I work 15hr shifts 5-6 days a week. We often go into over time. My longest shift was about 26 hours, my longest work week was 119hrs. We don't work at a fixed location, it's typically around 45mins driving, but aometimes as much as 2 hours. There is absolutely no job security and it's an incredibly competitive business. Sometimes there are low points where you don't work for a few weeks, sometimes months. (Almost) everyone js expendable. If you get sick, or die (usually car crash fatalities, but last year one of my coworkers slipped in the bathroom. I probably lose an average of 1-2 coworkers a year), you'll be replaced the same day. But don't worry, there's a mental health hotline set up for you that you'll probably be to be too busy and tired to call. Management will say a bunch of bull like “You have the right to refuse unsafe work”, and It's true they can't fire you for it, but in a month or so, when the production is over, they won't be hiring you for the next one.
My job responsibilities include:
Parking – making sure our crew parks in the designated spots, and that the public do not park in our rented spots. This is more challenging than it sounds.
Security/Safety – monitoring and flagging/conning off the site for potential hazards. Ensuring the crew is utilizing any nessessary PPE.
Traffic Controll: both pedestrian and vehicles.
Garbage: distributing cans, removing litter, disposing of garbage.
Public relations: Answering any questions the public may have about the production. As well as making sure the crew comply with all rules and regulations. Any complaints about the production are directed to my department.
Prep/Wrap: Setting up barriers to prevent crew/public access to off-limit areas, protecting any valuable/vulnerable locations from damage (laying down carpets on floors, cardboard on walls, bubble wrap over glass, plywood over soft grass, etc.) Putting up signs, and helping the crew navigate the location. Also setting up rain cover, heaters, air conditioners, water stations. The tables and chairs for the lunch room, typically a hundred seats or so daily.
Management: I've been in charge of crew's of upwards of 60 people. This includes hiring, assigning roles and duties, paperwork, scheduling, payroll, arranging breaks, the works.
Fall Guy: Practically anything that goes wrong is my departments fault. If YOUR department doesn't stash their gear where I tell them to, it's my fault. If crew smoke where they're not supposed to? Also my fault. If another department leaves garbage behind, or doesn't obey the rules, or park where I tell them to? My fault.
The benefits package is pretty good, and the production provides snacks and meals…. i spend $0 on food mon-fri (sometimes sat and/or sun) The pay for this position? Minimum wage. It used pay a couple dollars per hour more, but minimum wage has gone up so much since our contract was re-negotiated that it's higher.
Why do I do it? I can't make rent without 7 hours of overtime pay. I can barely make rent WITH 7hrs. of daily overtime, rent is about 1/2 my income. My mom helps pay my rent when work is slow. Despite all the responsibilities the job offers a lot of down-time that I can read or, write, or play games, or whatever. It's both the hardest job, and the easiest job I've ever had. It varies from day to day, but it's usually not very hard.
I'm a Key Production Assistant with the locations department in the Film+TV industry. Im a member of the DGC union. I've worked for most if the big media companies in the last 15 years, Disney, Netflix, Amazon, Paramount, CBS, NBC, etc. Working in film can be pretty cool, but brushing my teeth and taking a shower when I get home from work shouldn't put my life at risk. I've fallen asleep at the wheel before. It would be nice if I got paid enough that I didn't need help paying my rent, while others at the same job, doing less work, are making millions. Ive worked as an actor, and i can confidently say they are over paid. Actors are important sure, but saying 3 words on camera should not hold the same value as working hundreds, or thousands of hours on the other side of it.