#FemaleFilmmakerFriday – On Set Stress!

What’s the best way you have found to handle the stress that pops up while filming? – Jairo

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Stressing out while filming is inevitable. The most important thing you can do is DELEGATE, DELEGATE, DELEGATE but even then – a lot of money is on the line and you don’t want to mess up. So while you’re doing your best on set, it’s really important to keep a cool head. Doubly so for women, really, because you have the added pressure of “not being a bitch”. 

First, I think it’s really important to keep in mind that you and your crew all want the same thing. You want to make a good movie. And generally speaking, people don’t make a good anything if they’re worried about stressing out their boss. The second thing I keep in mind is forgiveness: forgive yourself if you do crack, forgive people if they mess up. Kindness, forgiveness. Third, especially if you’re making a movie, this time on set is a gift and it ends. Even if you hate everything about the work on that piece, your job here will end. It’s not worth the meltdowns because it just doesn’t last that long.

It’s a very hard job to “put away” when you go home at night no matter what stage of production you’re in and sometimes you just CANNOT put up clear boundaries, but when and where you are able to, do so. Tell your partners: I don’t work after X time, make it clear. The more clear you can be, the easier it is to stick to your personal needs. 

So – to sum up: be forgiving, be kind, and defend yourself and your needs. 

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