And… We’re Rolling (Again): Trust, Crew Love, and the Indie Comeback Tour

By Scott Gardiner - reelpeoplehr.com

Independent production companies are a breed of their own. Lean teams. Tight budgets. A relentless hustle to get projects

greenlit, staffed, and shot—often all at once. But after the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, even the most battle-tested indie shops are facing a new kind of challenge:

How do you rebuild trust and culture… when your "team" is mostly freelance?

The strike didn’t just pause productions. It exposed fault lines in how we treat the people who make our work possible. Crew, cast, and creatives walked off—not just for higher pay and job security, but because too many felt expendable.

Now, as cameras roll again, independent producers have a unique opportunity to lead not with size, but with intention.

Indie Leadership in a Post-Strike Landscape

You may not have a full HR team. Or a culture committee. Or the budget for glossy engagement surveys.

But you do have what matters most: proximity to your people.

Here’s how small production companies can lead big when it comes to rebuilding culture:

Acknowledge the Human Cost

Your crew didn’t just wait out the strike—they lived through financial stress, career uncertainty, and emotional whiplash. When they come back to set, acknowledge it. A simple “Hey, I know this year’s been rough. I appreciate you being here” can go a long way.

Make Onboarding More Human

Even if someone’s only on your payroll for six weeks, how you bring them into your production matters. Set the tone early: communicate expectations, introduce them to the team (even if it’s two people), and reinforce that they’re part of something, not just a temp with a call time.

Check In, Not Just Out

Indie sets are fast-paced. But checking in halfway through a shoot—"How’s it going for you?”—shows that you see people as more than headcount. Ask. Listen. Adjust. That’s leadership.

Codify Your Values—Even If You’re Small

You don’t need a laminated poster to have values. Do you believe in transparency? Safety? Fair pay? Creative respect? Say so. Write it in your crew welcome email. Post it in the trailer. Say it out loud in the kickoff meeting. People will remember how you made them feel.

Prioritize Wellbeing on Set

No, you probably can’t afford an on-set therapist. But you can normalize breaks. You can give people 15 minutes to eat without hovering. You can create a “no assholes” rule and actually enforce it. That’s culture—live and unfiltered.

Indie Means Intentional

You don’t need a corporate org chart to lead well. In fact, indies have an edge: you’re closer to the work, the people, and the decisions. Use that.

The strike forced a conversation. Let’s not skip the next line in the script.

Lead with empathy. Hire with integrity. Create with care.

Because whether someone’s with you for a shoot, a season, or a series—they’ll remember how you treated them.

And that reputation? It travels faster than any festival buzz.