Sometimes it ’s all just green goddess and mirrors .
When you hear “Hollywood,” it might conjure up glittery images of beautiful actresses,iconic movies, and the infamous Hollywood sign. But everyone knows Hollywood has its dark underbelly — from money-hungry executives, rampant substance abuse, and exploitation.
So, if you’ve worked in the film industry – whether in craft services, as talent, or behind-the-scenes as an assistant — what are the unknown, unglamorous realities about the industry that most people don’t understand?
Maybe you’re a film editor, and while most people understand it can be a highly competitive industry, many don’t realize justhowcutthroat it is. It took you 20 years to get where you are, grinding through low pay, long hours, and endless criticism just to build a name for yourself. “Paying your dues” is a very real, unfortunate reality where abuses thrive.
Perhaps you’re a former actress who left the industry because of the relentless beauty standards. You knew the standard was high, but didn’t expect the constant pressure to alter your appearance just to keep up. You were tired of upholding an ideal that most celebrities only maintain through expensive procedures and surgery. Everyone, even the celebrities who seemed effortlessly natural, had work done. It was all an illusion, and you knew it.
Maybe you’re an intimacy coordinator, and the most surprising thing about your job is how many actors don’t want you in the room. At the end of the day, it’s your job to ensure a safe environment and advocate for those who need you in the room. Without you, you do believe many sets have a high risk of harm.
Or perhaps you’re a personal assistant, which means, naturally, you’ve seen it all. You’ve pampered an A-lister’s dog with a haircare routine better than your own, gotten screamed at over a lukewarm latte by a C-lister, and spent entire days working without so much as a glance or ‘thank you.’ You’ve watched stars you once admired be cold, rude, even cruel. But you’ve also seen the surprising good side — the shy and bookish A-lister, or the world-famous actor who insisted on learning your name and asking how your day was. In Hollywood, the masks come off behind closed doors, and not always in the way you’d expect.
Sometimes it’s all just smoke and mirrors.
