Production designer Dave Blass wrapped his last big project, filming the Paramount+ series “Star Trek: Picard” in Toronto in 2022 before the Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA walkouts hit last year. Even now, almost a year after those strikes ended, the two-time Emmy nominee for “Justified” says Hollywood’s production designers, set decorators and their crews still have little work. “I’m just trying to stay positive and get through this,” says Blass, 55, adding that others are far worse off.
“Most people have been hanging on by their fingernails, and they’re running out of fingernails. I know Emmy Award winners who are driving around delivering auto parts.” To pay bills, Blass has taken short-term graphic design gigs and sold autographs at “Star Trek” conventions.
He is taking lessons to become a FAA-licensed drone photographer for real estate listings. “It’s like you’re starting from scratch,” he says. As a member of what is broadly known as the art department — production designers, set decorators, art directors, graphic artists, illustrators, model makers, scenic painters, construction crews and more — Blass belongs to the vast pool of below-the-line talent who do not earn profit participation or residuals.
Nevertheless, during the 2023 strikes, these artisans picketed in solidarity with the writers and actors who continue to make money after the final frames are shot. The hourly workers (with rates that start around $40 an hour) and flat-fe.