Episode Details

Two weeks ago I released the article Dear Hollywood: We Create Entertainment For a Living...We're Not Curing Cancer, and it was shared over 3000 times in the first 48 hours. Clearly the idea of inhaling a deep breath of perspective resonated with thousands of people working not just in Hollywood but worldwide who are sick and tired of sacrificing their health, time with family, and their sanity simply for the sake of creating entertainment. Placing the blame on ourselves and accepting that we have all collectively encouraged a work culture that allows us to be treated like doormats was an idea I didn't expect to be embraced with open arms (I was prepared for A LOT of trolling). But on the contrary I received unanimous praise for this viewpoint. Furthermore, I was so proud of how many people were willing to take a small level of responsibility themselves for helping to dig the hole we're all stuck in now. But that article only addressed a surface-level problem: Those of us working in the filmmaking industry are willing to put up with ridiculous (and deadly) working conditions that few other industries would deem acceptable. Therefore, the much deeper question becomes: Why?

Why are we willing to silently work through lunch breaks?

Why are we slowly killing ourselves one day at a time?

Why do we feel terrified to ask for overtime, even if it's in our contract and we've put in the extra hours?

Why do we feel embarrassed to take a fifteen minute walk in the afternoon to solve creative challenges?

Why do we work 100 hours in a single week simply because "The overtime is good" despite it destroying our health and our relationships?

Why are we okay watching our kids grow up via Facetime?

After reading hundreds of messages, Facebook comments, and emails from "creatives" working in the entertainment industry worldwide, I believe the root of this problem is the following cultural mindset:

We Should Just Suck It Up. We're "Lucky" To Be Here.

  Oh my God...working in Hollywood is so glamorous! Many of our friends and families who are "business professionals" often envy us for doing something so "cool" that's seen by millions of people around the world. We're lucky to be here. When somebody asks what you do and you say, "I worked on the latest Mission: Impossible movie," they reply with, "Holy crap, that movie was so good. You got to work on that!!!" We're lucky to be here. When your former college roommate (and classmate in film school) who is now working in pharmaceutical sales excitedly asks, "Have you seen any celebrities?" and you reply with: "Yeah. I often have lunch at the table next to [insert giant mega-celebrity here] and the other day [insert mega-director here] was in my edit suite giving me notes," their jaw drops. They can't imagine doing something so fun with such "important" people! We're lucky to be here. Right? Right??? Bullshit. No matter the craft, guild, or area of expertise, if you have a successful career in Hollywood or anywhere else around the world in the entertainment industry... You earned it. Now it's time to start behaving that way.

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