Thriving from Work in the Film Industry
Complete the Questionnaire Now
What is the Thriving from Work in the Film Industry Study?
This study uses the Thriving from Work Questionnaire, a rigorously validated tool developed by researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health's Center for Work, Health, & Well-being.
Thriving from Work is defined as the state of positive mental, physical, and social functioning in which workers' experiences of their working conditions enable them to thrive in their overall lives — contributing to their full potential at work, home, and in the community.
The questionnaire measures key domains of work-related well-being, including:
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• Psychological and emotional well-being
• Social well-being from work
• Basic needs for thriving
• Job design and experience of work
• Work-life integration
• Physical and emotional health
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The survey takes about 5-10 minutes to complete and is completely anonymous.
Why This Study Matters – especially for the Film Industry
The film industry is unique: project-based work, long and unpredictable hours, high creativity demands, intense deadlines, and often precarious employment create both incredible rewards and significant challenges.
Workers in film and related creative fields frequently report issues like burnout, mental health strain, work-life imbalance, and physical demands — yet many also find deep fulfillment in their craft.
By participating, your experiences will help:
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• Validate this powerful questionnaire for the specific realities of film production, post-production, and executive roles
• Generate industry-specific insights on how working conditions affect thriving — from set life and scheduling to team
dynamics and support systems
• Drive positive change: Aggregated (anonymous) results will inform recommendations for producers, studios, unions,
and executives to build healthier workplaces — including better mental health resources, fairer schedules, improved
safety, and stronger support for well-being.
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High worker well-being leads to healthier teams, greater engagement, higher productivity, and lower turnover — benefits for everyone in the industry.
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What Is Required from Participants?
Participation is quick, voluntary, and confidential. Here's exactly what's needed:
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• Be a current or recent film industry worker (crew, technician, artist, production staff, executive, or any role in
film/TV/media production). You must have worked a cumulative period of at least 1 year.
• Complete the anonymous online questionnaire (8–30 questions, depending on the version used; ~5-10 minutes
• Reflect honestly on your work experiences over the past 1 year.
No personal identifying information is collected. Your responses will only be used in aggregated form for research and potential workplace improvement.
You can stop at any time, skip questions, or withdraw — there are no consequences.
Your voice can help create a more thriving film industry for all!
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Complete the Questionnaire Now
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Our Story
Dr Paul Heinzelmann initially reached out to Dr. Susan Peters, Associate Director of the Harvard Center for Work, Health & Well-being in 2022 with the aim of initiating a study of those working in the film and television industry. Due to COVID-19 and other factors, the study was halted at that time.
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SetMD and industry partners are now planning to distribute the questionnaire through various channels with the aim of surveying a convenience sample to begin to better understand how those in the industry report their own health and well-being status. A more formally structured study is anticipated after initial pilot data is collected.
This study is conducted in partnership with researchers and supporting organizations adapting the Thriving from Work Questionnaire for the film sector. For questions about the study, or if you or your organization would like support this initiative, contact pheinzelmann@harvard.mgh.edu
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All responses are anonymous and protected under research ethics guidelines.
Meet The Team
Organizational Partners
