Working on set is exciting, but let’s be honest, it’s also bloody hard. Camera crew are often carrying heavy gear, crouching in odd positions, and hustling under time pressure. In Aotearoa’s screen industry, we’re slowly getting better at recognising that safety and wellbeing aren’t extras. They’re essentials.

Why Safety and Wellness Matter for Camera Crews

Camera departments face a unique mix of physical and mental strain. Long hours, repetitive motion, high-pressure environments — they all add up. Burnout, back injuries, and stress-related issues are real risks, and they don’t just impact work — they impact whānau, health, and the future of a sustainable career.

That’s why it’s great that ScreenSafes Mental Health Survey is now open. It’s an anonymous opportunity to kōrero honestly about what’s working (and what’s not) when it comes to wellbeing on our sets.

What’s Helping (Real Practices From Local Crews):

• Breaks That Actually Happen: Fatigue is a major risk factor. Productions that stick to break schedules — especially in the camera department — are seeing better outcomes for both safety and focus.
  
• Smarter Gear and Setups: More productions are investing in support rigs, better harnesses, and ergonomic kit to reduce strain. Training on safe lifting and body positioning is becoming more standard too.
  
• Normalising Mental Health Talk: Some sets now include mental health check-ins, access to support professionals, or have crew-led peer spaces to talk honestly. It’s not perfect, but it’s improving.
  
• Mini Wellness Moments: Five-minute stretch breaks, breathing sessions, even just quiet spaces to decompress — they’re small, but they’re making a difference.

What You Can Do

Whether you're a DP or 2nd AC, you help shape the tone of your team. Speak up if something feels unsafe. Encourage breaks. Back crew who need a breather. If you're in a leadership position, model healthy boundaries.

And please (if you haven’t already) take the ScreenSafe Mental Health Survey. It helps all of us push for safer, healthier conditions across the board.