Will Smith Music Video Shoot Resumes Following Union Shutdown

Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore / CC by 2.0

Will Smith’s latest music video shoot became the center of a high-profile labor dispute over the weekend. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between production companies and unionized crews working in Hollywood.

The drama unfolded on the set of a video for Will Smith’s album Based on a True Story at Quixote Studios in West Hollywood, drawing attention from both industry insiders and the public. Breathe Entertainment, the Toronto & Miami-based production company behind the shoot dismissed its entire 10-person crew after a disagreement over health and pension benefits.

The crew, represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) requested union recognition and corresponding benefits—which producers refused to grant. In response, the IATSE members formed a picket line outside the studio, halting production and attracting media attention to the dispute.

While the production was initially set up as a non-union shoot, the crew sought to ‘flip’ the job to union status so they could accrue health and pension hours. “While this music video features a globally recognized artist, it was independently financed and produced outside the scope of major studio or label backing,” Stephen Trivieri, President of Breathe Entertainment told Variety. “Like many artist-driven creative projects, this shoot was built around a clear non-union structure with transparent terms and fair compensation across all departments.”

When Breathe Entertainment declined to negotiate, they fired the entire crew, hoping to continue with non-union replacements. Many replacement workers walked off the set after learning about the shoot—causing the shoot to be further delayed.

After an entire day of picketing and public scrutiny, Breathe Entertainment and IATSE reached an agreement that included health and pension benefits for the crew. The original union crew was reinstated and returned to work the same day, allowing production on the music video to resume. The swift resolution was reportedly aided by Smith’s intervention, which allowed the music video shoot to move forward.

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