Julian Thomas shared a link from www.theguardian.com on the TM Hub

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THIS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT - AND PROBABLY 10 YEARS TOO LATE IN BEING REPORTED!Read more

THIS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT - AND PROBABLY 10 YEARS TOO LATE IN BEING REPORTED!

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/oct/03/i-fell-asleep-driving-around-london-tv-workers-on-fear-danger-and-fatalities-in-an-industry-in-crisis?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other&fbclid=IwY2xjawFrWfFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHUI47GegL2Ro8WxX8Wu47q74p4NUp6tyP2tiohyx-_DyfYirGoS6wrhkIg_aem_cJRujifI809F28sSDID52Q

Edited on 3rd Oct 2024 12:19pm

‘I fell asleep driving around London’: TV workers on fear, danger and fatalities in an industry in crisis

Accidents on set and road collisions suffered by exhausted crew are on the rise. But the demand for great shows continues. Are broadcasters pushing staff too far?

www.theguardian.com

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Matt Born @ DV Talent

@JulianThomas This has been an issue for years. (I remember a BBC producer actually crashing while on the phone to her editor having done a ridiculously long day and then being made to drive across the country for her next interview.) @Directors UK 's unscripted branch and @NicGuttridge have been campaigning to raise awareness about safety implications of budget cuts and excessive demands on freelancers in unscripted.

1 year ago

Julian Thomas

@MattBorn - I almost died while driving home on the M25 after a 16 hour shoot. Sure, we got a BAFTA - but is it worth it when the PM refuses to pay for a hotel as am London based, so, 'local' - Local being 1.5 hours away in London!

1 year ago Edited 1 year ago

Maysa Moncao

@JulianThomas hey, I know of a case os someone who was in a similar situation as you. The person had an accident, the car was destroyed, and in the end the production bought him/her a new car. Do not do this to yourself. Book a hotel, airb&b and fight for refund after.

1 year ago

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Julian Thomas

@MaysaMoncao I have done just that a few times since - and tbh the prod co paid almost every time - and in the ones that didn't, I took TIL to make up for the cost I incurred. Worst case was filming in Cornwall - 3 hour drive from London, 14 hour recce/prep/shoot inc jib, helicopter, presenter, 3 hour drive back - that's 20 exhausting hours for me and the AP - we tried to make it back but opted for a holiday inn on the motorway home.

1 year ago

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Julian Thomas

Reality is, the opt-out clause on working time has become incorporated into almost every contract for the last 10 years in this country - so the prod co can't be held liable if the worst happens - as you're the one who's agreed to it!

1 year ago

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Matt Born

@JulianThomas Agreed re opt out clause. Is this something freelancers are aware of? Maybe TM should do an event / webinar with an employment lawyer (possibly Bectu) about implications of these contractual clauses. (I appreciate the situation is not helped by the fact that people often don't get issued an actual contract until they've almost finished the job.)

1 year ago

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Julian Thomas

@MattBorn I agree with you on every point. TM event would be great. I suspect many aren't aware of the implications - or worse, are aware but too afraid to challenge/change the contract for fear of being perceived as awkward/not a team player, and so missing out on the job (especially relevant right now!!!). Its also not just shooting - I've done week-long fast turnaround edits where 21 hour days are the norm and I've slept on the floor until the cleaners come in the morning...

1 year ago Edited 1 year ago

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Matt Born

@JulianThomas That's awful. (The near accident, that is - not the Bafta .) But as you say, there's a knowledge that freelancers will always go that extra mile (and then the mile after that) out of dedication but also fear if they are perceived as not having delivered (or not gone those many extra miles.) There's also often a lack of awareness by those back at base of what is involved on location when they are scheduling days. Did you ever raise it with the PM or prod co afterwards?

1 year ago

Julian Thomas

Thanks @MattBorn of course I rose this issue at the time and afterwards - problem was (and is) if they'd done it for me they would have had to have done it for 10-15 other people in the same situation on the production (including the PM - so its not a case of preferential treatment - one of pure budgetting and lack of H&S appreciation) - and that would have had a big COST! Not as much of a cost as having someone not die on the series though...

1 year ago Edited 1 year ago

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Rua Kasumi Turner

@MattBorn that’s the thing, there’s a sense of being all in it together (which is lovely in certain contexts, but then terrifying in others). I think this is embedded in the whole idea of TV folk having mutual understands when you first meet that you’ve probably both had near death experiences and periods of sleep deprived delirium to get where you are.
I think it’s gonna take a cultural shift as well a shift in the minds of those in charge of the companies that allow these situations to occur.

1 year ago

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Matt Born

@RuaKasumi Turner @JulianThomas So what can be done? Is it government intervention? If so, what? Is it the broadcasters taking more responsibility for what is done in their name? I have some sympathy for prod cos - especially the smaller ones - who are scrabbling to get work themselves, & often over-promise and under budget in the process. Is it commissioners/ channel controllers who should take more interest in whether what they're asking for/ are being offered is actually achievable safely?

1 year ago

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Rua Kasumi Turner

@JulianThomas I’ve had to come up with a method for staying awake as I can be exhausted past the point of triple coffee shots and red bulls, I have to freestyle rap for the entirety of the drive. Says a lot really that I see defying sleep and certain death as something to be proud of after two years of the industry! I have worked for some companies that refuse to let me get that exhausted and I really appreciate those jobs and those colleagues.

1 year ago

Joanna Cowie

I regularly shoot 8am till midnight on a specific show. The thing that stops the car accidents is that we travel in pairs so we do everything we can to keep each other awake on the way to and from hotels. But it’s a gruelling schedule and so packed that if there are any last minute additions, contrib welfare issues, delays on the ground, the already 16-hour day starts to stretch…and at that point it feels that the risk of accidents increases 10-fold by each passing minute.

1 year ago

The Talent Manager

Julian Thomas shared a link from www.theguardian.com

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‘I fell asleep driving around London’: TV workers on fear, danger and fatalities in an industry in crisis