With a definite feeling of irony, since I haven't had a proper night's sleep
since I arrived in Park City, I dragged my weary self out of bed this am for an 8:30 screening of
Who Needs Sleep? by Haskell Wexler and Lisa Leeman.
This fascinating doc studied the hazardous, sometimes deadly effects of sleep deprivation on
film crews explored the quest by many crew members to regulate the hours they are allowed to work on sets. As a producer, I worked many 22-24 hour days on music videos and fell asleep at the wheel several times. There is a grassroots movement in LA called 12 Onn, 12 Off that is lobbying to force unions and production co's to regulate crew work hours. The movement is silent, expressed in t-shirts and hats that crews wear on set to lobby the producers. It is a way for crews to not have to stand up for themselves in a way that would jeopardize their chances of being asked back for another job. They make a silent but powerful statement. I bought a hat today and will wear it the rest of my time at Sundance.