Seriously Decompressing...

The gig is winding down. It's been swell. Seriously.

But working on a tv series (and a movie, not to discriminate) can be like being a medic parachuted into a war zone. It's an intense, fast moving, crisis-filled work environment that's always go go go. You're constantly being called upon to make good decisions quickly and efficiently and effectively. And often need to put out fires to 'save the day'. It's very demanding and can take a toll on you. Seriously.

FYI, every night I took home from the office the scripts in prep and the scripts that were shooting. Just in case. The scripts in prep to reread and look for ways to improve them or make them more producable. The shooting scripts in case a director or actor calls to discuss a scene or story point or a production manager or assistant disector needs to rearrange the schedule for the next shooting day. And then I'd probably be writing or rewriting the particular script on my plate for that day/week. In short, the work doesn't stop just because you leave the office...you and your brain are whirring into the evening. You 'dream' the show even. Seriously.

And every day is made up of meetings, answering questions, fielding phonecalls, some writing, answering more questions, some rewriting, more meetings... and then there's the fires. Always putting out the fires. Hectic, intense, exhilarating. That's my fav part of series tv...the troubleshooting fly by seat of your pants day to day fire quashing. Love it. Seriously.

But like going to war, you eventually get to go home (hopefully in one piece). And it can be a brutal transition. For months you are 'on call' and 'constantly prepared' and 'saving the day' and 'crisis managing'...and then you aren't anymore. You were getting every memo and cc'd every email, and then you aren't anymore. Seriously.

If you are very lucky, you will get onto a new show right away, but generally you have large chunks of time between gigs. At any rate, you'll go home but you are 'still working'. And will be for some time after wrap and your tour of duty is complete.

It can be hell on you and the people you live with. You're still 'on' even though you're supposed to be 'off'. I always suggest throwing yourself into a spec or a cool idea you've had bouncing around your brain - use that energy to produce something new. Makes decompressing more gradual, and hopefully less painful.

After you've slept for a week of course.


Seriously.

SONG&ARTIST? - "Chippin' around
Kick my brains round the floor
These are the days
It never rains but it pours
Ee do bay bup
Ee do bay ba bup
Ee do bup
Bay bup..."