The Journal. Hollywood Jobs Are Disappearing
64 snips
Nov 10, 2025 
Ben Fritz, an entertainment industry reporter for The Wall Street Journal, and Thomas Curley, an Oscar-winning sound mixer known for 'Whiplash,' discuss the alarming decline in Hollywood jobs. They delve into the impact of production cuts, increased competition, and shifting viewer habits. Thomas shares his personal struggles with lost work and financial uncertainty. Ben highlights how labor statistics reveal a 40% drop in productions and explores the lasting effects of recent strikes. The duo contemplates the bleak future of the Hollywood workforce.
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Oscar Winner's Sudden Career Halt
- Thomas Curley won an Oscar for Whiplash and then secured long-running TV work like Yellowstone and CSI Vegas.
- After the 2023 strikes and subsequent cancellations he went months with no work and faces mortgage forbearance.
Plan For Longer Downturns
- Workers historically relied on patience and savings during slow periods to wait out downturns.
- Ben Fritz implies industry participants should expect deeper, longer downturns and plan accordingly.
Streaming Bubble Shifted Studio Strategy
- The streaming boom created a massive surge in TV production that fueled Hollywood jobs.
- When subscriber growth stalled, studios shifted from growth to profitability and cut production sharply.