The Crew Always Saves the Day
🌟Career Coaching: What "The Studio" Gets Hilariously Right.
A few nights ago, I started watching The Studio, the new Apple TV+ satire about a cinephile-turned-studio executive who can’t seem to decide whether he wants to make high art or high-performing IP. It’s sharp, chaotic, absurd. And somehow, not that far from the truth.
What struck me wasn’t just the show’s Emmy-hogging brilliance or its technical chops (the entirety of Episode 2, “The Oner,” appears to be a single continuous shot that captures the collective panic of trying to nail a golden hour scene before the sun disappears). What struck me was this: the only characters who consistently keep their cool are the below-the-line crew. The ones not chasing clout or acclaim. The ones wearing utility belts instead of pricey loafers.
It reminded me of a production I worked on a couple of years ago. We were shooting on a ranch outside of LA, mid-summer, high heat. The kind of shoot where the horizon shimmers and your sneakers feel like they’re melting into the dirt. The crew was working like pros, but we were all fading. And we were wasting precious time on an elaborate effect I knew would end up on the editing room floor. Tempers were flaring. Morale was waning.
Then our production coordinator showed up with freezer-fresh cooling towels. No announcement. No drama. Just quiet distribution, one icy towel at a time. Minutes later, our crafty came around with watermelon slushies that were, no exaggeration, the most refreshing beverage in human history.
That one-two punch changed everything. No speech. No team huddle. Just grace under pressure, executed with precision and heart. We rallied. We wrapped.
The Studio really reflects the fundamental truth that the ones who hold a production together—regardless of budget—are so very often the crew. They’re always there, solving problems the rest of us haven’t even noticed yet.
It’s tempting to think the people with the biggest titles are the ones in control. But if you’ve spent any time on set, you know that the camera only rolls because someone remembered the sunscreen, tracked the light, dressed the actor, reset the props, charged the walkies and kept the gaffer from quitting. And usually, none of those people are in above-the-line jobs.
So here’s the take-away: don’t just notice the crew (and give them a wrap party). Learn from them. Be the one who keeps calm when the director flips out and the producer parks their car in the wrong place. Be the one with a backup plan. And a backup for the backup.
This industry rewards vision, sure. But it relies on the people who quietly keep things moving, one continuous shot at a time.
P.S. I’m Trying Something New. Want to Join Me?
After years of helping creatives successfully navigate the entertainment industry, I’m testing out a new live workshop. And because it’s new, it’s currently free.
The workshop is happening Tuesday, July 29th at 12 noon EDT.
Click here to check it out.
If it feels like a good fit, please apply. Let’s see where this new thing takes us!
