As the coming of winter brings shorter days, it’s a struggle to get out of bed in the morning – especially when it’s still dark outside. Enveloped by cozy, warm covers, it’s easy to lull one’s self into another drowse alarm cycle, but you can’t go on pressing the bar forever. At some point you have to commit to rising.

That’s when I remember Casey Edison (the mom on Maniac Mansion, played by the fabulous Deb Theaker).

person-awake-in-bedFor a wake-up scene in one episode, she squeezed her eyes tightly shut then opened them super-wide before relaxing into normal sight. Surprisingly it works! You feel a bit more awake. Doing so, it’s easier to pull back the covers and get out of bed. It’s rather amazing, since there is so little effort involved for such a dramatic effect. Maybe you have to do it a couple of times before you feel the full effect, but it beats the shock of blasting music or bright lights.

What a magic movie moment! I’ve carried this moment with me for many years now and it still works. Thank you, Casey… or rather… Deb Theaker.

OK, when exhausted tiredness creeps in later in production, I’ll scale up my morning routine to include multiple alarm clocks… but that’s a story for another time.

Cheers & a magic morning wake-up to you,
Deb

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Where is Deb?

13-Dec/24 – Vancouver Film Industry Holiday Party for some festive fun at InFocus Film School

PM101 bookEnd of Jan/25 – “Film Production Management 101 – Third Edition” is coming to bookstores and online, but available now for pre-order (e.g. on AmazonAmazon CanadaIndigo-Chapters, directly from the publisher MWP).

Early Feb/25 – TBA location of the Vancouver launch party & book signing. When the location is set, you can pre-order an autographed copy from the attending bookstore.

Reading week Feb/25 – A celebration party & book signing in Toronto is in discussion. If/when confirmed, you can pre-order an autographed copy from the attending bookstore.