Catching Some Zzzz...sss

A big thank you to Script Goddess for her recent post and cautionary tale about a camera assistant friend of hers named Brent. After an exhaustive day of filming, Brent evidently fell asleep at the wheel and...he didn't make it home that night. [See her link above for the full post.]

The saddest part is that I'm sure that there are many tales such as this. It's good to be reminded that you cannot take your health and your well-being for granted. Whether you're in the film business (notorious for long hours) or a workaholic in the business world, taking care of you is worth it.

If you're overly tired and you get behind the wheel, you're putting yourself at risk as well as others. A sleep deprived driver is an impaired driver. Take time out for yourself. Pull over if you have to. Be honest with yourself.

Additionally, film companies don't always look out for their crews as much as they should so crew members have to look out for themselves and each other and know when things extend beyond human endurance.

I have firsthand experience with this-- a few years ago on a job, I was completely overwhelmed and overextended. I didn't get the extra help that I needed, despite my pleas. I was continually exhausted and stressed for days that seemed to multiply in a fog.

As a result, I was in a bad accident--just like Brent. My little Chevy slammed into a white cargo van. For a moment, I thought I'd seen heaven. My windshield went completely white, like I'd driven into a cloud, until a millisecond later when my mind caught up just before the SLAM!!! which could very well have been my end.

I was terrified, disoriented, and shocked to see the totaled remains of my car. I was coming back from the production office, I had location checks in my car, I'd never been in an accident before. I didn't know what to do; it was all too much. It all began with allowing myself to become overly tired and not having enough respect for myself to take care of the most precious thing I've been given: my own life.

Luckily, I've been given another chance. So thank you again Script Goddess for allowing me to also warn people of the danger of not catching your zzzzzz's and may Brent's legacy be that we all learn something from his tragedy.


Copyright © 2008 KLiedle