About Us
In the summer of 2004, Roderick E. Stevens and Haskell Wexler joined together to form the non-profit organization, 12on/12off, Inc. for the purpose of promoting the three basic rules, and empowering crews in a warm and fuzzy way to call for more humane working conditions. The organization was turned into a membership to spread the word that an overall change in attitude and working practices in our industry must occur, and that change has to be voiced by the individuals most closely affected, the Crew!
The membership dues, T-shirt and Hat sales, and other DONATIONS help support our efforts to distribute information in numerous venues in the film industry, from individual productions, to film festivals, to film schools worldwide.
History
Tired of seeing his friends and fellow film crewmembers abused with frequent excessive work days and insufficient turnaround, aware of the ongoing plight of film makers such as Conrad Hall, ASC, and being a bit of a naïve idealist, cinematographer Roderick E. Stevens grew determined to work on correcting the situation. “T-Shirts!” he yelled! “I came to realize that a collective voice would be necessary, since individuals are nearly powerless against the trundling beasts of economics and history, and I formed a very hopeful image of entire film crews dressed in T-shirts emblazoned with the 12on/12off logo and the three rules on the back.”
In September 2003, www.12on12off.org was launched to begin disbursing information and the now infamous T-shirts. Word quickly spread throughout the industry and got the attention of some high profile individuals, including John Lindley, ASC, Roy Wagner, ASC, and Haskell Wexler, ASC, all of them long-time advocates for more reasonable working conditions.
Haskell contacted Roderick one day after the launch of the website, explaining that he was in mid-production of a documentary about the effects of sleep deprivation on the work force, and wanted to speak to him further about his 12on/12off mission, incorporating support for the cause and the issue of chronic long hours into “Who Needs Sleep?”
In September 2003, www.12on12off.org was launched to begin disbursing information and the now infamous T-shirts. Word quickly spread throughout the industry and got the attention of some high profile individuals, including John Lindley, ASC, Roy Wagner, ASC, and Haskell Wexler, ASC, all of them long-time advocates for more reasonable working conditions.
Haskell contacted Roderick one day after the launch of the website, explaining that he was in mid-production of a documentary about the effects of sleep deprivation on the work force, and wanted to speak to him further about his 12on/12off mission, incorporating support for the cause and the issue of chronic long hours into “Who Needs Sleep?”