http://btlnews.com/blog/archives/146 A BTL weblog. Mon, 12 May 2008 08:36:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 http://btlnews.com/blog/archives/146#comment-2492 Penny Stames Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:03:29 +0000 http://btlnews.com/blog/archives/146#comment-2492 I am one of the 300 or so Set Decorators here in Hollywood. Our ongoing job situation is that about 30-35% of us are out of work at any one time. Each time we renegoitate our contract we lose something. Truly we make less now than we did 15 years ago when the cost of living in L.A. is factored in. Yes, there are those fortunate Decorators with years of experience who are able negotiate their salaries, turn down work and seem to have a job anytime they want one. I unfortunatly, haven't been able to reach that status yet, and so find myself always sending out resumes, hoping for interviews and calling everyone I can think of for leads. While I am happy for the Writers, I now find my own situation to be one of extreme peril. With one week of unemployement left, no more savings, a canceled episodic and no other job in sight I am facing a summer living in a box on the beach. Well, at least the view will be good! This would have been pilot season, the one time of the year that virtually everyone works, yet where are the jobs? The writers win(?) and the rest of us......... Was it really all worth it, even for the Writers? I suspect not when it is looked at in terms of dollars and SENSE. The entertainment industry is now run by big business and none of us below the line will be getting rich this year, or next, or maybe ever. I am one of the 300 or so Set Decorators here in Hollywood. Our ongoing job situation is that about 30-35% of us are out of work at any one time. Each time we renegoitate our contract we lose something. Truly we make less now than we did 15 years ago when the cost of living in L.A. is factored in.
Yes, there are those fortunate Decorators with years of experience who are able negotiate their salaries, turn down work and seem to have a job anytime they want one. I unfortunatly, haven’t been able to reach that status yet, and so find myself always sending out resumes, hoping for interviews and calling everyone I can think of for leads.
While I am happy for the Writers, I now find my own situation to be one of extreme peril. With one week of unemployement left, no more savings, a canceled episodic and no other job in sight I am facing a summer living in a box on the beach. Well, at least the view will be good!
This would have been pilot season, the one time of the year that virtually everyone works, yet where are the jobs? The writers win(?) and the rest of us………
Was it really all worth it, even for the Writers? I suspect not when it is looked at in terms of dollars and SENSE.
The entertainment industry is now run by big business and none of us below the line will be getting rich this year, or next, or maybe ever.

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