UNIONS INVESTIGATING EXHAUSTION ON SET OF LIFETIME MOVIE

Having to work long hours on movie and TV sets is hardly a new experience, what with tight budgets and production companies billed by the day for studio space, equipment, catering, and other “below the line” expenses. But having actors and crew members falling over with exhaustion would appear to be a rarity. But such was the case last week during the filming of the Lifetime movie Liz & Dick, starring Lindsay Lohan and Grant Bowler. Last week it was reported that Lohan received treatment for exhaustion and dehydration in her hotel room after producers summoned paramedics when she failed to show up on the set of the film about Elizabeth Taylor’s romance with Richard Burton. Lohan’s publicist said that the incident occurred after she had worked all night and had been working on a “grueling schedule” for days. It now turns out that two crew members working on the TV movie were sent to the hospital to be treated for exhaustion. Entertainment labor attorney Jonathan Handel, who also writes about labor issues for the Hollywood Reporter, said today that SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union, and IATSE, which represents crew members, are looking into the matter.