Well, the film itself was released in the year 1990, with the actual filming occurring the year before, so 1980s does apply.

Could have been filmed as early as 1988 I guess

I also think Zemeckis made 2 and 3 simultaneously

That's what made set work one of my favorite jobs. Lots of hanging around and catered lunches!

I pitied the guys who had to work constantly while everyone else hung out: DP, ADs, camera and lighting. Lighting seemed the absolute worst, all the tedium of "hang out" jobs combined with the constant attention demanded of all the other previously mentioned positions.

The other thing that stuck out about set work was the hierarchy. It was the most socially stratified environment outside of high school and the military. You had the director's circle (director, lead talent, producer, director's personal helpers), mid tier technical people (camera, lighting, sound, stunt, day players), and bottom tier PAs/extras. No one socializes or even sits at the same lunch table with people outside their level.

That, and I don't think there's ever been a male script supervisor in the entire history of the industry.

don't forget all of the posing and pretend-work

field production work is a fucking scam, all the real work goes on in post