Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1525212
C O V E R S T O R Y 33 F A L L Q 3 I S S U E By Charles Little II I t's been said that the first law of na- ture is self-preservation. But as a busy creative professional also juggling the roles of head of household, soccer coach, and more, I often find my own self-care at the bottom of my priorities list, if it hasn't fallen off completely. In the wake of last year's WGA/SAG-AF- TRA strike and amidst the many stresses we navigate daily, ranging from politics and inflation to global conflict and domestic terrorism, it seems that we can all benefit from some extra support. With this in mind, I set out to explore the territory of self-care. My goal was to f ind a few qualif ied professionals who could help me collect some opinions and informed advice that would be tailored to our profession and Guild membership. While attending MPEG's "Reel Wellness for Creatives Workshop," my research led me to a conversation with picture editor and licensed personal trainer Dan- ielle Statuto. Charles: Danielle, please tell me about this workshop and your goals with this event series. REEL WELLNESS AS THE BUSINESS CHANGES, POST VETERANS NEED TO TAKE TIME OUT FOR THEIR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH Danielle Statuto: I am a member of the MPEG's Women's Steering Committee. Each year we put on different events that we feel Guild members can benefit from, and I know first-hand how badly editors need to keep moving. We have tunnel vision when we work, and the schedules and expectations are as taxing physically as they are creatively. I want our members to know how to take care of their bodies and prioritize their health first. It is only then that we can be at our best creatively and perform at optimum level. My goal is to teach our members how to prevent issues before they arise. Because health issues will affect our work negatively and may even stop us from work- ing completely. Charles: What are the health risks to be aware of and that we might be trying to prevent or avoid? Danielle Statuto: Conditions I've no- ticed while working are neck, shoulder and wrist pain. Implementing the correct ergo- nomic position at the edit bay is essential for maintaining good posture and a healthy back and spine. Not only do we need the cor- rect ergonomics, we need to strengthen and stretch our body to prevent pain. I hear a lot of editors say, "It's cool, I have a standing desk." While that's a great start, just getting a standing desk is not enough. We need to implement breaks and we need to stretch. I know what you are thinking: "But we can't just take breaks! My editor's cut is due!" I get it — I am that person, too. But to do this job for any length of time, you have to take care of your body. Your cut will be better after an hour of exercise. I promise. Have you ever walked away from a cut you can't seem to figure out? When you come back with fresh eyes and a fresh body, you often easily see what you were missing before. Editor Scott Wallace taught me that. As editors, when we sit for long hours, our shoulders naturally roll forward. Simple exercises like Wall Slides and working with resistance bands can help you earn back 'Ergonomics in the edit bay are essential for good posture and a healthy back.'