The Art Directors Guild has put a hold on their Production Design Initiative for the year because 75% of the IATSE local’s members are still unemployed more than six months after last year’s Hollywood strikes.
A memo sent to people interested in the program, which offers training and job opportunities for people who want to work in production design, explained that it wouldn't be right to encourage them to join the profession when so many members are out of work.
In a memo first published by IndieWire and available to read in full below, the ADG cited the “serious downturn in current employment opportunities for our membership” as the reason for suspending the program, which places applicants looking to get a foothold in production design work in jobs as assistants in films, TV shows, commercials, live events and theme parks, among others.
The memo stated that over 75% of members are out of work and many haven't had a job for 18 months. Because of this, they decided it wouldn't be right to encourage new people to join the profession.
People at IATSE have said that many members have been without work since before the Writers Guild of America strike in May 2023.
Members are worried that the lack of jobs is causing skilled workers to leave Hollywood for other fields since the strikes have used up their money and made it hard to afford living in places like Los Angeles where a lot of movies and TV shows are made.
Before the strike, there were fewer productions as studios expected a work stoppage. Even after the strike ended last November, jobs have been slow to come back as studios have cut their production spending to try to make their streaming services profitable.
The memo said they hope the situation is temporary and plan to start the program again in 2025, and suggested that applicants should keep working on their portfolios and networking with potential employers.
The PDI suspension also comes as IATSE is in the midst of the most critical stage of its contract bargaining process with Hollywood studios. Through April, the 13 West Coast IATSE locals, including ADG, met with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) to discuss craft-specific issues in the contract.
Now IATSE is negotiating the key issues in the contract, including contributions to the Motion Picture Industry Health and Pension Plan, which is expecting a $670 million shortfall through 2027 due to the drop in productions. Other major issues such as wages, turnarounds and regulations over the use of artificial intelligence will also be on the table.
TheWrap has reached out to the Art Directors Guild for further comment.
Read the memo in full below:
Dear PDI Applicants,
Because of unprecedented events in the entertainment industry, we have to stop reviewing all PDI applications for the 2024 calendar year. We understand this decision may be surprising and disappointing for many.
Since COVID-19, our industry has been going through significant changes. The decision to suspend the 2024 PD Initiative is because there are very few job opportunities available for our members, both in North America and worldwide. Currently, more than 75% of our members are without work, with many being unemployed for 18 months or longer.
As a result, there are even fewer chances for employment in the entertainment industry at this time.
Considering this situation, we cannot in good conscience encourage you to pursue our profession while so many of our members remain unemployed. This is due to a variety of factors, including the 2023 strikes, the ongoing 2024 labor negotiations, and a major shift in the entertainment industry as it looks for new business models for content creation and distribution. We hope this is a temporary situation and we plan to restart the PD Initiative in 2025. If you're still interested, you can reapply at that time.
In the meantime, we recommend working on your portfolios and enhancing your skills. Also, this decision doesn't prevent you from directly contacting current and future productions and their designers if you see an opportunity for employment as a Production Assistant within their art departments.
Most importantly, stay informed and continue to expand your personal networks. We are considering hosting a webinar for our PDI community, including you, to discuss our current situation and its future trends. We will update you once we have a confirmed plan, date, and designer panelists.
Sincerely yours,
The ADG PDI Leadership Team
