Last week, I had the honor and privilege to work on a shoot with some outstanding men and women troopers from the MN State Patrol. We did two evening shoots in support of their Don’t Text and Drive campaign. We had a lot of fun, but the message behind our efforts was obviously serious, and we got some great images to illustrate the point. I poked around a bit online and discovered that the Minnesota Dept. of Public Safety and AAA sponsored the “Don’t Text and Drive, Teens!” TV Commercial Challenge. The winning spot and other four finalists can be viewed at Rock the Belt. Great job to all you young video producers!
Texting and driving, in MN is illegal. Here’s a news release.
Since the message that the troopers were trying to make about texting and driving was very clear to me, it got me thinking about the problems I keep hearing about, on-set, with texting and twittering and emailing. I’ve heard many photographers complaining about it and, generally, the complaint is that assistants have their noses buried in their phones way too much, while they are supposed to be working on-set, giving all their attention to the job at hand and making sure they are covering the photographer.
Personally, I’ve only had one or two occasions where this was a concern for the photographer I was working with, but then, I’m not always twittering around with my phone, especially when I’m working on a shoot. Mostly, for me, the photographers I work with just don’t want me answering calls when my attention is needed on the shoot. One photographer asks me every time when I arrive to please make sure my ringer is off, just because he is easily distracted by any unnecessary noise or commotion. I have no problem with this. In fact, when I’m focused, I don’t want any distractions either.
If I get a call, I just let it go to voice mail and I check it whenever it’s appropriate to do so, usually at lunch-time or when I make a pit-stop to the restroom. If you are worried about missing a call for confirmation on your next day’s shoot, then just let that photographer know, before-hand, that you will be on-set and may not be able to respond right away. They will usually understand and figure out a way to make it work. If you’re worried about missing a new gig opportunity, then I suspect you will just have to exercise some discipline. At any rate, make sure you know where the photographer stands on this issue so you aren’t jeopardizing your relationship with them. Better yet, just don’t use your phone when you’re on-set.
I think the real problem is when assistants are texting all the time, to just anyone and everyone–girlfriends, boyfriends, friends, and then all the twitter and facebook friends and messages. If this were eliminated, you’d know when you get an important call. So, then you might be able to ask the photographer if you can have two minutes to return the call and it won’t be a problem because he won’t have spotted you twittering all morning. And you thought you were hiding so well behind the scrim and medium-rollers. Some better ways to check your messages while busy are to take out the trash, restock the water and soda in the cooler, running to get lunch, or offering to run to the rental house to get an over-looked piece of gear. Whatever you do, just make sure you’re not making excuses to get away and check your messages. I’ve heard of an assistant who supposedly had gastro-intestinal problems and needed to use the bathroom way too frequently, and after the photographer became suspicious he was busted texting in the can when he forgot to lock the door.
My issue with this is that as an assistant, I’m trusted to be the photographer’s second pair of eyes. How can I cover the photographer’s back if I’m checking my FarmVille? I can’t. And, let’s face it, a photography set can be a very dangerous place–hot lights, glass, cords, expensive gear, light-stand legs to trip over, people running all around, and on-and-on. This is no time to be texting your girlfriend or bff about the party last night!
I did get arrested one of the nights I was working with the troopers, but, of course, it was just to illustrate the point that texting and driving is illegal. I don’t think you’ll be tossed in jail for texting while on-set, but you could very well be penalizing yourself when your resume reads “former photography assistant seeks social media consulting opportunities.”
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