Too many accidents: Hollywood cinematographers demand shorter workdays

[13:39 Sun,29.August 2021 by Thomas Richter]

Fourteen of Hollywood&s top cinematographers - including Oscar winners Emmanuel Lubezki (Gravity, Birdman and The Revenant) and Roger Deakins (Blade Runner 2049 and 1917)- have signed a letter calling attention to serious abuses in their teams& working conditions.

Specifically, it is about the dangers of working too long hours, which have been common in the film and television industry for decades. The letter is prompted by a series of car accidents after long workdays of 14 hours or more in recent years, in which several people involved in film productions have already died and all of which have been attributed to fatigue at the wheel. In the letter, they call on employers in the U.S. film industry to finally address this problem. They say that the last year of Corona experiences has shown that it is possible to change filming conditions for safety reasons, so it should be possible with respect to this hazard.

From the letter:

"We ... wish to use this letter to express our continuing concern about the dangers of unsafe working hours, a practice that persists despite all the medical and indisputable evidence of the harm caused by fatigue," the letter states. "Of particular note are the numerous car accidents our colleagues have suffered in recent years."

"The science is clear," the signatories say. "Long and irregular work hours without adequate breaks and rest periods are unsafe. The negative effects on health and well-being are well documented, and no one should accept or defend 14-hour workdays without breaks as the industry standard."

The reason this appeal is being issued at this time is because collective bargaining negotiations are currently underway between the International Cinematographers Guild, or its umbrella organization, the IATSE union (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) and the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers), which represents the film and TV industry (members include Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures, Walt Disney Studios and Warner Bros. Pictures, as well as the major TV networks ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC).

The demands

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- An actual and sufficient rest period between the end of the workday and the resumption of work, regardless of trade or production.
- A weekend rest period that allows for actual rest and time for family and friends.
- Effective penalties that put a stop to the systematic elimination of meal breaks and working into weekends.

The Signatories

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John Toll, two-time Oscar winner for Braveheart and Legends of the Fall
Roger Deakins, two-time Oscar winner for 1917 and Blade Runner 2049
Emmanuel "Chivo" Lubezki, three-time Oscar winner for Birdman, Gravity and The Revenant
Erik Messerschmidt, Oscar winner for Mank
John Lindley, president of the Cinematographers Guild (Your Honor, Manhunt)
Paul Cameron (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Total Recall)
Jim Denault (Yellowstone, Law & Order: Organized Crime)
Ellen Kuras (Pretend It&s a City, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind)
Donald A. Morgan (The Connors, Last Man Standing)
Rodrigo Prieto (The Irishman, Brokeback Mountain)
Eric Steelberg (Juno, Dolemite Is My Name)
Amy Vincent (Eve&s Bayou, Hustle & Flow)
Mandy Walker (Mulan, Hidden Figures)
Robert Yeoman (Bridesmaids, The Grand Budapest Hotel)

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