As writers' strike ends, NYC film and TV workers reflect on months of uncertainty

Precious Fondren

Published Sep 29, 2023

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A crowd holds signs that say "on strike"

Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin / Getty

Precious Fondren

Published Sep 29, 2023

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In his job as an assistant costume designer on “The Blacklist,” Alex McBean spent the last few days in April wrapping up clothes and preparing for the last days of shooting the show’s 10th season. He made anywhere from $130,000 to $140,000 a year from helping build the wardrobe of the show's characters, plus the additional work to supplement his income.

But when that income dried up during the writers' and actors' strikes, McBean needed to find a different way to make ends meet. He said he spent most of May and June “freaking out” about his finances.

He started working as a personal shopper in August, and has also been seeking a seasonal retail job.

“It’s very hard to translate what I do every day into other industries and other areas,” he said. “I've worked to get to a certain place in the industry and I make a certain amount of money. I can't just overnight switch careers and still have that same yield of income.”

Alex McBean was an assistant costumer on "The Blacklist." He has recently taken work as a personal shopper and has applied for jobs in retail.

Courtesy Alex McBean

Earlier this week, McBean and other New Yorkers who work in film and TV got some good news: The Writers Guild of America ended its five-month strike. And on Wednesday night, SAG-AFTRA, the union representing actors, said it would resume negotiations with the production companies on Monday.

Despite these glimmers of hope, not everyone knows if or when they’ll go back to work. Many crew members said they have had to pivot professionally in order to pay their bills. Some say they’ve felt lost without a career that gave their life meaning, while others have found themselves pursuing employment in unfamiliar industries.

The uncertainty around returning to work forced McBean’s co-worker, Christine Bean, the costume designer for "The Blacklist," to take a job at the Mulberry Bar in Manhattan, where she plans events and parties and also books reservations.

“I'm always excited to learn something new,” she said, “but it does feel like a big piece of my identity is missing, not being able to go to work every day [doing] what I love to do.”

Beyond the financial losses, some said they also lost a sense of purpose that was weaved into their work.

Lucia Shapiro has worked in wardrobe departments for more than 15 years. She's sold her clothing to help pay her bills.

Taylor Giresi

“We're all used to going to work every day and making movie magic and making things appear out of nowhere and getting to really think on our feet and be artists,” said Bean. “And to not be able to do that every day, it takes a toll spiritually.”

Set costumer Lucia Shapiro spent her career dressing actors for big budget movies, but also started a side business making specialty coverup garments that actors wear for intimate scenes.

In order to have steady income, she’s had to sell clothes from her closet and work on independent films that pay half of her normal salary, something she hasn’t done in a decade.

“I wish I didn't have to be cleaning out my closet and selling things or thinking of how to make money when, for 15 years, I've known how to make money,” she said. “That is frustrating because I'm not in control of it.”

Christine Bean, the costume designer on "The Blacklist," has taken a job at The Mulberry Bar in Manhattan.

Yumi Matsuo

Though Bean still doesn't know when she'll return to work, she said she was “overjoyed” about the end of the writers' strike. Still, she remains cautious.

“I cannot wait to get back to doing what I love, [which is] creating characters, collaborating with other artists and creatives,” she said.

Still, she wasn’t quite ready to quit her day job.

“I guess I'm optimistic,” said Bean. “But I am planning on remaining at my position that I have currently until I hear otherwise.”

And with the hope of work resuming soon, McBean felt a new concern.

“I'm just anxious about whether it'll resume in full force, and if we'll all be able to go back to work,” he said. “Or if it's going to be more time spent trying to reach out, interview, call around. The usual job hunt.”

New York Public Radio has a contract with SAG-AFTRA, but our staff belongs to a different branch from the actors and is not involved in either strike.

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