Producers' Happy Hour

More IATSE talk about abusively long hours, and unsafe sets. This time through an Instagram account you should all follow called IATSE Stories (@ia_stories). https://www.instagram.com/ia_stories/ Here anonymous crew members can post about their stories about insanely long hours, or unsafe working conditions. The account now has 11,000 followers and is becoming it’s own online labor movement. Check...

IATSE is standing firm in its contract negotiations with the AMPTP. They are seeking to ensure their members better working conditions on movie sets which includes establishing real and meaningful turnarounds, Weekend rest periods, and substantial penalties that will deter producers from skipping lunch breaks. Additionally, they want to end the deep discounts afforded by the “New Media” contract w...

As producers, our job is to ask questions and get sh!# done. Sometimes this leads to us being a bit reactionary. We are confident in our “Why Not?” skills. We push to get permits, we push to get deals, and we push to execute the creative.  But when things are asked of us, sometimes we just react. Our instincts can sometimes be that of just getting the answer, making the request happen, or getting...

Production is changing, and our job as Producers is seemingly becoming more and more challenging. The jobs and projects just keep coming and everyone is working like crazy to keep up. How do you cope with the stress and anxiety of what we do? Today we talk all about our own anxiety and what we are doing to manage it all. Topics: Stress, Work/Life Balance, Anxiety, Support Groups Dive deeper with u...

What is Art Department? Sometimes they are a mystery. We discuss their structure, how they operate, and the culture between Art Department and Production and why it needs to change! Topics: Celebrities, Glam Squad, Pre Production, Talent Management Dive deeper with us on show topics and interview guests, while staying up to date on Industry News and all things that affect our jobs and our industry...

Christian and I fight it out in this episode as we discuss the pros and the cons of Unions. We cover union jobs vs non union jobs, how power corrupts, and all the mess it brings. We also chat about the revised Appendix J in the County of Los Angeles, and how it could bring the end of testing for vaccinated folks in the near future. http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/coronavirus/docs/protocols/...

Havas Studios opens a Worldwide Production Studio which will offer services such as film, audio, print, photographic, and digital content production, as they claim “clients no longer wish to spend a great deal of money on production.” https://www.adweek.com/agencies/havas-is-launching-a-worldwide-creative-production-studio/ Meanwhile, real estate developer David Simon wants to build Echelon Studio...

Working with Celebrities can be an exciting part of our business. But it can also be full of disasters. Today we share our tips and tricks for having a successful shoot with Celebrity Talent. Don’t miss Office Hours with Sister and Lawrence. If you are new to the industry and have a question, or you are stuck in your career and need some advice, reach out to us. We’d be more than happy to have a c...

Working effectively with a Head of Production is more important than ever. Learn from one of the top HOP’s in the industry, Rebecca Davis as we chat about how she interacts with producers, the best traits she sees in producers, and how she views her role as HOP at a top production company. Topics : Head of Production, Working Relationships Dive deeper with us on show topics and interview guests, w...

Remote Jobs are a new reality of filmmaking. Some aspect of on-set connectivity for remote participants is not going away, so learning how the different formats of “remote” jobs or video villages is important. Each type of remote work affects your work flow, and setting yourself up for success in each scenario is important. Topics: Remote Jobs, Remote Video Village, Connectivity Dive deeper with u...

What are the realities of truncated production schedules, tight budgets, and the fact that crews have many jobs to choose from? Today we dive in to all the facts that need to be considered when accepting a job that has less prep time than it should. Including your own capacity to do your best work in today's fever-pitch industry! Topics: Scheduling, AICP, Budgets, Honesty Dive deeper with us on sh...

Let's get back to basics, as we talk about what it takes to get work in 2021. Spoiler aloert... don’t let pride get in the way. Oh, and don't forget to shake the tree! We explain what that means and more in this episode. Topics: Career, Self-care, marketing Dive deeper with us on show topics and interview guests, while staying up to date on Industry News and all things that affect our jobs and our...

We are not out of our slumber yet, but we had to jump in today and talk about the latest news from SAG-Aftra and other organizations who are urging Advertisers to halt commercial production in Southern California. We have reached out to SAG, JPC, PGA, and AICP and we haven’t heard from anyone except the PGA and they declined to comment. Joint Statement from JPC, SAG-Af http://www.jointpolicycommit...

In This Episode: Part Two with Perry Schaffer & Michael Porte of Wheresspot This is our last episode for 2020. What a wild ride indeed. Thanks to our team and our interview guests for keeping us connected to our filmmaking community. We continue our interview with Perry & Michael of Wheresspot.com and we give you the summary of the new AICP agreement with the unions that aims to standardiz...

In This Episode: Perry Schaffer & Michael Porte of Wheresspot Community has never been more important in all aspects of our lives. It's what inspired us to start the podcast even before the pandemic hit. Now we rely on our filmmaking communities to help share information and ideas about working in this new landscape. Perry Schaffer and Michael Porte have also created a community that does exac...

In This Episode: Office PA Karen Lo and more Coronavirus Restrictions Being an Office PA is a thankless job, but an essential element to a smoothly running production office. Today the job has shifted and changed. Working from home, dealing with new safety guidelines, and more. We chat with Office PA Karen Lo about her experience working during the pandemic. New York City to Close Public Schools A...

In This Episode: FilmLA Permit Numbers & New NY Restrictions While Covid-19 cases spike again, NY sees new restrictions. FilmLA permit numbers are less than half they were this time last year. Thanksgiving is around the corner... what does this mean for you and your families? New York to impose curfew on restaurants, bars and gyms as Covid worsens across the U.S. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/1...

In This Episode: And we wait for news on the Election and possible shutdowns. It feels like everything is in limbo as we await the results of the election. As Coronavirus cases increase rapidly, worries of film production shutdowns loom large, but no signs from any Governors that a shutdown is coming. Not yet at least... "Don't Panic. Buckle In": Stacey Abrams Doc Filmmakers on Voter Suppression a...

In This Episode: No Holds Barred Ranting, Production Slowdown, Mental Health and more. Yeah, we get a little bristly in this episode, but working now is more challenging than ever, and self-care and attention to our mental health is also as important. We discuss the challenges of working today, the possibility of a work slowdown in the coming months, the election, no stimulus package, politics, an...

In This Episode: Part Two of our Interview with Bidding Producer Cheri Wilder You may know her as "Bidzilla", but Cheri Wilder is a seasoned bidding producer that has definitely been around the block. We chat with her about how she's pivoted (for the time being) by becoming a Covid Compliance Officer. No better way to learn than doing it yourself! Regal Cinemas is set to reopen 11 movie theaters i...

In This Episode: Part One of our Interview with Bidding Producer Cheri Wilder You may know her as "Bidzilla", but Cheri Wilder is a seasoned bidding producer that has definitely been around the block. We chat with her about how she's pivoted (for the time being) by becoming a Covid Compliance Officer. No better way to learn than doing it yourself! Fate of the Global Movie Business May Hinge on And...

In This Episode: Part Two of our Interview with Agency Producer Karen Jean We continue our interview with Agency Producer Karen (KJ) Jean as we discuss systemic racism in our industry. The head-spinning of messages from the White House has the market doing somersaults, and the decision on a new stimulus package will affect our business. https://adage.com/article/news/rogue-fly-biggest-buzz-vp-deba...

In This Episode: Filming During Covid with Karen (KJ) Jean, Agency Producer We chat with a seasoned Agency Producer, Karen (KJ) Jean, who has years of experience working on major campaigns at the biggest agencies in the world. Today's topic is about filming under Covid restrictions from an Agency perspective. This is only Part1 of our interview. Next week, we discuss systemic racism. IATSE Preside...

In This Episode: Types of Testing Available for Covid-19 The unions have released a Draft version of the new contract for Motion Pictures. PCR testing will be required of all crew members at different intervals depending on which Zone you operate in. Many people aren't familiar with the different types of tests available. We review each category of testing to give everyone a better understanding....

In This Episode: Mental Health in Work & in Life The world is a strange place these days, and as tensions rise, many of us might feel depressed or anxious. It's hard to work at your fullest potential when you are struggling mentally. The U.S. Census Bureau recently reported that a third of Americans show signs of clinical depression and anxiety. https://www.massgeneral.org/news/coronavirus/dep...