Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1469328
Humankind's most common fears have been lurking around us now for far too long. Times are tough, but the end is in sight. Life will get better in the spring... During a pandemic, it seems that we are all in a perpetual state of worry, fear, and distress. "Real Life" fears are much scarier than the random horror films and late-night gore films. As artists in film and television, we have all lived in a new world now of masks we dislike, and the worry of family members who get ill. It can take a toll on every family, and the fears we are tasked with can also keep us up at night. At this moment in the crazy "COVID Mask- Wearing World," we are hoping for an update for a better quality of life, a break from all of the losses, and time away from our families. The most disturbing and uncomfortable sights are those people who leave their masks just a little too low around their nose. I have been working on a show for two years now. We have certainly had highs and luckily not many lows, during COVID times. We con- tinue to strive for our hair & make-up teams to stay safe, we follow protocols and adjust when needed. We truly look out for each other ... that was the key. As artists, we also have the sensitive sides that bring out our best, our need to help, and our teams showed up every day and we actually laughed along the way. I have learned a lot over these two years on our show. I can say that this was a great experience, and I am proud to have this show on my résumé, but even more than that, I am incredibly grateful for the many days we cheered each other on, we looked out for our team, we cared about each other. THAT is what got us through this. COVID-19 can be scary, but we have learned a lot about how to keep safe. The future doesn't need to be bleak. It's within our hands to really shape the future, both by public health measures and by taking the vaccine, which our team on the show all did. As we continue to move forward in COVID-19 times, we must show compassion and empathy when needed. Everyone is tired of living like this, we all know it. We miss our families, we miss having fun, we miss travel and bars, and gos- sip and movie theaters and sporting events. We miss NORMAL life. If we can safely soldier through these next few months—or at least a new version of normal—we will be within reach. New vaccines that are highly protective against coronavirus are being rolled out right now, first to healthcare workers and the most vulnerable groups, and then to the general population this spring. The vaccine won't change life overnight, but please know, help is on the way. It will still take months to get enough people vaccinated so that the virus has nowhere to go. But the more everyone does their part ... to slow down the virus now, the better and faster the vaccine will work to slow the pandemic down, we can all start getting vaccinated this spring. The pandemic is surging, but as bad as things are, the end is in sight! By dou - bling down on precautions, we can slow the virus and save lives. MASK UP, you are going to need it for a while. When making deci- sions about how you are spending time indoors with people you don't live with ... wear a mask and keep the visit as short as possible (better yet, don't do it at all). If you really need to be social, go outside! Watch the clock and take the party outside. Layer up, get some blankets, use an outdoor heater so you can move the social events outdoors. Take care of yourself and don't put yourself in a compromised position. STAY SAFE! BE SMART! Save a medical worker who needs a day off. K M. F Vice President/Director of Communications, IATSE Instagram @hairferry.kim | Twitter @hairferry.kim | IMDb Kim M. Ferry K M. F Vice President, I.A.T.S.E. Local 706 FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT How to Overcome a Pandemic...