EP 501: Crew Power - What We Can Do To Save Hollywood?

Hosts Jeanette Volturno and Marcei Brown delve into the pressing challenges facing the indie film industry, grounded in their personal experiences and observations in the current production landscape. Broadcasting from Atlanta, the duo reflects on their unexpected relocation due to frustrations with California's tax incentives, highlighting the adaptability required in today's filmmaking climate.

At the core of this session is a call to action for crew members to recognize and harness their power in navigating the industry's bureaucracy. Jeanette emphasizes, “We can't wait for studios or Sacramento to fix this; we want the crew to know that they have more power than they think.” This sentiment encapsulates the episode's objective: to empower crew members and encourage them to advocate for necessary changes within a fragmented system.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Need for Flexibility: The hosts stress the importance of flexibility within union contracts to accommodate the unique challenges indie producers face. Marcei notes, “There can be some flexibility in some of these contracts… it doesn't have to be so traditional.” They propose that unions and film commissions need to adjust to promote workplace inclusivity and opportunities for growth.

2. The Importance of Industry Dialogue: As they discuss their ongoing efforts to establish a low-budget Teamster agreement, Jeanette insists, “If there was a real true negotiated low budget agreement, more people would be working.” This reflects a need for open communication between the various stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of crew members voicing their needs in town halls and meetings.

3. Challenges of Tier Structures: The hosts explore the complexity of tier structures across different unions, which they argue create inequities among workers. Jeanette points out, “None of them are on the same playing field.” They advocate for a more unified approach to negotiations that would allow all crew members to work fairly and to streamline the budgeting process for indie projects.

4. Embracing New Talent: The conversation shifts to addressing the evolving nature of production roles, as new technologies undergo rapid advancements. Marcei highlights the need for unions to adapt to these changes, stating, “These kids that are up and coming... don’t know why they would want to be in the union.” This indicates an urgent need for a modernization of union frameworks to attract new members and ensure that the industry remains relevant.

5. Engagement as Action: A defining moment in the episode is the call to action — encouraging listeners to engage with their unions and be proactive. “Call your local business agents,” they implore, urging industry members to share their stories and concerns to spark meaningful discourse.

The takeaway? Both hosts agree that sustainable change in Hollywood will come from collaboration and an unyielding spirit within the crew community. As they conclude the session, Jeanette encapsulates the essence of their discussion: “All we want to do is make movies and take care of our friends and film family.” This episode serves as an essential reminder to all crew members about the power of collective voice in shaping the future of the industry.

For those seeking to dive deeper into these topics or share their own experiences, Jeanette and Marcei invite listeners to connect via email at [email protected], making it clear that ongoing dialogue is vital in their mission to revive Hollywood.

Stay tuned for more insights and discussions in upcoming episodes of Catch A Break Podcast.