Forum Post: Occupy the Entertainment Industry

Yesterday's rallys were AMAZING and INSPIRING. I represent a group of struggling Performing Artists who've begun a movement in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street called Occupy the Entertainment Industry. Please like and share our Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/OccEnt and help us all take our livelihoods back. Below is some of our mission statement:

"To paraphrase Jay-Z, "99% are having some real problems and the richest 1% have none". Where is there a better microcosm for our Country's increasing wealth inequality, lack of career advancement/opportunity, shrinking middle class and general pervading culture of corruption than in our beloved Entertainment Industry?

If you're an actor, director, playwright, screenwriter or musician and you're NOT a household name, related to one, or already working on Broadway, TV, in mainstream Hollywood Films, or selling out venues, then you've no doubt felt the dramatic, debilitating changes that have occurred within the Entertainment Industry during this long Recession, changes that have taken a HUGE bite out of earnings, cost people to lose their Union health coverage (which, ironically, became harder and more expensive to get), and overall have stalled chances for many to move up in their chosen field. For these reasons, you should ask yourself whether you REALLY have the chance to succeed today given how things are. If you were active in the Entertainment Industry prior to the collapse, then you know the answer: not likely. You should then ask yourself how YOU can affect positive change in the world YOU know. Change has to begin somewhere, and where better then your own backyard, pavement you pound, stomping ground, work and/or out-of-work place.

At Occupy the Entertainment Industry, let's attempt to take our passion, our art AND our careers back, so we can start moving forward again, because enough is enough, and there SHOULD BE enough work to go around in this industry (if it's thriving as much as we see and hear it is). This isn't about "it's not fair", it's about what IS fair. The Hollywood Dream = The American Dream, and we're in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street movement. We were told that Entertainment was the industry that wouldn't be affected by the economic downturn, remember? Well, at first it looked like that might be the case, but then all of a sudden the doors closed to many, and they've remained shut. There are FAR too many unemployed and underemployed talented individuals out there. Reality programming and the like was supposed to be the killer of recognizing and allowing new and true talent in the door, not a recession.

It's high time we Occupy the Entertainment Industry and REdirect it. It would be awesome to rally the troops and join forces with Occupy Wall Street, but we cannot wait for the Celeb contingent to lead us. What have they to fear, being blacklisted? Please. What have they to fight for? US, and maybe they will, as they surely have a voice that goes along with their wealth and opportunity, but we need to make ourselves heard for ANYTHING to happen. To quote Occupy Wall Street: "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem."