Interview with a Member of Production Assistants United

AvA: How do you think the culture of the next generation of Hollywood is changing?

Anon: I think there are a few major changes happening at once. First of all, "following your dream" is now prohibitively expensive. Looking around me, it's becoming apparent that most people who are able to stay in the game are those who can afford to. The rest of us are working that much harder and longer, often doing multiple jobs at once, in order to afford our places in this generation and keep our dreams alive.

But also, with the current labor movement in the United States, I think the next generation is becoming more familiar with their rights as workers (and US citizens, for that matter), and more comfortable demanding them. Courageous people are speaking up, and abuses in the industry have been brought to the public eye. Our understanding of our rights, in addition to public knowledge of the transgressions of those in power, empowers us to reject fear in favor of forming community and organizing. 

AvA: What made you feel now was the time to organize?

Anon: The time to organize is always now, but the need to organize is more urgent now than ever as the Trump administration threatens workers' rights every day. We urgently need to cement our rights and create more difficult conditions for them to be robbed from us. 

I also feel deeply that change on a global scale starts with organizing on a small scale. Looking out for each other starts with your local community, which often includes co-workers. In a time of such stark division, it also feels important to find common ground with fellow Americans. To me, this common ground is our collective rights as workers. It's a priority for so many of us, whether you're talking to a MAGA republican or a leftist. I think honest conversation and meaningful change can be born from this movement. 

I think it's important to say that we're very lucky that our organizing campaign is so strongly supported by the Entertainment Union Coalition - IATSE, Teamsters, Laborers, SAG, WGAW, AFM, and the DGA. It cannot be overstated how valuable this support is for a group demanding recognition, which helps the right time to be right now.

AvA: How did the sentiment on PAU evolve over time during the campaign?

Anon: One thing I've noticed in my time spent organizing is that an effective tool that keeps workers from unionizing is lack of information. Many people don't know how labor unions work, and this enables a culture of fear mongering around organizing and unions in general. From my experience, once people learned about PAU and what a union really is, they were absolutely elated to join the fight.

AvA: Do you have any advice for other production assistants out there?

Anon: My advice for PAs and assistants is to listen, learn everything you can, work hard, find genuine friends in your co-workers, look out for each other, know your rights, watch The Pitt, and reach out to Production Assistants United. 

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