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Apropos of some recent news, some thoughts for fellow TV creatives...
I’ve had the great fortune to work with actors who, in the course of our adventures, got pregnant.
Is it a curveball? Sure. Is it all that different from the billion other things that force a change? No.
I’ve had the great fortune to work with actors who, in the course of our adventures, got pregnant.
Is it a curveball? Sure. Is it all that different from the billion other things that force a change? No.
But most importantly: is it somehow fundamentally different from every other industry that employs women, and has learned to adapt?
No it is not.
And if you are a boss worth your salt, it is incumbent on you to know proper labour practices. And deal.
No it is not.
And if you are a boss worth your salt, it is incumbent on you to know proper labour practices. And deal.
On a show, you obviously have a choice how to make room for the new physical realities of your employee and creative partner.
On one show we shot around it, because a baby wouldn’t work for the character at that time.
On one show we shot around it, because a baby wouldn’t work for the character at that time.
On another, by embracing it (with the permission and involvement of the actor) we were able to expand our show’s scope and overall storyline in ways we NEVER could have planned. It was a gift. That’s TV. You make every unforeseen event fit. That’s the job.
As for the proper reaction when an actor shares this news with you, here’s my suggested response:
To the actor: “That is amazing!! If you want to continue, it’s our job to make it work. Just let us know if we ever put you in a risky situation, so we can change immediately.”
To the actor: “That is amazing!! If you want to continue, it’s our job to make it work. Just let us know if we ever put you in a risky situation, so we can change immediately.”
To your production team - “Do we try to work a pregnancy in, or do we find creative ways to maintain the fiction of our world? Let’s have some fun figuring it out.”
To your execs: “We have a plan. We are excited to execute it. We are all 100% behind our actor, and can’t wait to meet the new member of our extended family.”
And that’s what you do, in my experience. Yeah, Maybe you whine about it to your friends or writing team, because writers whine about any change.
Then you get to work, follow labour codes, and be a decent human being.
Or... find another gig. We’re not going back. Thank God.
Then you get to work, follow labour codes, and be a decent human being.
Or... find another gig. We’re not going back. Thank God.
Addendum: I learned this from watching the examples of @StephM0rg, @MarkEllis_TV, @tassiecameron and @lovretta. Do your job well, and it will carry forward. As it must.
