Behind the Scenes Burnout: What’s Fuelling It in Film & TV — and How to Break the Cycle

Burnout. It’s a word we all know, but we rarely stop to ask what’s actually causing it. If we did, we might just figure out how to fix it.

"Here’s the thing: burnout isn’t one problem—it’s a storm of many. Long hours, unclear expectations, last-minute changes, poor communication, toxic dynamics—the list goes on.

And yet, most solutions only treat one symptom of burnout. It’s like prescribing flu meds for a broken arm—the fix doesn’t match the real problem.
When burnout is oversimplified, so are the solutions. A production might cut hours thinking it’s about long days, but if the root cause is poor leadership or a lack of psychological safety, the real problem continues.

The real question isn’t just how do we fix burnout? It’s how do we identify what’s causing it in the first place?

The Escalation Effect: Tiny missteps in clarity lead to major inefficiencies
A small miscommunication in pre-production can spiral into major delays on set. Without clear direction, teams spend valuable time scrambling for answers instead of executing with precision.
Fear of speaking up leads to avoidable mistakes.
When cast and crew don’t feel safe speaking up—about safety, schedules, or workflow—problems don’t get fixed, they stack up. By the time leadership sees it, the damage is already done.
Burnout is not just a personal issue—it’s a production issue
The industry treats it like part of the job. It’s not. A great production isn’t just about getting it done—it’s about teams who feel supported and set up to thrive.

When people feel safe on set, they speak up. Open communication builds trust. Trust reduces errors, fuels camaraderie, and unites the team around a shared goal. That kind of environment doesn’t just boost performance—it helps prevent burnout, the ultimate creativity killer.