MTV Staffer: "The Hills" Didn't Pay My Bills

Posted Apr 24th 2008 7:55PM by TMZ Staff

Two production assistants who worked on "The Hills" and "Next" have filed a class action lawsuit against MTV Networks alleging that working with Heidi and Spencer wasn't the only suffering they had to endure.

The lawsuit, which was filed today in Los Angeles Superior Court, claims the assistants typically put in more than eight hours a day, without meal breaks, yet were not paid overtime. Welcome to Hollywood!

For the days they worked on location, the assistants claim MTV provided them with already-completed and filled-out timesheets -- which reflected an eight-hour day -- even though on numerous occasions they worked much longer. Looks like the "real world" isn't just hot tubs and drunken hookups!

They are seeking unspecified damages. MTV could not be reached for comment.

Filed under: Denied!

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1. yawn

Posted at 8:00PM on Apr 24th 2008 by Jim

2. not suprising. MTV pays dirt and hire non-union so what do these
people expect. MTV will fight it just because they can.

Posted at 8:02PM on Apr 24th 2008 by barfy

3. ARE these P.A.'s for real?? In Hollywood P.A.s put in 14, 15 16 hours a day, on a base pay. Never complaining, see in Hollywood thats how you put in your dues. P.A's are a non union job. However the production staff should NOT fill out there time cards. MTV is very low budget and it does take advantage of young staff. But way is to move on, Hollywood is a small town, these kids will NOT be hired again. There the lowest on the totum pole. NEVER complain, just move on. BAD MOVE< sorry to say so , but I've been in the business for over 15 years. You do learn to survive.

Posted at 8:10PM on Apr 24th 2008 by Elizabeth

4. nothing new........all the majors do it.....I was privy to payroll records, and shocked at what I saw.....PA's would tell me that they would work up to 18 hours per day....BUT they did it b/c they wanted to be part of the industry.....and did not complain.....did whatever it took to get called back to work

Posted at 8:18PM on Apr 24th 2008 by Esa

5. This is standard operating (illegal) procedure for all commercial production companies. These cases are usually swept under the rug and KEPT QUIET. Nobody says anything and everyone carries on the charade. I cannot wait until ALLthe production companies get sued and justice is served. As you might have guessed i have been a (bitter) production assistant for eight years on music videos and commercials.

Posted at 8:21PM on Apr 24th 2008 by Bitter

6. Moved to LA with my GF of seven years....she became a PA....broke up 3 months later....never was around.....I was pissed....thanks MTV! ....

Posted at 8:21PM on Apr 24th 2008 by mrcinsc

7. I just passed Jared and Sarah driving on the 10 eastbound in a packed U-Haul.

Posted at 8:26PM on Apr 24th 2008 by mlm

8. You know who pays their staff really well?
Harvey Levin, that's who, you know I hear he takes really good care of all those lovely young men and really ugly young women who work for him. Those boys Harvey, they are to die for! But those poor girls they are so homely and sad. I wish I could teach them some simple make-up techniques that would help them out with their ever so drab appearance but alas I believe they are a lost cause, tragic. But back to those lovely young men, they are wonderful Harvey and I know you pay them well, don'tcha darling? Coarse you do!
I love Harvey!
XOXOXO

Posted at 8:31PM on Apr 24th 2008 by Rose-Lee Gypsy

9. one of my friends is a PA in NY,and put in more than 16 hours it's horrible the things they have to do etc....
this does not surprise me one bit.

Posted at 8:32PM on Apr 24th 2008 by englishchick

10. having to deal with Heidi AND Spencer is pain and bad enough, so give them the money, they deserve it, LMAO.

Posted at 8:40PM on Apr 24th 2008 by Whatever

11. Industry standard.

Posted at 8:41PM on Apr 24th 2008 by Mia

12. It is standard that you are taken advantage of as a PA. People should simply just NOT do it. Have some respect for yourselves. NO ONE should work for free, especially not for a big company or studio. Labors of love are one thing. Anyway, it is an industry standard, but MTV is especially evil. Really. They insist you spend your own money and they later refuse reimbursement among other things. I'm glad that someone is finally doing something about it. I think that ALL PAs should rise up and start suing the pants off of studios. Just because it's the standard doesn't mean it's fair.

Posted at 9:03PM on Apr 24th 2008 by kt

13. Hopefully some enterprising lawyers are reading TMZ and see the potential for a huge class action lawsuit against ALL the production companies in los angeles. These companies keep meticulous callsheets which contain all the information needed for these lawsuits to start happening. This illegal activity has been going on for years. MTV is the tip of this s*it iceberg. I'm sure all the other commercial production companies are angry that NOW the spotlight is on them because MTV and viacom are too cheap to payoff the pa's and keep this out of court and public domain.

Posted at 9:23PM on Apr 24th 2008 by SL

14. It's not just the PA's who work crazy hours with no breaks or overtime pay, it is also the production coordinators and production manager's who work on TV commercials & music videos.

Posted at 9:48PM on Apr 24th 2008 by Coord

15. Thank god for the Unions, I use to be a PA and have to work those crazy long days with very little pay. I hope these guys get what they are asking for and it wakes up MTV who is known in the industry to be one of the worst places to work. they are known for their cheapness!

Posted at 11:41PM on Apr 24th 2008 by Union Hollywood Worker

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