A Year That Changed These Professional Lives

For many, the events of 2001 dramatically changed their working lives.

The reverberations of Sept. 11 are largely responsible, to the laid-off hotel worker; to the airline pilot who must be wary of passengers; to the ad executive who now is reluctant to use humor in his work.

But other events had an impact too. Remember the California energy crisis? And the economy’s downturn, although made worse by Sept. 11, was a boon to a mergers specialist dealing with distressed companies.

What follows below and on C4 and C5 are reflections from individuals on a year full of changes.

James D. Brubaker,

Film Producer

Producer James D. Brubaker, based at the Universal Studios lot, is a veteran at overseeing the nuts and bolts of production required to make such movies as the upcoming “Dragonfly,” as well as such hits as “Nutty Professor II: The Klumps” and “Liar, Liar.” Like thousands of entertainment workers, Brubaker saw production accelerate dramatically in 2001 as studios stockpiled films to hedge against possible strikes by writers and actors. After strikes were averted, production plunged because studio shelves were full.

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With the strike pending, the industry panicked and production was pushed forward.

If the union went out on strike, there was no telling how long it might last. This meant that suddenly there were a lot more jobs, and the unions had to take on new members who were required to pay substantial fees to join.

The sad part is that most of those people are now out of work. Who knows when production will return to that level and they will have a chance to work again?

Sept. 11 made everyone very cautious and aware that we are all at risk. The first few days were tense. When you come to work and dogs sniff your car and mirrors are used to check underneath it, you know everything’s not OK.

The mood is much better than it has been. There is anticipation that the studios are going to increase production again.

The studios and the guilds are getting along now, which I think has a lot to do with the post-Sept. 11 mood.

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As told to James Bates