Reuters: "They are Hollywood's production assistants, the lowest-paid workers on the set -- if paid at all -- and the only ones without a union, the only ones no union even wants to bother with. In Hollywood's caste system, they are the untouchables.
These PAs work in nearly every phase of production and postproduction, and sometimes their employers break the law by not even paying them."
9 comments:
This is very interesting to read, considering how the theatre industry also utilizes interns, occasionally pushing the boundary of intern responsibilities. My internship last year, which I thought was terribly ineffective because all I could do was observe the process, may actually be all that is permitted under law. So then what is the benefit of an unpaid (legal) internship, from both the intern's and the organization's points of view? This year, I didn't look at internships- I only looked for jobs, because I knew that in a paid position I would actually be doing something that can contribute to an organization and can give me more practical experience than even an independent project that would be set up under an internship that meets Fair Labor standards.
Especially given that we are now going into the summer season, which means we are all looking for internships and generally are more then happy to be paid in "experience" rather then money, it is interesting that an article like this comes out and talks about how many companies openly offer jobs that are border line illegal. I would be interested in seeing what would be turned up if the article's scope was expanded to include theater and television just how many more slightly less then legit jobs would be identified.
This is where ANY connection/name you have is a huge asset in this industry. At least with a CMU education and a strong supportive Alumni network, we can hope to start at least one rung higher up the ladder than a PA. Something like a decently paid PA would be a start.
I have worked as an unpaid PA, and have discovered that their positions on set is both unpredictable, and invaluable. It is really good experience. However, apparently there is no way that this is legal. I was not receiving school credit, and I was not being paid. Fortunately, I don't believe that I was abused. If I hadn't wanted to be there, I wouldn't have been.
This article brings up some important points, especially as we go into the summer internship season. None of the internships that I'm looking at give any sort of compensation whatsoever. And some of them will be using me in significant positions. Many of these places are non-profits though. Does that change the laws at all? I think that these laws either need desperately to be clarified. What can and can't we do for the summer?
In addition, this article begins by addressing the fact that PA jobs are not protected by unions. It seems to relent that fact. But I believe that the PA positions would suddenly become horribly useless if unionized. From a producer's standpoint, PA's are the ones you can use to do the things no one else will touch, but are vital to the production. Unionizing them will also not let new people into the PA positions, and will close off the already restricted film industry even more.
That’s a nasty entertainment business world. I haven’t seen this kind of story since I left from Japan. The TV industry in Japan is under similar condition.
The “real” creators and staff of small contractors are working hard for the large key broadcasting companies day and night at almost minimum wage (Now, major broadcasting companies are mostly dealing with advertisement business rather than creating programs. The employers of these companies are relatively paid good amount of money.) In this regards, I really appreciate the unionized system of the U.S. theatre industry.(As long as I have know till today.)
Film and TV industry is attractive world to work for the young. There are always a lot of people who want to work in the industry. Of course, no-paid intern for an educational purpose is not wrong. (Maybe I would most likely to do due to maintain my legal working status in the United States.) But these cases in the article are too much and disgusting. They are just taking advantage of their popularity. It is woeful to see that even large companies try to skimp on money to those young/ambitious workers. Maybe do they pay too much for actors?
I don't mind working for experience but, I wouldn't tolerate being treated like this. I don't understand why people continue to take this kind of abuse. They are breaking rules based on integrity, respect, and the law. They may be able to take them to court for this type of abuse. Not only that but, the case itself would show the rest of the country what is really going on. If I was being treated like this, you can bet I would quit with as uncivilized an attitude as they were treating me.
I hear people complaining about unpaid interns every spring, and part of me tends to agree - workers deserve a minimum wage, especially when working for for-profit ventures like most movie studios. ON the other hand, if someone feels that they are getting something out of the work, and are able to use it as an entry to the industry, why should we be complaining? Some people like us are paying to do work at a university because they think it will help them get into the field, why shouldn't others invest (probably less money overall) on living expenses while getting some experience in the industry?
There isn't really anything wrong with being an unpaid PA, in my mind. That is often how people break into the industry and get to higher roles. When Mary Coleman (the Pixar Exec.) gave her talk, she stressed how important it was to be willing to take an unpaid position in order to get a paid one later. The stories of abuse cross the line, those PAs should have quit. But, you also hear similar stories from people who ARE being paid. Being a PA isn't a requirement for being abused by your boss.
When I was in the Metals stagecraft mini, Ben compared the role freshman take on crew as being equivalent to a PA. We do the "grunt" jobs so that shows can actually get done. As Ben said, PAs are invaluable. Shows and films would not be able to function without them.
The laws regarding unpaid interships are absurd. I'm completely okay (for this year and next, at least) taking an unpaid internship that isn't for credit--but only if I can actually DO something. From the sound of this, an unpaid intern is not allowed to contribute anything. That seems almost like a waste of time. I'd be fine being an unpaid PA while I'm in college. It's great work experience, and you learn a LOT more than you would as a legal unpaid intern.
Unpaid internships require that you be wealthy enough -- or have wealthy enough parents (more likely) -- to keep a roof over your head and food in your stomach. Yes, they can be a foot in the door -- the question is: is this another way that the privileged set things up to benefit themselves?
Post a Comment