Anyone else a telly freelancer? Career has disappeared

[GooseGoldenEgg]

Or can anyone else relate?

I am (was) a pretty successful TV producer. Worked continuously most of the time the last 15 years. Things got tricky around the pandemic and haven't really recovered for me. I was working on successful shows, had a fulfilling and fun career and was paid pretty well, most years earning between £50k and £75k.

Pre pandemic I bought a one bed flat within M25. Life was good.

Now I have been unemployed for over a year. Working bar shifts when I can get them. I'm 40 and a single woman. I don't think I can afford to keep my flat for much longer but if I sell and use the money to rent that will only buy me so much time and I'll be left with nowhere to live. Lots of my friends and other colleagues from the industry are in the same position. They're all just temping.

I've tried thinking about transferable skills but can't seem to get anywhere certainly I'm not going to be able to earn what I once took for granted. Along with the financial aspect my self worth, social circle and a large part of my identity has gone.

If I could warn young people I'd say don't go into a freelance industry. Don't know where to turn next, don't have the money to retrain. Is this it now? This industry seems shafted by budgets, streaming giants and I can't see it ever going back to what it was. So now I'm going to work minimum wage jobs if I'm lucky enough to get one until I retire?

I'd imagine the biggest issue within television is a much reduced budget among the broadcasters. Nobody wants to watch adverts and we all know how to avoid as many as we can now, so the advertisers are looking at different formats. You then have the BBC where more and more people ar refusing to pay the license.

I'd suggest retraining and possibly moving to a cheaper area.

Yes I agree with this - the company I’m at makes HETV and choice of producer is signed off by commissioners. We’re always looking for v experienced drama producers because of the scale of budgets now, so it wouldn’t be possible to go straight into one of those roles. But I do think the pathways are there - eg someone who is a StepUp co-producer on the first series of a lower budget show would then v much be in the running to produce the second series. And from there to be considered for a first series / a higher band show.

She works in a different area of media than you but Liz Fraser is a HUGE advocate for women and has loads of contacts. Perhaps contact her via IG @lizfraser1

Just read an article about TV production people relocating from LA to albuquerqe, the Netflix studios are there. People selling up, leaving the expensive cities to move to the newer production locations.

Its a global trend.

Resurrecting this old thread. @GooseGoldenEgg (or anyone else in the same position!) have you been able to make a move?

I am in the same position, looking for work and wondering what is next. If anything!

I don’t work in the industry but we locals noticed that in The production setup on location ..near by big studios …. Nearly everyone working was very white middle class! Must have been 60 on set filming days!!! Apart from security was local ethnics…. And also Actors all ethnic though…the local area SE london very diverse.

Yes it is very middle class. I'm not though, which is part of the problem - as my work has dried up and there's no generational wealth to fall back on!

Look at the charity sector. Lots of transferable skills, you can project manage and particularly in fundraising where charities manage DRTV and digital content. Charity jobs.org.uk it’s not nearly as well paid as what you were earning before but tends to be very good for flexible working and benefits.

Meant to say my DH works on the editing side. Got laid off last year as all the programme budgets were cut back. He’s now freelancing on commercials. But says that producers are generally young and inexperienced so I think you’d be very lucky to maintain the same pay as it does seem that budgets have been cut right back and places are employing cheaper/ less experienced staff.

Civil Service comms.

Look at the Government Communication Service website.

I was in a similar boat some years ago. I moved my skills into marketing and earn the same amount as you mentioned above and I’m not in London. So I’m sure you defo have transferable marketing skills.

TV/Film Production is a dead industry.

Networks can't compete with streaming and scheduled programmes are not something anybody under 30 has the patience to wait around for. Even cast and crew will be gone within the next ten years.

Animated features were once considered a novelty but are now mainstream, by 2035 movies with "real" cast will become a marketing tag.

We invented ourselves into oblivion when it comes to entertainment.

It won't be 2035, it ll be 2026. It's happening now.

My DH has now got a full time job as an events/fundraising coordinator for a local medium sized charity. He loves it & actually lots of his TV skills have been transferable. It doesn't pay very well, but it's enough & at least it's secure.

He is also doing a bit of stand-up comedy for fun, which satisfies the entertainment side of things.

It is SUCH a terrible time in the TV industry. Around 250 more out of work TV professionals going to be looking for work come January thanks to the absolute bloodbath at ITV this week.

What happened at ITV?

Listen to the Rest is Entertainment podcast with Richard Osman and Marina Hyde. They explain it well.

Filter the search criteria for media and comment jobs in different sectors as you have lots of transferable skills:

https://www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs

https://www.womeninfootball.co.uk/jobs-and-courses/

higher education support comms/media roles

https://www.kickitout.org/job-listing

https://www.powtvstudios.co.uk/

https://lfs.org.uk/who-we-are/jobs-at-lfs

Agree look at PR and Comms agencies - once you’re a couple of rungs up the ladder you can get paid good money.

Loads of charities and big institutions also want events and press officers all the time. Look on W4MP, Guardian jobs, civil service jobs and charity/third sector jobs websites.

Also, look at digital media and communications agencies. Widen your search criteria and you'll find most sectors need media professionals in some capacity.

well Richard does. He explained it exceptionally well. Not going to lie, I am really disappointed that Marina didn't do some background checking before podcasting about this particular subject. She may have written for TV but she knows little about the whole production process, viewing figures etc and a fair fews things she said were factually incorrect.

DS had a promising start but there has been nothing for him since, so he's taken an entry level job in another area because a person needs a roof over their head.

Hi OP, I'm in TV too (Production Management / doc. side). It's so dire, and like you say - I can't see it getting any better. People just don't watch as much TV - scrolling has taken over. I imagine it'll go the same way as radio, eventually.

It's sad as more than the job itself I love the people - the creativity and openness. Not sure what other industry to shift to, if it comes to it...

Hi yes also a TV freelancer in my 40's had a reasonable last 15 years but this last year has been truly awful. Ive gone back to temping in events because waiting for the phone to ring doesnt pay the bills. Im so sorry you're going through this as well. If you need any support or someone just to whinge to please DM me.

It’s shocking for people in front of the camera, as someone who has a solid CV, work opportunities don’t exist like before, unless you’re an influencer, the pay is dire and equity has lost its clout so it doesn’t stop the decline all around . Would love to know how to get round it