It looks easy because they work hard.
People tend to think of working in entertainment as a dream job and it is if you are willing to put your ego, social life, and sometimes sanity aside and dedicate yourself to the craft.
That show people enjoy watching may look like everyone is having a blast. A host is laughing it up with the guests. The crew looks calm and jovial when the camera swings to them. Stars appear to be the best of friends. However, what they are not seeing is the incredibly high-stress environment that exists before and during each taping or broadcast. The cast and crew work incredibly long hours under unreasonable deadlines to make sure the final product appears smooth as silk. Even the slightest deviation from what the viewer expects can cause an eruption on social media capable of costing dozens of people their jobs.
Stressful environments can impact the best of us.
Every month or so there seems to be a headline capturing tirade from a Hollywood A-lister, which immediately draws the ire of the masses, judging them for their overreaction to a seemingly frivolous situation. “So what, they were in your light.” “So what, they weren’t social distancing.” “How dare a producer raise their voice to a subordinate”. Of course, no one should have to exist in an abusive work environment, but the concept that the entertainment industry is a stressful environment is hardly a secret. One can’t get an internship without being warned that they are likely to be on the receiving end of a tantrum one day.
As people sit in judgment of an industry in which they have never worked, they simply fail to consider that if they were placed under similar circumstances, they too may have a bad moment. Although they may later realize their reaction didn’t require the volume or colorful language they chose at the moment, they still would have reacted simply due to the incredible amount of stress they were under at the time.
It’s like family!
Overall, the culture of the entertainment industry is similar to a family dynamic. People are forced to spend many hours and ultimately bare their creative souls to others they may not like, but share a common goal. Sometimes things go too far and authority figures are forced to step in and separate abuse from normal reactions to stress, all the time balancing the family dynamic and trying to do what is best for the project. They don’t always get it right and sadly, people can get hurt. However, the risk may be worth it, as being part of a team that ultimately brings happiness to others can make one feel rewarded beyond comprehension.