Published: November 15, 2024

Why Hollywood Professionals Struggle to Find Work in and Out of the Industry

By a Movieguide® contributor

As Hollywood continues to falter following the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, many industry professionals are struggling to find employment, in and out of the entertainment industry.

“Between the first quarters of 2022 and 2024 – a period during which the industry suffered two crippling strikes and the bursting of the streaming bubble – employment in California’s film, television and sound sector increased dropped nearly 30%, according to a study by Otis College of Art and Design. “, The Hollywood Reporter wrote. “This year, production levels are still lagging behind their pre-strike peaks: location filming in the Los Angeles area during the third quarter of 2024 fell more than 36% compared to the five-year average for the same period.

Deadline reported that “the Los Angeles County Film Permits Office said this was the region’s second slowest summer period, with industrial production and employment continuing to fall below expectations set during of the post-Covid streaming bubble era.

LEARN MORE: HOLLYWOOD PRODUCTION CONTINUES TO SLOW DOWN

Additionally, layoffs are ravaging the industry; Deadline reported as The CW, ABC News, Disney, Paramount, Fox, Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN and many others have laid off employees across all divisions.

Many industry workers turn to jobs outside the industry to be able to get between gigs, but even that isn’t a guarantee.

Sidnee Lewis-Avila, a production manager with 24 years of experience, was interviewed for a stock position at Whole Foods and asked, “What happens if you get a call for a show or if the industry is rebounding?

“They are afraid that I will give my notice and that I will bounce,” she says. explain at THR.

Beth Kushnick, a set decorator, took on interior design jobs between her film and TV gigs, but says she missed “a really big job back East.”

“They were afraid I was going to see a movie,” she said.

Many industry workers are getting creative with their side jobs, dabbling in photography, career coaching, and podcasting.

Alexis Walker, makeup artist and host of “The Hollywood Second Act Club” podcast, however, has high hopes for the future.

“I think you’re going to start to see a lot more inspired actions as people become more aware of the present moment and what it means to them,” Walked explained.