized to serve as models of healthy work environments, but in most cases, this is the harsh reality

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This means that as much as we love to binge-watch and are impatient for new episodes, it is fueled by crews being pushed to the brink

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Another commenter kept the focus on how often the problem gets brushed aside.

It echoes the grief in Todd Meadows' mother reaching out to Deadliest Catch producers after his death during filming.

There's a lot of cover-up that occurs within the workplace, along with the encouragement to be the most overworked individual

squeeful

The harsh environments don't even end on movie sets but extend to animation studios as well

alexazombie

This user who commented highlighted the differences in labor laws in the U.K.

hunterinabrowncoat

Some of the replies pointed out that the rules are not the same everywhere.

Audiences can complain about cliffhangers and become impatient all they want, but it's the crews' rights that matter above all

hunterinabrowncoat

These are the laws in New Zealand, however

thebyrchentwigges

It's not enough to provide them with tutors or feed them on set; there are many child entertainers who need counseling and better protection laws

Anastasia Rose Damrau

It burns you out quickly

Leigh Stevens

And the comments kept circling back to the same point, this kind of work takes a toll.

There are many factors to consider, but perhaps if people continue to shed light on the topic, actions will be taken to improve the situation

Anthony Mallette

There are many unheard voices discussing the abuse of labor; take it from this comment

Jean-sebastien Cozic

Many factors contribute to why things are poorly organized and employees are under-compensated. Money, fame, and power play roles in why change is slow to come.

Companies and organizations should recognize that the staff and crews are also people trying to make ends meet. They may be pursuing their dreams of being part of the industry, and it would be truly unfortunate if they lost their inspiration due to these issues.

Have you ever worked on movie and TV sets? Share your stories in the comments.

After reading about set crews, see why someone asked her sister to cover extra vacation expenses.