IATSE Renews Battle Against Grueling Production Hours Amid Rising On-Set Accidents

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) announced an agreement in recent hours, but few details are known about the new contract that will regulate labor relations between studios and crew and post-production workers for the next three years. Certainly, one of the biggest concerns for the union’s 170,000 members is workplace safety.

The talks came on the heels of multiple tragic incidents, highlighting the deadly consequences of prolonged production hours. In December, a woman working on Peacock’s upcoming series Hysteria! died in a car accident after a grueling overnight shoot. Her death, initially unreported, marked the beginning of a series of on-set accidents making headlines. In February, a crew member on Marvel’s Wonder Man fell from a catwalk and died. In April, a stunt-gone-wrong on Eddie Murphy’s Amazon film The Pickup injured several crew members. The most recent incident occurred in May, when Rico Priem, a seasoned grip, died after a 14-hour production day on the set of 9-1-1. Priem’s death, caused by sudden cardiac dysfunction attributed to his pre-existing condition of cardiomegaly, underscores the severe health risks of extended work hours. Sources close to Priem and the production suggest that his death was a direct result of the immense stress and lack of rest.

Deadline has spoken about the issue with crew members across the country. One Atlanta-based worker said, “[The studios] focus on physical dangers of the job, but the most dangerous thing is the overworking.” Lengthy production hours, such as the “Fraturday” shifts that extend into Saturday morning, have become common. These shifts, often following another long day with minimal rest in between, contribute to a cycle of exhaustion and increased risk. The current IATSE contract mandates 10-hour rest periods and 54-hour weekend turnarounds, but these rest periods often include commute times, further reducing actual rest. Despite these regulations, studios frequently schedule longer hours, citing the need to complete complex stunts and maintain production timelines. “The financial penalty for violating rest periods, though intended to deter such practices, is not really a penalty. It’s just something they can budget around,” adds an L.A.-based crew member. Obviously, it is more cost-effective to pay for the overtime or the fines rather than add an entire day of production.

Crew members argue that substantial wage increases and stricter penalties are necessary to combat the pervasive culture of overworking. The workers “behind the entertainment” – to quote IATSE’s motto – must hope that in the agreement reached with the majors and streamers, there will be more attention to safety. The focus remains on achieving a balance between production demands and the well-being of the workers who bring these projects to life.

SOURCE: https://deadline.com/2024/06/hollywood-crew-deaths-labor-talks-contract-1235981265/