SAFETY ON SET - We Are Family!

I went to an old work friend’s funeral last week, it was an overwhelmingly and terribly emotional event for me, while it was expected because of the person he was, it was still amazing how many people turned up to pay their respects and show support for his family.

I had worked with him many years ago, for quite a long time, especially when you think in terms of contracts within this industry, we worked almost side by side for 7 years and once the job finished, we both moved on to other jobs and to living our lives. I hadn’t seen him for quite a few years and regardless the feeling of loss was still incredibly overwhelming for me as I can imagine it was for everyone else there that day.

?I stood there outside the chapel, side by side strangers, actors, producers, directors’, friends and relatives, most of whom I either knew or had crossed paths with over the years. We all stood side by side as equals regardless of wealth or social standing.

I was humbled at how many people said, hey, hello, came up to chat, gave me a hug or merely just a nod in recognition, now this is not about me, although many of my thoughts were quite selfish with my own mortality and what I had dealt with and survived only a few years earlier, but that wasn’t and isn’t the point.

The point is, that it highlighted to me the fact that we are a family, an amazing extended family, one where we've watched each other celebrate finding new relationships, get married, have children and then watch them all grow up.

We are an incredible family, one we take for granted, one that extends beyond time and borders, one that can be created in a week or over years and one I have never really given enough credit.?

We live these incredibly intense moments in time together, be it days, weeks, months or years, and when the gig is over, we move on and then get on with our 'lives'.

I have also watched way too many of my friends’, colleagues, acquaintances, marriages, relationships and sometimes lives, fall apart because of how much we give to this industry, we work long hours together, travel together, we eat together, sometimes three times a day, we spend more time together than most families do and then the job finishes and then what?.

He was one of the lucky ones ,he had a solid strong beautiful relationship, and a loving supportive circle of friends right up until the end, and that is something that should be cherished embraced and celebrated and be it definitely should be something that we all ?strive for.

We all know what we sign on for, and each time we kid ourselves that things might be different this time, but it still happens, long days or 1/2 day 1/2 nighters or if not, even worse, the infamous 'all nighters', which means you see very little of your family, if at all, during the week, I know personally I have spent weeks on end, when I leave before anyone wakes up and arrive back home well after they have all gone to bed...

We give so much for a career we love, but in hindsight what have we personally truly gained or lost?

?While the world spruiks understanding and acceptance, the demands get bigger, the expectations are greater, the hours seem to be getting longer and all the while schedules are getting more demanding .

This is an incredible industry one I am privileged to be a part of, but we need to remember to focus on the bigger picture, on the why, why do we even bother? Why do we care? Why do we continue to do what we do? ?Ego aside, I believe we do it to create a life with our loved ones, a solid future ,and hopefully one that is stress free and financially independent.

I just hope we are all young and healthy enough to enjoy it when it happens.

I guess this time it could be said that 'Safety On Set' starts and ends off set....

Take care of yourselves and each other... Check in on your workmates from time to time it doesn’t take much but means a lot.

My friend you will be missed ...

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