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February Commentary from George Spiro Dibie We Will Never Forget Brent Hershman Brent Hershman died needlessly on March 6, 1997. I promised we would never forget him. Brent was a husband and father and a second assistant cameraman. He worked 19 hours on the day he died after losing control of his car. Brent was 35 years old. He was a family man with a loving wife and two adorable daughters. His life was stolen from him and from his family and friends long before his time should have been up. Why did Brent Hershman have to die? Some producers claim that long workdays are an economic necessity. But, we all know that isn’t the truth. The truth is that some of the Hollywood union members don’t mind the long hours. Run-away production has taken its toll. They need the work and they need the money. But, Brent Hershman shouldn’t have had to pay with his life. The facts about the effects of sleep deprivation are indisputable. The fatigue caused by lack of sufficient sleep kills and maims thousands of people in this country every year. A study by the North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center identified sleep deprivation as a major cause of fatal and other devastating traffic accidents. Americans who are working night shifts and long hours are falling asleep at the wheel. If you are sleeping less than six hours a night, or if you are awake for 20 consecutive hours, the study indicates that you are four to five times more likely to be involved in a deadly automobile accident. Those findings are undisputed. If you are working 60 or more hours a week and driving, you have significantly increased the odds that you will be involved in a deadly accident. That study was funded by the American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety. Their report probed many related issues. Drowsiness is sometimes caused by medication and by sleep disorders. However, one thing was clear. Everyone who doesn’t get enough sleep on a regular basis is at risk. The reality is that sleep deprivation is a fact of life for most people who choose to work in our profession. But, Brent Hershman didn’t have to die. The producers could have offered to pay for a hotel room. They could have sent Brent home in a company car. That is a common practice with actors, directors and producers. We are fighting hard to make it common practice for members of our Guild. We are eliciting the support of other guilds and we are putting pressure on government agencies. Is that sufficient? That is a fair question. Do we share part of the responsibility for Brent Hershman’s death? Have we been too willing to accept working 14 to 19 hours a day because the pay is good? Are we quiet because the price of speaking up is being labeled a malcontent? How about our elected officials and the bureaucrats in local, state and national government agencies who are responsible for public health and safety? Are they doing the jobs we pay them to perform? There are unrelenting pressures to work long hours. We do it in part because we feel passionate about our work. This is more than a job. We are living our dreams. But it shouldn’t be worth our lives. I don’t have a simple or easy solution. The best way we can honor the memory of Brent Hershman is to remember the tears and sorrow, and try to make a difference. We must continue our fight until the producers, and all the unions and guilds agree that a maximum 12 hour day becomes the law. As always, I look forward to your comments and suggestions. Please e-mail them to me. George Spiro Dibie, ASC
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