We Weren’t Meant to Go Through This Alone

On Isolation, Connection, and Why Community Still Matters

If you’ve worked in the motion picture industry long enough, you know the rhythm: waiting for the call, the long days, the compressed timelines, the sudden dry spells. It’s a life of motion, momentum and sometimes, abrupt stillness.

And lately, that stillness has been deafening.

Production slowdowns continue to hit hard across the sector. Even seasoned crew, folks who usually bounce from gig to gig, are telling us they haven’t worked in months. Some are patching together side work. Others are just... waiting.

When the work slows down, it’s not just our finances that take a hit. It’s our routines. Our confidence. Our social lives. Our sense of identity.

We get it. Because the Calltime Committee members are living it and hearing from members about it too.

The Invisible Weight of Disconnection

We’re talking more now about mental health in this industry and that matters. But sometimes we forget to name one of the most common contributors to distress:

Disconnection.

When your phone’s not ringing, when your feed is full of people “thriving,” when the days blur together and the world feels like it’s moving without you, it’s easy to spiral.

You start to wonder: Am I falling behind? Am I being forgotten? Is it just me?

The truth? It’s not just you.

We’re hearing this across departments, across unions, across experience levels. Disconnection doesn’t discriminate. And in a sector that runs on camaraderie, collaboration, and being part of something, it hits hard.

Social Media Isn’t a Substitute

When you’re not working, scrolling can feel like connection. But let’s be honest: most of us leave social media feeling worse, not better.

We compare. We doomscroll. We drown in bad news, industry panic, and highlight reels that make everyone else seem booked and busy.

Meanwhile, you’re on your couch, wondering what you’re doing wrong.

Let’s call it what it is: isolating.

We weren’t meant to rely on algorithms for belonging. We were meant to be in community; a messy, real, and imperfect community.

Why Connection Still Matters - Even When It’s Hard

We know reaching out isn’t always easy. Especially when you're feeling low or unsure of your place in the industry. But the science (and our own lived experience) says this:

• Just one meaningful connection - one honest conversation, one shared laugh - can shift your day.

• Social isolation is a risk factor for burnout, depression, anxiety, and substance use.

• We’re not wired to go through uncertainty alone.

Connection doesn’t have to mean a big night out. It can mean:

• Texting a crew mate just to check in.

• Saying yes to a coffee or walk.

• Starting a group chat with your team from a past show or gig.

• Replying when someone posts that they’re struggling.

• Reaching out even when it feels awkward.

These moments add up. They remind us we still belong.

What We Can Do for Each Other

One of the best ways to care for your own mental health right now? Help someone else feel seen.

We all know someone who’s quiet lately. Someone who hasn’t been on set. Someone who’s usually the life of the truck but hasn’t posted in weeks.

Reach out.

You don’t need the perfect words. You don’t need to fix anything. A simple “Thinking of you; how are you holding up?” can go further than you think.

And if you’re the one needing that message? This is your sign to send one out. Let someone know where you’re at. You deserve support too.

You're Not Alone (Even If It Feels Like It)

We want to be clear: this isn’t just a “tough it out” season.

This is a hard, prolonged stretch, and many of us are feeling it in waves: financially, emotionally, mentally. And those waves don’t always line up with whether you’re working this week or not.

That’s why we keep saying:Community is not a luxury; it’s a lifeline.

It’s how we stay grounded when everything feels up in the air.It’s how we remind each other who we are, beyond job titles or last credits.It’s how we remember: we’re still part of something.

Final Word: You Still Belong

You don’t need to be on a hit show.You don’t need to be hustling 24/7.You don’t need to have all the answers.

You just need to know this: - You matter. You’re not forgotten. You’re part of this community.

So if you’re struggling, reach out. To a friend, to your union, or to a community resource.

And if you’re doing okay, check in on someone else.

This is how we make it through. Together.

Resources:

Get the Free Guidebook: Creating a Peer Support Circle for Film Workers available as a downloadable  PDF here. 

Free & Confidential Mental Health Support

Don’t forget: If you're a unionized motion picture worker in BC, you (and your family) have access to mental health services through your union benefit plans and through CalltimeMentalHealth.com.

Let’s take care of each other out there.

We weren’t meant to go through this alone.