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DarthRisk t1_j7sfu9d wrote

Reply to comment by IRMacGuyver in How the NFL avoids paying disabled players — with the union’s help by washingtonpost

This tracks. My sister worked there in the mid-2010's and when I'd go to the studio you wouldn't know it was the NFL by the size of the place as it wasn't very large. I'd assume a lot of their employees that do the gameday stuff at stadiums (photographers and such) are independent contractors.

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joelluber t1_j7swrhu wrote

Even if they're not independent contractors, they would be employees of the individual teams not the NFL.

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randy24681012 t1_j7te6gd wrote

Or even just employees of the stadium

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joelluber t1_j7tj2un wrote

Realistically, a combination of team employees, venue employees, and employees of various subcontractors like Aramark and Allied Universal.

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Reading_Rainboner t1_j7ul9de wrote

Even the broadcast crew probably has 2-3 different payrolls going on

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ElDeguello66 t1_j7uthhy wrote

Many, many, freelancers. Most of the steadicam and jib operators you see in the periphery of a sporting event own and operate those rigs, or work for very small specialized outfits that do.

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Reading_Rainboner t1_j7uua0r wrote

Yep. And the core crew gets traveled in on corporate payroll, the skycam is on one, local professional crew is on a different one and then, the less skilled laborers are on their own one.

Saves companies assloads of money and none of these positions get benefits like they did 40 years ago when they had to be hired on.

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joelluber t1_j7w830c wrote

GameDay finds local crew by putting up fliers in the theatre, film, and journalism departments at the schools they visit. Might be different if the venue has an IATSE contact, though.

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IRMacGuyver t1_j81ey8i wrote

I worked at a stadium. I worked for a contractor and was not directly employed by the team. In fact only a few of the teams even own their own stadium. They just lease them most of the time. Even then the ones that are owned "by the team" are mostly owned by the owner of the team and held as separate business entities from the team itself so even those aren't owned by the team.

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BadAtExisting t1_j7t6wwc wrote

Can confirm. Independent contractors. Some week to week, some for the entire season depending on the specific job. Payed by the team in the city they work in (locals are hired for all but the talking head jobs)

ETA: I work in broadcast adjacent scripted TV/film but have friends who do sports broadcasting. As it would turn out, if you want to travel, golf is where it’s at. Not just anyone can find a golf ball hit off the tee with a super long lens and keep it in frame (even when jumping from one camera to the next it’s tough). A good friend of mine is a NFL camera operator for Tampa Bay Buccaneers home games

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XerAlix t1_j7tu9m2 wrote

Ah yes good old independent contractors, apparently not exclusive to pro wrestling but just as carny

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BadAtExisting t1_j7vhx98 wrote

I mean, it’s the nature of the beast. When I’m working on a show, I’m an employee of that production company until the movie or season is over (4-6 months for a full run) then I’m on to find the next one. Many of us who work in these careers, that’s one of the perks of the job. I have the freedom to do a TV show or a movie or a commercial or a music video. I run with several circles of guys but rarely do I have the same coworkers from show to show. I like that, but it’s absolutely not for everyone

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jw8815 t1_j7uer0m wrote

NFL Films isn't the NFL, they are a media company that came to agreement to license the NFL for their company. The NFL is really just an arbitrator for a group of companies that work together.

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