Letters: Long hours on film sets must change

Re “Spotlight on film safety,” March 22

The father of Sarah Jones, who was killed last month after being struck by a train during a film shoot in Georgia, told me he prays that his daughter’s death will not be in vain. He said no film or TV show is worth the risk she faced.

I write these words on a Saturday morning while many film workers are driving home after another 14- or 15-hour shift. We call this “Fraturday,” a Friday film shoot that often extends into the wee hours of Saturday.

The safety of these crew members is in peril because the industry is unwilling to regulate these excessive hours. Until now, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, producers, labor unions and politicians have abdicated their responsibility to provide a safe working environment.

Next Friday, some of us in the industry are asking Hollywood producers to honor Jones by limiting worker hours to 12, and further, that there be no production the next Saturday.

Haskell Wexler

Santa Monica

The writer directed the 2006 documentary “Who Needs Sleep?” and is co-founder of the advocacy group 12on/12off.

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