Hollywood writers weigh how much they're willing to sacrifice in industry downturn

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Why it matters: The entertainment industry is in a period of contraction, and the workers left to bear the brunt of the crunches have struggled mightily. In particular, those lower on the totem pole have had to weigh just how much they’re willing to give up to hold onto their Hollywood dreams. Even for those who make it to the big leagues, like a newly-elevated staff writer, bills and dues keep them yearning for stability.

Not all it’s cracked up to be: After years of being an assistant and a support staffer, this writer finally caught the big break everyone in those situations hopes to receive. But the first-year writer’s take-home pay isn’t so different from what they’d been making after you subtract the $2,500 Writers Guild of America initiation fee and manager/agent/lawyer commissions. If you add it all up, that’s $25,745 as a support staffer and $32,928, pre-guild fee, as a staff writer. The almost 28% increase looks good on paper, but is not enough to make a material difference.

The impact: Because they can barely hold their head above water, they’ve had to skip doctor’s visits and anything else where they can save enough to last until their next gig comes by. Strawberries feel like a forbidden luxury, and their commitment to sustainability — which some, including this writer, view as an ethical necessity for the sake of the planet and not a luxury — creates psychic anguish as this person has to choose between their values and their career choice.

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This story is published in partnership with The Ankler, a paid subscription publication about the entertainment industry.