Had a roommate in college who had connections in Hollywood. To even join the union, you had to know someone, or know someone who knew someone. He was able to join the union in NYC and made huge (for me at the time) money for just a few hours of work shooting advertisements. I think he did stuff like focusing cameras and clicking the board at the beginning of the shoot.
Once you got into the union, it didn’t mean you got work. Work was handed out based on seniority, but you did get the chance to work.
Best paying work I ever had was at the rate of $1200/hr. I completed it in 5 minutes and made $100.
Yeah, and it’s a huge dog eat dog world too- everyone betraying everyone to get ahead- no thanks- the majority of people will fail- some will get rich- it’s just like gold prospecting- almost all will go broke trying, a few will get rich- but those that do will have to invest everything over and over again- taking massive risks- knowing it could all come crumbling down-
It’s a hard hard life unless someone is super talented, hard working, and gets lucky being discovered-
But like the starving artists said “I paint because I must”- Art just has a way of infecting a person- The smart ones realize their limits, and drop out and pursue other career choices, OR recognize their own talent (If they are truly talented), and keep at it and give it a shot, succeed or fail-
The infection of art is a terrible thing- and only a rare few are actually good enough to become legends-