Ahhh... the glamorous life in Hollywood. Or is it? Film crews routinely work sweatshop hours, often clocking 15 to 18 hour days at the expense of their families, their health, their well-being, and even their lives.
In 1997, after a 19-hour day on the set, assistant cameraman Brent Hershman fell asleep behind the wheel, crashed his car, and died. Deeply disturbed by Hershman's preventable death, filmmaker and multiple-Oscar-winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler shows how sleep deprivation and long work hours are a lethal combination. Who Needs Sleep? is a commentary on our quality of life. |
Who Needs Sleep? has now been seen by thousands of people all over the world and the awareness of the problem of chronic sleep deprivation is recognized by working people in the United States, England, France, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Russia and many others. The relationship between working excessive long hours and health, quality of life and the very nature of “making a living” is understood more clearly now in part due to “Who Needs Sleep?” documentary.
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The Institute for Cinema StudiesPresents A documentary feature from Haskell Wexler, A.S.C.
The world premiere of Who Needs Sleep? showed to a packed and enthusiastic audience at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. The lively post-screening discussions made it obvious that people do not want to accept uncivilized working hours.
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#1 No more than 12 hours of Work
#2 No less than 12 hours of Turnaround
#3 No more than 6 hours between Meals