Part 6/11:
Beyond the economic considerations, Gibson expresses concern for the countless below-the-line workers—the crew members, set caterers, grips, and support staff—whose livelihoods are collapsing. These people are integral to the industry but are bearing the brunt of the industry’s shift. Gibson laments the loss of small businesses that serve the film community, such as restaurants and dry cleaners, which rely heavily on the influx of industry workers.
He poignantly describes Hollywood as resembling a ghost town, reminiscent of Detroit’s post-industry decline. Even iconic venues, like certain family-owned restaurants where the cast of Star Trek would gather, have closed permanently due to economic pressures exacerbated by the industry’s migration.