Haskell Wexler - Who Needs Sleep

Famed Cinematographer on the abuse of film crews and the nationwide attack on unions and the middle class. Taped at Sundance 06.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• writers
• Strike
• hollywood
• cinema
• perdition
• hall
• sundance
• documentary
• wga
• strike
• camera
• iatse

[geekgirl45]

you're forgetting about the movie writers. single folks that are not in a team, writing specs for free, or writing on low budget films (w/signatories). These people sell or work on maybe ONE film a year. WGA or not, it's not much money after taxes. The WGA helps union and non union members.

[geekgirl45]

I won't argue your point. But get a job on a film set working for less than minimum wage (or free) for 6 weeks straight working 18/19 hours day. Once you do that, you can make your point until the cows come home.

[PlasmaEnthusiast]

Armed Forces members are subjected to same conditions on daily basis and they don't make 6 figure salaries while being subjected to dangerous situations

[TheEodtch]

OH gee golly, um Don't work there!!!!!!!!!! Everyone in the movie industry are worthless anyway.

[khunopie]

Who needs a koffee?

[debberDDT]

I worked in film and tv accounting for YEARS. The toll from perhaps getting 3 or 4 hours' sleep a night turned me into a shrew, I couldn't even stand myself. In accounting, we work full out, no stopping, mountains of paperwork, very strict deadlines, constant interruptions by crew, etc, (which is part of the job, i know,) phone ringing every 2 minutes. Now hooked on massive doses of immovane and valium as a result, it was the only way to get perhaps 4 hours of sleep. Film ruined my life.

[editguy1]

(continued) Crews members then sleep in on Saturdays (their spouses doing the chores since they are dead tires) and have 1 day to catch up with their families before doing it all again the next week.

The key is that Production companies realize they can get away with this, and often times strategically plan their work week around the idea that they can save their exterior night scenes for Fridays, since they can start the work day in the late afternoon, and have optimum sun down hours.

[editguy1]

Today, it is common place that TV shows start their workdays at 7am only to fall behind about 2 hours each day. With union regulations in tact regarding minimum turn arounds, the next day is pushed and starts at around 9am, and each day productions can fall behind 1 to 2 hours each day... which makes a Friday often times starting at 3pm. (Called by crew members "Fraturdays", since many times, the sun is rising while driving home Saturday morning.

[bonzelite]

i work in the industry and Wexler is 100% correct

the overworking and lack of sleep is simply assumed to be the reality of how you work, and if you don't do it you can't ever get a job. They're nearly all like that, from tv spots to theatrical films.

[lovedetective]

Bless you, Mr. Wexler for talking about the killer elephant in the room.

[JCLeSinge]

I'm a writer; I make peanuts most months and once or twice a year land a good job.