buy 10 get 2 free

in the last 3-5 years things have changed in reality tv.  the most annoying of which is the length of our workday in comparison to the pay.  we used to work a 10-hour day; it was 10 hours lunch included.  then it became 10 hours plus our lunch added to the day (11 hrs).  then the 12 hour day and most recently, the 12 hour day plus our lunch added to the end of the day equaling 12½ to 13 hours…all with no change in rate.  how did we let this happen?  we worked 10 hours a day, 6 days a week, which seemed like a lot and now it’s 12/13 hours a day 6 days/week.  sure, some shows adhere to the 6^th day pay and have instated 5-day week but that just means we miss out on an entire day rate.  either way we have put ourselves in the bargain bin marked “buy 10 get 2 free”

i think in the beginning, the 12 hour day was put in place mostly because payroll companies were forced to pay overtime instead of a flat rate.  in an effort to avoid OT many companies began hiring people for a 12 hour day but would get you out in 10.  the extra 2 hours were just in case of an unavoidable delay that made the day longer.  with that being understood, many of us accepted the 12 hrs with the same pay out of good faith.  when you work for a company or group of people consistently, you become more like friends than co workers.  this is one of the reasons i love reality but it is also the reason for many of our problems.  we are under paid and over worked, many times out of loyalty, as if the show we are working on is a friend’s project.  it’s not.  it is a tv show that some network is putting money up for.  sure their budget may be low but someone is still making a lot of money from it.

10 hour days are completely realistic for the most part.  if the day is planned well, the production organized and well staffed, there is no reason things can’t get done.  how many times have you ended up sitting around for hours waiting for the next segment to be planned or re planned either because they are unqualified to produce, because they are overworked way more than us and held to completely unrealistic expectations, or someone higher than them notices something they don’t like at the very last minute and forces them to change the plan.  story and segment producers are worked to the bone with no regard for hours, turn around or OT.  I think this is very unfair but I also think it’s up to them to get together and change it.  no one is going to offer the change.  i’ve seen more than one story or segment producer literally pass out on set due to long ours, lack of sleep, lack of food all contributing to dehydration and fatigue that can result in illness.  no one is making sure they get fed or rested.  and no one will until they speak up.  we as crew may be known to complain too much in some people’s opinions but that’s how the squeaky wheel gets oil.  you have to take care of yourself in the business.  no one is going to do it for you unless it will cost them money not to.

working anyone, production or crew, without sufficient turn around, food and breaks is a sure fire way to end up with poor morale and a crappy show.  you will not be getting your money’s worth from your crew.  allow the machine to work at it’s best.  smarter not harder.  sure, producers spend a few weeks in the field working crazy hours and  sleep deprived but then they return to the office for post.  we as crew live in the crazy part. all we do is the crazy part,  every single day, meanwhile companies are banging out entire seasons in 3 weeks when it used to take 6 or 8.  when production decides to keep a crew longer than needed  just because “we have them for 13 hours we should use them” it’s a poor management of resources.  most likely the person making this statement has “grown up” in reality and is just doing what someone taught them.  give your crew an early day once in a while to recover and I promise they will return and do a better job for you tomorrow.  if you need to keep them into overtime, have enough respect to ask them.  give them a heads up if a potentially long day is coming.  this is our career but not our life.  we may have a meeting for our next job after work, dinner with a spouse, family in town, kids to pick up.

i know we all got into this business because we like it and have fun but at the end of the day it is a business.  we are here to make a living; to pay our bills.  we provide a skill that is integral to the industry and deserve fair compensation.  at the same time crews have begun to work harder, the number of  EPs and Co-EPs on a show has become larger.  is this why the money has become scarce not only to pay crew but also for equipment?  why do some productions skimp on funds for gear as if it is something we ask for just for fun?   when was the last time we asked for a piece of gear for our own enjoyment?  we as crew request gear in order to do a good job.  in order to deliver a product that is pleasing to the audience and especially our employer/network.  we all just want to be good soldiers and deliver a product that is of the highest quality.  we take pride in our work.  what could possibly be selfish about that?  meanwhile we work harder for less money in order to deliver a good product to producers who under value us.  cut the right corners and you have a beautiful snowflake, cut the wrong ones and everything falls to pieces.

all of this is not to say there aren’t producers out there doing it right.  there are more than a few who take very good care of their crews and appreciate the work we do.  we all have our short list of people we love to work for and will follow anywhere and those we turn to only when we have to.  this “bargain bin” analogy isn’t an attack on anyone; it’s a statement about us.  our lack of cohesiveness and perhaps a bit of insecurity resulting in us under-valuing ourselves.  in the end we all need to work.  we have bills to pay and families to raise.  what we need to remember is to stick together so we can afford to have the lives we want.  i’m not talking about a huge mansion and maid service, i just want to be able to own a house, have a child, send said child to school and not have to work my life away doing it.  is that too much to ask?