Cape Town's shooting season is under way. Long summer days bring international productions, commercials and series, and with them 12-hour-plus days, heavy kit and plenty of time on your feet in the heat.
Film work is physical work. Grips, gaffers, camera operators and art department crew lift, carry and hold awkward positions for hours, and stunt performers and actors take on the demands of an athlete. Here are the injuries common in film and TV work, and how to reduce your risk.
Crew: grips, electrics, camera and art department
Lower back strain
Why it happens: lifting and carrying heavy, awkward kit (dolly track, sandbags, lighting stands, cable) often at the end of a long day, and frequent bending and twisting. Reducing the risk: lift with a team or use carts and trolleys where you can, keep loads close to your body, and avoid lifting while twisting. Regular strength work for your back, hips and legs makes long shoots easier on your body.
Shoulder and neck pain
Why it happens: handheld camera, gimbals and body-mounted rigs, holding boom poles overhead, and working above your head when rigging. Reducing the risk: share long handheld or boom takes where possible, use supports and rests between set-ups, and build shoulder and upper back strength between jobs.
Knee pain
Why it happens: kneeling and squatting to lay track, rig or work low angles, often on hard or uneven ground. Reducing the risk: use knee pads or a kneeling mat, and change position regularly rather than staying down for long periods.
Hand, wrist and elbow pain
Why it happens: repeated gripping, clamping, rigging and tool use. Pain on the outside of the elbow (the same problem as tennis elbow) or at the wrist is common with repetitive grip work. Reducing the risk: use the right tool for the job, take short breaks from repetitive gripping, and act early if pain starts. Tendon pain is easier to settle when it's caught early. Our tendon injuries guide explains more.
Ankle sprains and falls
Why it happens: uneven locations (beaches, mountains, building sites), cables underfoot and working in low light. Reducing the risk: wear supportive, closed footwear on location, keep walkways and cable runs tidy, and use a torch on night shoots.
Stunt performers and actors
Stunt work and physically demanding roles carry the injury risks of sport: sprains, muscle strains, shoulder injuries, and head knocks from falls and fight scenes.
- Prepare like an athlete. Build up training for a physical role gradually over weeks, not in the last few days before shooting.
- Warm up before every take, not just at the start of the day. Long gaps between set-ups let muscles cool down.
- Take head knocks seriously. Anyone with a suspected concussion should stop for the day, even if they feel fine and the schedule is tight. Our concussion guide covers the warning signs and a safe return.
If in doubt, stop. Get a performer or crew member checked by the set medic straight away after a head knock, a fall from height, or an injury where they can't put weight on a leg. Go to an emergency unit if, after a head knock, symptoms get worse, or if someone has neck pain, weakness or numbness, repeated vomiting or becomes confused or drowsy.
Long days, heat and fatigue
Fatigue and heat make injuries more likely, for crew and cast alike.
- Drink regularly through the day, before you feel thirsty, and take shade breaks on hot locations.
- Know the signs of heat illness: headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion or stopping sweating. Move the person to shade, cool them and get help.
- Sleep and turnaround matter. Many injuries happen late in a long day or after a short turnaround, when concentration and coordination drop.
If you're injured on set
- Report it the same day to the production's set medic or safety officer, even if it seems minor. Depending on your contract, it may be covered by the Compensation Fund (COIDA) or the production's insurance, and an early record makes that easier.
- Don't work through pain that changes how you move. A minor strain can turn into a longer problem if you keep loading it for weeks of shooting.
When to see a sports doctor
Book an assessment if pain:
- is still there after 1–2 weeks
- stops you working or affects sleep and daily life
- keeps coming back with each job, or with particular kit or tasks
A sports physician treats work injuries in the same way as sports injuries: by finding what's causing the pain, then planning treatment and a safe return to full duties.