This Doctor Produced a Document on the Countless Preventable Injuries on Film Sets

When he first became a film and television production therapist in Massachusetts as a part-time job in 2006, Paul Heinzelmann admits he was amazed by the energy and excitement of the lights and cameras.

But in the years that followed, he saw first-hand the physical wear and tear that plagued many entertainment industry workers, sparking a decade-long fight among IATSE members to tighten safety rules to reduce preventable accidents.

“I’ve seen a lot of concussions,” Heinzelmann told The Wrap. “They asked me to give me medication to keep me awake during night shoots. I met a technician who completely tore his quadriceps and continued to work for a month to finish the shoot, even though he needed surgery.”