When Passion Becomes
Pressure in Film
09/October/2025
Over the past few years, there has been an increased focus on mental health in the workplace, with a focus on fostering a positive work environment and promoting a healthy work-life balance. However positive and important these changes are, they often focus on those working in offices, rather than those in industries where things like hybrid working and flexible hours are simply not feasible. This is the case for many working within the film industry, especially those working on sets.
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If you’ve ever been on a film set at 4 am, shoulder-deep in gear, caffeine barely working, and deadlines looming, you’ll know what I mean. With the average workday lasting 10 to 12 hours, it can easily become overwhelming.
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The 2024 Looking Glass Survey found that 87% of people working in the UK film and TV industries have experienced a mental health problem, compared to 65% in the general UK population. Alarmingly, 30% reported having suicidal thoughts in the past 12 months; this can’t continue.
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The film industry celebrates grit, sacrifice, and long nights; hard work is essential, as good things rarely come without it. But balance is also important because without it, the long hours and high stakes can lead to a mental health crisis that’s rarely acknowledged. For young filmmakers, those hoping to break in, it’s a tricky tightrope walk between proving your commitment and burning out before you even begin. Especially as we are a generation that more openly acknowledges the importance of protecting our mental health.
Everyone talks about passion in film, and passion is a crucial element in achieving your goals in film. However, passion alone doesn’t compensate for lost sleep, frayed relationships, or health consequences like:
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Physical toll: exhaustion, irregular eating habits, and sleepless nights. Your body starts to complain.
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Mental toll: anxiety, persistent self-doubt, “Am I doing enough? Am I good enough?”, guilt over saying no.
In the UK film & TV industry, more than 1 in 8 workers report working over 60 hours a week, and 60% of people say they rarely feel relaxed.
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These levels of fatigue don’t just happen by accident; they have sadly been built into the job's structure. Unsurprisingly, those from less privileged backgrounds are hit hardest by this. Why?
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If you don’t have a safety net, you can’t afford to turn down work for a mental health break or to have the peace of mind that if you don't find another film job for a couple of months, you’ll be fine.
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If you’re trying to break in, you may feel you can’t risk saying no. Every small role, whether unpaid or low-paid, feels like a chance. However, when those roles come with 14-hour days, no rest, and huge stress, the cost becomes very real.
This links closely to what I wrote in 'The Need for Trainee Programmes.' One reason those programmes matter is that they can offer a structured, supported entry into film, with clearer expectations, mentorship, and safer working patterns.
Some work conditions make the stress worse, compounding the risk to mental health.
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Unpredictable schedules: One week you’re shooting sunrise, the next you're waiting for location permits. Sleep patterns get smashed. Life offset is dislocated.
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Tight budgets and unrealistic expectations: People often cut corners when trying to deliver ambitious projects with limited resources. This can mean taking on extra responsibilities, receiving less support, and facing increased pressure.
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Isolation: Working long hours, away from home, missing family and friendships. Creative work may be collaborative, but the journey can feel lonely.
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The comparison trap and “always-on” presence: Social media, festival buzz, and mirroring others’ success can make you feel like you’re always behind, always catching up.
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So, why should we talk about it more? Because if more of us burn out, the industry loses more than individuals; it loses the people who create the stories that keep the film industry alive.
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Loss of diversity: Those already excluded by privilege, finances, or geography will be first to bow out when pressure builds.
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Homogenised storytelling: When only those who can bear the stress survive, the kinds of stories told shift toward what those who endure can produce, not what those who leave would have brought to the table. It is vital that film tells stories that reflect all walks of life, the good, the bad, the beautiful, and the twisted.
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Reduced innovation: Burned-out creatives don’t experiment; they play it safe. The safer filmmakers play it, the flatter and more bland the storytelling landscape will become.
We need practical reforms, not just platitudes. How could it look, and what can we do to create a more supportive and safer environment for everyone working within film?
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More structured trainee and apprentice programmes: We need proper entry routes that actually support individuals with paid placements, realistic working hours, and mentors who care about both well-being and output. It’s like The Need for Trainee Programmes, but with genuine mental health support built in.
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Budget for the unexpected: Shoots can go wrong, leading to late nights, transportation issues, and people burning out. There should always be a small buffer for things like taxis home, decent meals, or even a quick counselling session when stress hits hard.
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Be clear from the start: Everyone should know what they’re signing up for, such as hours, expectations, and workload. Being upfront avoids the “hidden pressure” that creeps in when things aren’t spelt out.
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Stronger peer networks and safe spaces: People need somewhere to talk, share the load, and know they’re not alone in feeling it. Whether it’s a WhatsApp group or a proper support scheme, connection makes a real difference.
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Fair access and fair pay for all: Stress hits harder when you’re already struggling to make ends meet. Paying people properly and opening up access to those without connections isn’t just fair, it keeps the industry healthier and more creative.
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If you’re reading this, trying to make films, trying to stay passionate, here are some small but important tactics:
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Prioritise your off-set downtime. Even rest days are real days.
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Learn to say no respectfully. It’s easy to feel like you have to say yes to everything when you’re starting out, but ask yourself if this job will be too much to handle with your current workload. Boundaries aren’t failure.
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Talk about it. With a producer, director, a colleague, a friend, or someone else. You’re not alone, even if it feels that way.
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Keep a “stress log” or journal. Note when things feel overwhelming: what triggered it, what helped. This can help you spot patterns.
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Lean on your community. Other filmmakers, friends, support groups. Even the smallest vent or shared frustration helps.
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The film industry is full of beauty: of stories yet to be told, of crews that become like a second family, of voices worth hearing, and many of us joined for those things. But passion shouldn’t require self-destruction.
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Mental health isn’t just a checkbox or a “nice to have.” It’s central to sustainable, creative work. It affects who stays in the industry and who walks away. It affects what stories get told and who gets to tell them.
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We need film culture to value health as much as hustle. To redefine what success looks like, not just the late nights and perfect shots, but also the well-rested crew, the balanced life, the sustained career.
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