Movies

Aspiring screenwriters struggle to break into shrinking industry. ‘It shouldn’t be this hard’

BBG News

Since the start of the year, Brandy Hernandez has applied to nearly 200 entertainment jobs.

A 22-year-old alumna from film school, currently employed as a receptionist at the buying office of Ross Stores in downtown L.A., shared that for many job applications she submitted, there was no response, not even a rejection. When she did manage to secure follow-up interviews, it was typically followed by being ignored (or ‘ghosted’).

Hernandez, who completed her studies at the USC School of Cinematic Arts in 2024, understood that immediate fame as a screenwriter wasn’t likely for her. However, she believed that she would still possess the qualifications necessary to secure an entry-level position in the film industry.

“It shouldn’t be this hard,” she kept thinking.

Movies

As I look back on the tumultuous year of 2024 in the world of cinema, I find myself reflecting on the resilience and dedication of Hollywood’s unsung heroes – the crew members. A year marred by production slowdowns, mental health challenges, and selfless sacrifices, they have shown an unyielding spirit as they prepare for a fragile recovery.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing a significant decrease in production across many industries, the comeback of the entertainment sector has been postponed by not one, but two major Hollywood strikes, some of the most expensive wildfires California has ever seen, and a general shrinking of the industry.

In an effort to save money during these turbulent times, studios swiftly reduced lower-tier roles, which have traditionally been entry points for newcomers.

Ryan Gimeson, a graduate from Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts in 2023, during the initial phase of the writers’ strike, expressed a sense of being deeply affected, almost as if he was under some sort of misfortune, by saying: “You almost feel like you’re jinxed.

As a passionate cinephile, I can’t help but notice the brutal competition in the realm of screenwriting. Veteran filmmakers have confided that the landscape has seldom been as challenging for budding scribes like myself.

Over the last forty years, I’ve never encountered anything as disruptive as what we’re witnessing now,” stated Tom Nunan, the founder of Bull’s Eye Entertainment and an instructor at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.

Television

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‘Traitors,’ ‘MasterChef,’ ‘The Mole’: As more reality shows move abroad, the jobs leave too

With reality TV facing a decline due to reduced Hollywood production, crew members are expressing their sadness over the disappearance of job opportunities caused by ‘runaway production’, cost-cutting measures, and consolidations.

In the world of TV scriptwriting, the scenery tends to be particularly barren, as suggested by a recent report from the Writers Guild of America.

The 2023-2024 television season, marked by strikes, experienced a significant decrease of approximately 42% in available writing roles, according to the report. A large portion of these reductions, around one-third, affected less senior positions.

It’s a far cry from the TV business Liz Alper broke into 15 years ago.

In the early 2010s, Alper, a writer-producer based in Los Angeles and co-founder of the fair treatment movement for industry workers #PayUpHollywood, emerged during a time when there was still an abundance of opportunities in scripted TV production.

For example, The CW was airing around 3 original one-hour shows every day, which equates to approximately 18 to 21 unique programs each week. This resulted in a need for 100 to 200 positions for staff writers.

Hollywood Inc.

The TV station group aims to make the network more compatible with its local newscasts.

In recent years, the surge of streaming platforms has primarily functioned by luring cable viewers away, favoring binge-worthy on-demand shows over traditional episodic programming, and reducing job opportunities for writers in the process.

As a film enthusiast, I’ve noticed an interesting trend: Due to the scarcity of job opportunities, many entry-level workers have found themselves staying put longer than they once did. A recent #PayUpHollywood survey from 2021 revealed a striking fact – most support staff are now in their late twenties, which is significantly older than the average age a decade ago.

Without those employees moving up and creating vacancies, recent graduates have nowhere to come in.

Alper stated that having a job might make you feel like you’ve secured one of the precious lifeboats aboard the Titanic, and you’re determined to hold onto it.

Hollywood Inc.

For Subscribers

Behind the stunning job losses in Hollywood: ‘The audience has moved on’

Following last year’s work stoppages by performers and scriptwriters, the entertainment industry in Los Angeles has been finding it challenging to recover, as there has been a decrease in production, employment opportunities, and ticket sales at the box office.

The entertainment industry is experiencing setbacks due to the move of many productions away from California, a region known for its expensive costs and minimal tax benefits.

A proposed law that increases the state’s film tax credit to 35% of eligible expenses (from the current range of 20-25%) is awaiting approval, having received unanimous support from both the Senate revenue and taxation committee and the Assembly arts and entertainment committee. Advocates maintain that this adjustment is crucial for California to stay competitive against other states and countries in attracting film production. State legislators have emphasized this point as well.

Meanwhile, young creatives are questioning whether L.A. is the place to launch their careers.

Hollywood Inc.

Last year, on-stage occupancy dropped to 63%, compared to 69% in the previous year, as indicated by recent findings. Additionally, the number of shooting days on set in 2023 saw a decrease, according to the same report.

24-year-old Peter Gerard recently relocated to Los Angeles from Maryland, having decided two years prior that the time had come to pursue a career in TV writing. Having earned a degree in data science from the University of Maryland, he felt this was his final opportunity to follow his dream.

Shortly after his arrival in L.A. in April 2023, he secured several job interviews and developed optimism about a few of them.

Then the writers guild went on strike.

“I came moments before disaster, and I had no idea,” he said.

Hollywood Inc.

Prior to the Writers Guild of America issuing a call for a strike, the masterminds behind popular series like ‘Shrinking,’ ‘The Last of Us,’ and others convened to deliberate on the current condition of the entertainment industry.

In the downtime, Gerard found ways to keep busy by creating independent movies, enrolling in writing workshops, and expanding his collection of works. He expressed contentment without a permanent job, believing that Los Angeles would ultimately help him succeed.

30 years ago, the “cosmic dance” resonated deeply with writer-producer Jill Goldsmith when she made the decision to quit her job as a public defender in Chicago and venture into TV writing. After enduring six challenging months in Los Angeles, fortune smiled upon her when she encountered “NYPD Blue” co-creator David Milch at a Santa Monica chocolate shop. Impressed by her script, they bought it, granting Goldsmith her first credit in 1998.

As a film enthusiast, I’d put it like this: In the UCLA MFA program, where I teach, I always tell my students that these golden chances to shine in the industry only knock when you step out and take the initiative to seize them.

However, Gerard pondered over his aspirations for success after witnessing veteran writers lament about lost jobs and the fading grandeur of L.A.

He expressed sympathy towards them, yet it also dawned on him, in a sense of amazement, “Wow, there are many individuals eager to pursue this, and many of them seem to be ahead of me, yet they haven’t accomplished anything.

Hollywood Inc.

For Subscribers

We checked in with Hollywood writers a year after the strike. They’re not OK

Writers for film and television, regardless of their level of expertise, are finding it difficult to secure employment in Hollywood following the strikes, as the entertainment industry undergoes a period of contraction.

In her writers’ room, Lore V. Olivera, who is just 26 years old and the youngest member of the team, frequently listens as her older colleagues reminisce about the past, often referring to it as the “good old days.

“I think they’re definitely romanticizing a bit,” she said, “but there is some truth in there.”

In the year following her graduation from Stanford University in 2023, Olivera secured her debut staff writer position. The path was simple: her representatives emailed sample works to a showrunner, who appreciated them, she had an interview and clinched the job. However, Olivera noted that such swift success tales are uncommon.

She expressed that she had an exceptionally fortunate break, she mentioned. However, being hired isn’t the end goal, she emphasized, it’s merely a brief respite from the continuous search for the next opportunity.

Hollywood Inc.

In the realm of the entertainment industry, as explained by The Los Angeles Times, the role of a TV writer is to craft engaging and captivating stories for television shows. To become one, you’ll typically start with writing spec scripts (samples of original work) based on existing TV series. As you progress, you might get opportunities to write for lower-budget or web-based productions, eventually aiming for a breakthrough in network television.

To move up in the industry, networking and persistence are key. Attend industry events, join writing groups, and never stop honing your craft. Building a strong portfolio of work can help you stand out and attract the attention of producers and showrunners.

As for earning potential, it varies greatly depending on factors such as experience, job title, and the success of the show. Entry-level positions like a staff writer may start at around $50,000 per year, while more senior roles like a showrunner can earn six or seven figures. Keep in mind that these numbers can change significantly based on the specifics of each project and the TV market.

In her current workspace, Olivera is the lone staff writer; her peers hold more senior roles such as editors and producers. This situation arises, she explained, due to the fact that showrunners are often under pressure to appoint established professionals who have a track record of producing successful shows, given the scarcity of available positions.

Olivera mentioned that not all 26-year-olds were getting hired some years back, but even her older contemporaries concurred that the industry had lost its earlier sense of opportunity or potential.

Olivera remarked, “It’s incredibly disheartening when you arrive and realize, ‘It seems like a few tough years lie ahead, and there’s even a chance I might not survive,’ she said. This isn’t due to my abilities being exceptional or poor… it’s merely because the industry is so stagnant and reluctant to take risks.

Entertainment & Arts

Over the past few months, an extraordinary body of folklore has sprung up in artistic communities regarding Los Angeles.

2023 graduate Jolaya Gillams, formerly of Chapman’s Dodge College, expressed that her fellow graduates were brimming with raw talent. However, she pointed out that the industry has yet to provide a platform for their skills to shine.

Contrarily, studios seem to be investing heavily in remakes rather than fresh content, according to a 24-year-old, despite the fact that audiences appear to be craving original productions.

Gillams expressed his wish for a time in cinema when there’s an abundance of innovative, modern concepts and diverse viewpoints, encouraging us to listen to the voices of our contemporary generation.

Until then, the filmmaker said she’ll continue to create work for herself.

In the midst of the labor actions, I, along with a shoestring budget production team, miraculously produced the short documentary film titled “Sincero.” This heartfelt piece of work earned the prestigious Audience Award at the 2023 Newport Beach Film Festival. As I persistently seek a distributor for this docu-drama, I am already immersed in another creative project, eager to share its story with the world.

Movies

Filmmakers Joe Burke and his frequent partner, Oliver Cooper, are known for creating independent films with minimal budgets. Their latest production, titled ‘Burt,’ is brimming with emotion but currently lacks a distribution deal.

Directors Joe Burke and Oliver Cooper often make low-budget indie movies. Their new movie, called ‘Burt,’ is filled with warmth, but it doesn’t have a distributor yet.

Exhausted by the endless abyss of job applications, I find myself, just like Hernandez, pouring my energy into breathing life into my own projects. In an idyllic scenario, these creations might find a home in film festivals, and perhaps even secure me representation from an agency. However, what truly fuels my passion is the sense of pride that comes with each piece I complete.

“If I’m successful in my mind,” said Hernandez, “I’m content with that.”

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2025-05-05 13:40

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