So, I got my start in the film industry and it's gone…weirdly. I've spent my first year mostly as a PA but I've also gotten promoted to a specialist position within the health and safety department and then as a camera operator.
Firstly, the abuse health and safety people get because they have to enforce covid restrictions is DISTURBING. Like everyone hates you and bullies you because you're a PA and you're forced to tell actors, producers, and everyone else “beneath” them to keep their masks on and wash their hands. I've already been groped and assaulted as a result.
Second, after my second breakdown from all that, and trying to confide in my friend that is a bit higher up than me, I was shamed. She tried to flex to me how she tries to educate people about “liberal truths” but then tells me how im a crazy, conspiracy theorist bum because I've heard a lot of coworkers complain about how the film industry unions botched the labor contract negotiations (there was a pay raise and now most productions only make people work 10-14 hour days rather than 12 to sometimes 16 even 18 hour days) and she also implied I'm just not dedicated, she would be completely lost without working all the time, and maybe the horrible things I've experienced are my fault because I didn't tell my supervisor. She made no response when I said I always do, but they have either blamed me or gotten fired when they tried to do something about the toxic environment. She also said me being very ready and willing to quit any job at any time is a bad thing because im not willing to put up with abuse.
Please tell me I'm not crazy! Like there was a very strong vibe like she was making me out to be an anti vax, radical, qanon, conservative because…me not liking working a 12 hour day means I've “fallen back” into my redneck culture (im from Texas and my family are ranchers) and that “clearly” isn't very supportive of minorities and marginalized people because I don't want them to be able to work and have the chance to rise through the ranks of the film industry. (I'm literally within that group in numerous ways and more than her, not that it matters but also it kinda does)