 |
| After a decade editing documentaries, Edward Wardrip is going to law school to try and help fix what he sees as a broken system for workers. Courtesy of Edward Wardrip |
While many parts of the movie and TV business are protected by strong unions, documentary and reality TV workers often operate without those safeguards. That means no guaranteed overtime pay, no consistent healthcare, and little bargaining power in an industry that thrives on their work. My experience trying to unionize my peers is what inspired me to take this leap.
Starting a career in documentary film
I graduated from college in 2012, just as the economy was starting to rebound from the financial crisis. Documentary editing was a dream I mostly worked on PBS-style historical projects, which felt like being back in school and learning something new every day.
My early mentors were seasoned editors living stable, middle-class lives in New York. At the time, that kind of career seemed achievable. But over the years, the landscape shifted. Even though documentary and reality TV production has grown, the benefits for workers haven’t followed suit.
Why documentary workers are left out of union protections
The broader film and TV industry is known for its strong unions, but in documentaries and reality TV, union jobs are rare. Crews often put in long hours without overtime pay or affordable healthcare.
It’s disheartening to open a streaming app, see a documentary you worked on featured front and center, and know that none of the crew members received healthcare benefits.
Traditional industry unions haven’t adapted to the freelance, gig-based nature of documentary work. Unlike scripted series, documentaries are often one-off projects, which makes the standard union-organizing approach flipping one show at a time almost impossible.
That’s why, through the Alliance of Documentary Editors, we explored the non-majority union model, which seemed more realistic for fast-turnaround projects. Our goal was simple: ensure documentary editors and filmmakers could access healthcare year-round, not just when working on major studio productions.
The reality of freelance work
In my career, I’ve only had one union job editing “Spielberg,” the HBO documentary about Steven Spielberg, between 2015 and 2016. The healthcare coverage during that period was excellent, and any issue was handled swiftly by the union. Sadly, that was the last unionized documentary job I’ve seen in nearly a decade.
By 2024, the work had all but dried up. For many documentary editors, jobs were scarce, and I had to burn through my entire retirement savings just to survive. That’s the reality of freelance life no employer contributions to retirement, no guaranteed income, and constant instability.
At 34, I realized I was on a career path that didn’t feel sustainable. Retirement seemed out of reach, and the financial pressure was relentless.
Finding a new path in labor law
Despite the challenges, union organizing gave me a renewed sense of purpose. I became deeply interested in labor law and the fight for worker protections. I began studying for the LSAT at night and on weekends, often surrounded by students a decade younger than me.
The work paid off I scored a 174, placing me in the 98th percentile. UCLA Law offered me the best package, and staying in Los Angeles meant I could keep my apartment and remain close to family.
Fighting for the gig economy workforce
My mission now is to represent workers in the gig economy people who may not fit the traditional definition of “union jobs” but still deserve fair wages, benefits, and protections. That includes Amazon warehouse staff, Whole Foods employees, Uber drivers, YouTube content moderators, and countless others navigating unstable employment conditions.
The modern workforce has shifted, but worker protections haven’t kept pace. I’ve lived the reality of being unprotected in a booming industry, and I don’t want future generations of creative and gig workers to go through the same.
Leaving film was not easy it’s been my passion for over a decade. But if I can help shape laws that ensure workers in every sector, from Hollywood editors to delivery drivers, have access to healthcare, retirement security, and fair treatment, the choice will have been worth it.
