I would also argue that the times, they are a changin’… there’s a lower tolerance for shitty behavior now as opposed to before because of the sheer volume of creative talent that has flooded the zone. The gatekeepers / decision-makers have their pick of the litter and - all other things being equal - why WOULDN’T you hire a “kind person” over a “big personality”?
Yep. I worked much of the final two seasons on "Will & Grace" during its initial 8 year run, and the 1st AD on that show was absolutely one of the best I ever saw on set -- and he was also one of the nicest people, period.
Then there are guys like Joe Pytka -- about whom stories of bad behavior are legion, including breaking the arm of an agency guy during a lunchtime game of pickup basketball, and nailing a hapless PA in the head with a perfect-spiral football throw as the PA was walking across the set -- but who has fat resume of highly successful commercials with a trophy case full of Clio awards. I never had to work with him, but know several crew people who did, and yes, they were all paid a lot more than the rest of us, because they had to be. He was famous for being a brutally confrontational asshole with a mean streak. Then there's Michael Bay -- again, I never worked for him, but every story I've heard about how the man treats people on set has been ugly.
So that's Hollywood -- so long as you make the suits buckets of money, they'll put up with your shit ... but as soon as you begin to slip, look out.
I would also argue that the times, they are a changin’… there’s a lower tolerance for shitty behavior now as opposed to before because of the sheer volume of creative talent that has flooded the zone. The gatekeepers / decision-makers have their pick of the litter and - all other things being equal - why WOULDN’T you hire a “kind person” over a “big personality”?
Yep. I worked much of the final two seasons on "Will & Grace" during its initial 8 year run, and the 1st AD on that show was absolutely one of the best I ever saw on set -- and he was also one of the nicest people, period.
Then there are guys like Joe Pytka -- about whom stories of bad behavior are legion, including breaking the arm of an agency guy during a lunchtime game of pickup basketball, and nailing a hapless PA in the head with a perfect-spiral football throw as the PA was walking across the set -- but who has fat resume of highly successful commercials with a trophy case full of Clio awards. I never had to work with him, but know several crew people who did, and yes, they were all paid a lot more than the rest of us, because they had to be. He was famous for being a brutally confrontational asshole with a mean streak. Then there's Michael Bay -- again, I never worked for him, but every story I've heard about how the man treats people on set has been ugly.
So that's Hollywood -- so long as you make the suits buckets of money, they'll put up with your shit ... but as soon as you begin to slip, look out.