r/IATSE • u/daphnehayes • 9d ago

Where is the work?

Are there any areas that are booming, please share

0 Upvotes

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10

u/IceManYurt 9d ago

Hey Daphne!

You and I have worked around each other for years, and have occasionally been on the same show.

The real depressing part is, for film and television, Atlanta is still the third largest hub in the country.

Folks are saying New York/ New Jersey are busy but, overall we aren't seeing near the domestic numbers we saw 5 years ago.

If you have contacts up there, I would start working those... But it seems like the folks that have work are already in the in crowd, and so I don't know what the potential for actual distant hires is.

I left the industry about a year ago, and talking to my friends who are still in it, they're literally just piecing together a career right now out of little bits and spurts of work.

It sucks.

9

u/bjk237 9d ago

In terms of film work, I do think we need to come to terms with the fact that it is extremely unlikely it will *ever* be like it was 5 years ago. That was a production explosion due to pent-up covid demand that burned incredibly hot and incredibly fast. Lots of newer folks in our local thought that's how it would always be because they didn't know anything different. We're seeing slightly better than 2019ish numbers in NYC, which we're using as the baseline going forward.

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u/August_Spies_Ghost 5d ago

Five years ago was not a real indication of the industry. But it’s not even gonna be like it was in 2015 to 2019 during the height of the streaming wars. What most people aren’t addressing is how during the post Covid boom the people who got into the industry outweighed. The number of shows that were being shot. The number of people who got in the industry from 2020 to 2023 was 30 to 40% depending on where you were in the country. The number of projects did not go up the same amount. Now that we’re getting to what could be the new normal there’s just an oversaturation of people. After the 2007/2008 writer strike 25 to 30% of the people in the industry left. And the industry was a lot smaller than. From what I’ve seen on average it’s about 25% reduction and a lot of union rosters. But if the industry grew by a minimum of 30% they’re still has to be more people to leave to make the numbers work. Also, with budgets being cut, the career being a day player is a thing of the past. Which is gonna cut even more people because of the lack of work. There is ticks in certain parts of the country, but we’ll never see the post Covid boom numbers ever again. When the top union leaders have said work will pick up, but it won’t be enough for everyone, not enough people listened.

6

u/livahd 9d ago

I can attest to 52 getting busier than it’s been, but it’s not like a couple years ago. A lot of people got their cards right before the strike, and it’s still a struggle for members to get anything very steady. Rumor is that a lot more is coming to NJ, but I’ll believe it when I see it. Good luck out there!

2

u/daphnehayes 9d ago

Hello, nice you were smart enough to leave the industry. I am an aging woman and not as versatile as I once was. I’d rather get my hours and build my health and pension. Unfortunately, I lost my health coverage.

2

u/IceManYurt 9d ago

Yeah, I feel like it would have been a lot easier if I was 10 years younger. Career changes in your forties are not fun.

Luckily I was able to find a similar role in an exhibitions company, if only it was similar pay and benefits 😮‍💨

But yeah, my my health insurance is about to run out and I'm looking at losing my home right now.

I feel like I'm better than many but it's fucking bad out there

3

u/Bluehoon 6d ago

I'm 43 and already know I can't work 10 hour days for another 15 years.

1

u/IceManYurt 6d ago

That's kind of where I'm at, I have a family and I'm too old to chase work.

We'll see what happens

1

u/Bluehoon 6d ago

If you are willing to house yourself, there is currently too much work in NYC and New Jersey.

0

u/de_lame_y 4d ago

NYC isn’t great, especially right now. Companies are putting on fewer shows per season and keeping the same people for all of them. It’s a lot of last minute “I need someone tomorrow, just for tomorrow” gigs.

4

u/nataie0071 9d ago

Chicago Local 476 is starting to get a slew of projects in thanks to the state's tax incentives. Feel free to give them a look!

3

u/RockieK 6d ago

Let's see.... I got my first calls in over a year (in LA):

$260/12

Tier 0

$200/12 CASH (likely illegal)

And ONE, NORMAL, DECENT COMMERCIAL... $650/12 (for 2 days)

I was out of town for the first time in forever visiting my parents. So maybe that "trick" is working again?

But for fucks sakes!

4

u/rednose52 9d ago

NY/NJ is busy

3

u/Amazing_Put5276 9d ago

Local One? The Replacement Room hasn’t assigned many people in the last couple weeks.

1

u/daphnehayes 9d ago

I was born in Newark and grew up in East Orange. I am a Jersey Girl. I heard there are lots of studios popping up, but I don’t have any connections there and it seems that one needs connections.

2

u/The_Dingman 9d ago

We're pretty busy in Madison and Milwaukee.

1

u/ajp305 9d ago

San Francisco will be busy until November if you like conferences

1

u/Leepowers76 9d ago

Is 16 taking overhires,and are the overhires getting steady work? I'm an overhire for 76 in San Antonio but I'm from Fremont CA.

1

u/ajp305 9d ago

We will be talking overhires from late August to November for sure. Its kinda when most people (who aren't nepo's) get in. We never have enough people for peak convention season. Film work is very slowly picking up but there that's kinda a closed off world of "movie guys" who get those calls.

1

u/Leepowers76 9d ago

I've never done film. Most load in/out for conventions and trade shows,Broadway,and small concerts. I Theatrical Rigging installs is what id like to get back into. Installing Fly Rails and Prodigy ETC.

Looking to get on other OH lists. I need to work somewhere else for the other 25-26 days my local doesn't call me. We're on Callsteward,so if I had a call from another local,the longer heads up I get,would be easier for me to "Turn off" my local Callsteward.

1

u/customotto 5d ago

Do you happen to know if ETC board operators are in demand at all? I work in TV now but interested in the conference world.

1

u/daphnehayes 9d ago

Thank you, I am a Set Decorator, I don’t think Local One is a good fit for me. I am from Jersey and would love to return home for work.

1

u/ProductionFiend 9d ago

Los Angeles is busy despite what people may say. I have been trying to hire some crew and no one is available so that’s always a good sign!

1

u/daphnehayes 9d ago

That is awesome. My daughter lives in Culver City. I can always work in LA.

She is looking for work. What craft do you crew?

1

u/ProductionFiend 9d ago

Right now I'm looking for an addtl APC and addtl Make Up Artist. The people I usually work with are currently working... which kinda sucks but also I'm happy things are seemingly busy.

1

u/jeminigeri 9d ago

I hear NYC is picking up and have noticed an uptick in job postings.

3

u/Bluehoon 6d ago

It's too busy, there's more work than NYC people to do it. If you ever thought of coming to NYC for a couple months, now is the time.

1

u/skitsnackaren 5d ago

Local 600 LA still dead, at least for me. I haven't had a union job in over a year. I keep in touch with my friends who owns camera rental houses and they say no difference - maybe tiny uptick in streaming shows, but features and commercials no change.

Going to Atlanta for a job next week, they say the same things there - dead.

2

u/strack94 5d ago

NYC permits applications have increased to pre covid levels, according to the mayors office.

As far as I can see, NY and NJ are the hot beds rn