Will Smith Music Video Picket Ends After Union Agreement
Updated: 12:36 p.m. — A music video shoot featuring Will Smith in Los Angeles sparked a brief but intense labor dispute on Friday. The conflict started when the production team initially refused to recognize union representation. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) organized a picket, which ended after the union and producers reached an agreement.
Union Dispute Disrupts Will Smith’s LA Music Video Shoot
Will Smith arrived at Quixote Studios in West Hollywood on Friday morning to film a new music video. However, IATSE Local 80 disrupted production by staging a picket, demanding recognition and fair benefits for crew members.
Crew Members Removed After Union Request
Dejon Ellis, IATSE Local 80’s business manager, stated that the production dismissed around 20 crew members after the union formally requested recognition on Thursday.
“Firing the crew escalated the situation. That was not cool,” Ellis said.
Stephen Trivieri, president of Breathe Entertainment, countered that only 10 crew members chose not to show up on Friday under union pressure. However, Ellis refuted this claim, stating the company instructed the workers not to report.
Inside the Non-Union Production Setup
Trivieri clarified that the video’s independent financing and non-union structure provided transparent and fair compensation.
“While this music video features a globally recognized artist, we independently financed and produced it outside major studio or label support,” he explained.
Trivieri also mentioned that some crew members wanted to vote against union recognition, but IATSE didn’t allow a vote.
Union Pushback and Los Angeles Labor Norms
Ellis emphasized IATSE’s commitment to flipping non-union productions into union status, especially in Los Angeles.
“Los Angeles is a union town,” Ellis said.
The union’s picket even persuaded some replacement crew members to walk off the set after learning about the dispute.
In LA’s entertainment industry, productions often start as non-union but shift to union status under IATSE’s push for fair benefits like health and pension contributions.
Resolution Reached: Picket Concludes, Crew Returns
By 12:36 p.m., both sides confirmed that they had reached an agreement. The union called off the picket, and the original crew members — about 10, according to Trivieri — returned to the set.
“The union opened up a dialogue that led to an agreement,” Trivieri said.
A Broader Industry Context
This incident highlights a wider industry trend where low-budget or artist-driven productions try to bypass union structures but face organized labor action. Similar scenarios have occurred in other high-profile projects, including the Oscar-winning film Anora, which also flipped mid-production.
Though the situation at this shoot has resolved, it reinforces a key reality in Hollywood: labor representation remains a non-negotiable force, even in independent creative spaces.
Read the original article on Variety
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