Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/908098
36 "In late July, I was balancing three major shows for my three biggest clients. I put in 240 hours in 19 days. This included travel, working double shifts, on top of the usual rigors of my job. To add to that, I experienced personal distress, any of which would be a large task to take on with a normal job situation. I remember walking onto the truck, and sitting at my record station, when my gut said, 'If you don't take time off soon, you will die. You can't keep going at this speed.' I booked a vacation for four days immediately. I went away to a wellness spa in the desert. I turned off my phone for a week, and didn't tell anyone where I went (except for my mom). Four days was not enough, but it was enough to bring me down from the adrenaline high that I had been riding on for so long, in order to come back and sleep solidly. After that, I decided to take another 2½ weeks off. "During this time, I realized I needed to create somewhat of a routine. The lack of structure this business lifestyle affords me is not conducive to a healthy lifestyle. Here are some of the things I started to do: [I started with my diet—I cut down on drinking, carbs, sugars, dairy. I bring all my own food to set with me, even when I travel. The snacks I bring are organic, easy on digestion, yet filling and satisfying. [I recognize I may not always get eight hours of sleep, but the few hours of sleep I do get, should be quality sleep. [I routinely see a chiropractor and massage therapist while I'm in town. [I don't drink while traveling because it is dehydrating. [I travel with a foam roller to stretch and work out. [I always upgrade my seat when flying for more leg room. This is my time to rest when I'm traveling. [I try to drink a gallon of water every day. [I try to exercise, which usually means stretching in the morning and evening. [I always leave the truck for fifteen minutes and walk— seeing sunlight is essential. [I learned how to quiet my mind. "Lately, there's been a focus on small enjoyments of life. When we are constantly go-go-go, you need to take a minute to enjoy life. Find a small joy that takes you out of your day. "I have had jobs that have caused health issues due to stress, and I'm lucky that I have been able to recover from them. Last year, I went through a breast cancer scare, which made me take a look at my life and examine what I find most important." –Jillian Arnold, Digital Asset Manager "Stress management and proper set etiquette is really what separates the A-listers from the rest of us. We work in an industry where the creative process often demands to make things happen against seemingly impossible odds. I have been screamed at in my face for issues that were not related to me, I have scrambled around troubleshooting in front of one hundred-plus people all waiting on video to fix the problem and asked to do the impossible over and over. I rarely get yelled at anymore (thankfully), but I tell all the guys on my team that when you do, it's not personal. There is legitimate pressure rolling down from above. I worked on The Revenant and Chivo, the DP, was incredibly demanding at moments. I just worked with Chivo two days ago on a commercial and it was a totally different experience. "There are a few tricks that can help avoid unnecessary trou- ble. I make a practice of introducing myself to the agency on a commercial so if there are any issues with image, they know they can come to me personally to fix it rather than complaining to the producer. It's simple but it works. Also, communication with the 1st AD is paramount. Newcomers must realize they are responsible for communicating their needs. If you need ten minutes to solve a complex request, you must explain that to an AD. They are your lifeline to make sure the people who matter know what's happening and to give you the appropriate time. "No one enjoys the looks you get when the company is waiting for video. I learned that the hard way years ago working with a fantastic director, Rupert Sanders. I was on my first job with him, was brought on by the producer to impress him. She had seen me perform well in many difficult situations so I had credibility with her. Things had been going well until we set up for a difficult choreographed shot with horses, mud and explosions that required a big reset. Just as we were about to call action, the image from the wireless went out and monitors went dark. I intensely wondered what could be wrong as the scene went on. We cut and the director turned and just said, 'Bye bye, Willow.' It was in the days of film, so there was no way to play it back and he asked me why I didn't stop the shot. I was mostly confused & embarrassed that I didn't make the call and realized right then, it was my job to do so. "A big part of handling stress is how you recover after a mistake. Often we get blamed for issues that may be camera- or power-related or may indeed be on us as video assist technicians. Sometimes criticism is valid. I despise that moment but handle it by telling myself I am good at my job and trust that by the end of the show, they will see how that moment was not indicative of my normal routine. Professionalism is key and it's important to remind yourself that everyone is dealing with stress in their respective departments. But what we can do is focus on the job, keep your eye on the ball and maintain confidence. Even if you just threw an interception, you must believe that next throw is going to be a touchdown." –Willow Jenkins, Video Engineer "The nice thing about Time is so that every- thing doesn't happen all at once." –MARK TWAIN "The secret to my sanity is taking my day one moment to the next and not over-thinking it." –Lawrence Commans, Boom Operator