Reality TV Drama in Real Life

It’s not exactly big Hollywood news but I just sort of feel some empathy for the guy. The headline says Terence Howard is out of Iron Man 2, and of course we could expect that he’s as baffled as he is upset. He just lost a job, duh! So what exactly happened? What voted him out of the island and what made the others stay? That’s just one of the many mysteries of being in show business. There’s actually some Reality TV drama happening in this “real world”. It’s pretty much like Fashion as Heidi Klum puts it – “…one day you’re in and the next day you’re out!”

I received my “Auf Wiedersehen” from my former dance variety TV show sometime in June this year and it felt like every inch of being eliminated in an actual competition. Ouch! Don’t ask me why. I have my own conclusions. They have their official reasons. Bottom line: No bridges were burned. That’s more important. In situations like this, though you smile while saying your obligatory (and heartfelt) gratis, of course you can’t help but feel sad. If there’s one thing that makes me thankful about it is the fact that at least I was already aware of this possibility. It was no shocker. It’s just showbiz. Suck it up!

As a freelancer, I know I don’t exactly have legal claims on my labor rights. So getting this kind of pink slip is definitely way different from let’s say a regular bank employee who gets fired after a considerable number of years in the company. However, security wise, I still suggest that it is indeed more practical to be regularly employed. Freelancing is only for the Fearless! (And for those who really can’t keep regular hours and can’t swallow office bureaucratic and corporate B.S.)

Just this week, a couple of my friends were downhearted to learn that their shows at QTV will be cancelled before the year ends. It was like getting their version of “The Nightmare before Christmas.” Even my own music magazine show at TV5 already wrapped up its first and probably LAST season. Too bad. Anyway, I wasn’t really expecting anything more from that show. It was already a blessing to have written 7 of its episodes. The salary I got from that show has been saved up for Christmas. That’s all that matters now. My financial state in 2009 will be revealed in… well… 2009! Let’s just wait and see! Sigh…

The Entertainment Industry is so volatile. I really wonder why I’m here when it’s ruthless and heartless. Toink! Well maybe because I didn’t want to end up in a bank, or a call center, or any office cubicle for that matter. The idea of spending 9 hours of my daily life inside a building just doesn’t sit well with me. I was a regular employee at MTV for several years and even though my job was dynamic and I wasn’t tied to my desk, I still got burned-out. I loved creating and working for the brand. Dealing with office politics (yes we had plenty of that even at MTV), conniving colleagues and egoistic bosses was what I loathed. Hmmm… sounds like that would make a good Reality TV show, don’t you agree?

So you wonder how do we freelancers survive month after month? How can we even plan for our future when we don’t even know where our next pay check will come from? Tough, huh? The performers and the directors of course have it way much better because even though they can have sporadic gigs, their fees never go down the 5 digit mark per episode or per appearance. It’s already a personal problem if they still find themselves in dire straits despite the money.

On the other hand, writers like me and other production staff who are also not regularly employed must sell their souls to the devil first if they want to rake in enough dough to sustain them during the zero project months. However, I refuse to sell my soul to the devil. Just because I need work doesn’t mean I am willing to be a slave.

Unfortunately in this business, talent won’t give you tenure in your job. More often than not it’s about who you know. So thank God I’m friends with a handful of influential people. Hahaha! Kidding aside it’s really a callous profession. It’s hard to make real friends. In my entire career, the genuine friendships I’ve made in this industry can only be counted with my fingers. For me that’s SAD and SAFE at the same time.

Getting a gig in the freelance world of entertainment definitely feels like being in a Reality TV Show. At the end of the day, it’s a popularity contest. Either buy those text votes or simply charm the judges. Tough world!