Backstage Uprising On “Les Miz” Movie
“Les Misérables” may chronicle a revolution by idealistic Parisians in 1832, but producers of this year’s big-budget film adaptation of Victor Hugo’s classic story were embarrassed when furious hair and make-up artists staged an uprising of their own on set. During the shoot, which ran between March and May, 100 professionals joined a trade union to fight the “miserable” conditions on the set of the film, starring Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway. Those working on costumes, hair and make-up regularly had to work extra hours as shooting overran, including into days off, often without extra pay. The solution? Union! Union!
