'Stop using buzzwords': #PayUpHollywood trends as film industry is slammed for exploiting non-acting crew
In the wake of the deadly coronavirus engulfing the countries across the globe, the threat of the pandemic pay cuts and lockdown for over three months has left many penniless and jobless. While the common man is struggling to make ends meet, how severely has it affected the Hollywood industry, especially the small-time artistes, lighting crew, assistants, boom operators, production designers, and prop workers on set?
In a long investigative tweet thread, journalist Mo Ryan said, "Some Hollywood TV studios came after the pay of lowest-level assistants & support staff after the pandemic hit. For @vanityfair, I talked to 20+ industry people abt what happened, 1 studio changing course & why this affects marginalized folks most severely." She then said, "Many assistants I spoke to said their income fell by a third to a *half*. And these folks were already not making much. And contrary to what some above them might think, for support staff, working remotely *not* easier/faster +," and added, "At 1 studio, 15 showrunners got together & embarked on a course of action that ended up being successful: Details of that are in the story. But they fought back for their asst/support staff & it appears to have worked."
Since then, her Vanity Fair story has gone viral and sparked a debate on Twitter with the hashtag #PayUpHollywood on how the big stars and production houses exploit the small-time artistes. The Twitter hashtag first was first created in 2019 when TV writer and WGA board member Liz Alper shed light on what it is like to be an assistant in the biz and asked others to share their experiences. The advocacy group then emerged and it calls attention to how the industry “has not kept up with the astronomical cost of living in Los Angeles,” a spokesperson told Vanity Fair.
"Props to the @BoJackHorseman staff for including a storyline about the exploitation of Hollywood assistants into its final season. One of the many reasons I loved this show dearly. #PayUpHollywood," one tweet read and another said, "'Diversity, Equity & Inclusion' shouldn’t just be buzzwords you get to throw under your masthead & then strategically stomp on the most vulnerable voices at the bottom rung of the ladder by slashing their already abysmal salaries. Practice what you preach. #PayUpHollywood."
"#PayUpHollywood Studios should be paying assistants for 40 hours the amount that they presently have to work 60 hours to earn. Thanks @moryan for covering this," one tweet read and another said, "The convo around #PayUpHollywood causes many non-industry folks to pipe in w/ 'What'd you expect?' & 'Who cares?' like we somehow deserve mistreatment for daring to pursue careers in corrupt Hollywood."
Highlighting how new streaming initiatives can help those artistes, one Twitter user said, "And it's not like Hollywood is particularly strapped for cash either. Just a fraction of what it cost to fund whatever the f**k a 'Quibi' was could have supported thousands of struggling assistants. #PayUpHollywood." Another wrote, "Could showrunners demand a clause in their deals that sets a minimum for assistant salaries on their shows? An economic inclusion rider of sorts? #PayUpHollywood."
One blatantly went on to say, "The 10 million bucks they paid to release a higher-up sexual predator could cover the yearly income for 250 assistants. "We want more diversity! As long as ppl can afford to make $35K/yr while living in LA for a decade!" #PayUpHollywood,"
In fact, script coordinator and writer Rachel Pologe opened up about her own experience and said, "Studios were cutting our hours & rates even before Covid. On my last WA job I negotiated $17/hr w/60hr in writing based on my 4yrs experience. Then the studio started backtracking because they 'didn’t want to set a precedent' #PayUpHollywood." She then added, "Meaning that when other assistants got offers from that studio, and I told them to use me as an example (because we talk), the studio refused to negotiate. They also tried to pay me at 40hrs once but I was lucky I had the 60 in writing. This is rare though. #PayUpHollywood."
As Ryan herself says, "Big reason I did the story because being an assistant/support staff in Hollywood=>a major way people get a foothold in the entertainment industry. In the words of an assistant: 'If you give a s**t about Black voices, you have to invest in them at the start of their careers,'" and added, "These folks do not make much money. LA has gotten wayy more expensive over the years, and as #PayUpHollywood has documented, salaries are stuck in the past & have not kept up with cost of living there & in NY."