Allan Duffin - Writer/Producer

Sitting at an awkward position in front of your computer? Problems can start early

There are days that I miss the typewriter. Then there are days that I remember that many people have probably never used such an antiquated device. Then I look at my computer, sigh loudly to no one in particular, adjust my chair, and continue pecking at the keys. Sometimes this is how writing sessions go in my office.

When I'm totally focused on my writing, I often forget to step away from the computer every now and then. It's a matter of health, after all. Here's a reminder that too much time spent in front of your computer can be bad for you: According to the Office Ergonomics Research Committee (OERC), a nonprofit organization founded in 1991 to study the increasing number of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among office workers, students who frequently assume awkward postures when working with a computer were, compared to other students, more likely to report musculoskeletal discomfort in several body regions, including the eyes, neck, and back.

OERC quotes Dr. Carolyn Sommerich of The Ohio State University: "Similar to the recommendations provided to adults, children should be encouraged to take periodic breaks from any computer they use, in order to give eyes and other body parts a break from sustained and sometimes awkward postures adopted while using the computer."

Adele Diepenmaat, an epidemiologist with the Municipal Health Service of Amsterdam, Netherlands, has been studying musculoskeletal discomfort lasting four or more days per month, which she found to be common among adolescents. Diepenmaat's study found that it didn't matter how long the students spent in front of the computer; all of them experienced some form of musculoskeletal discomfort.

A good lesson to all of us who spend most of our workdays in front of a computer: Posture problems can start when we're very young. So let's push away from these machines periodically during the day and wander around a bit. You never know what creative thoughts will hit you when you're taking a break.

Time travel history: Voyagers! to be released on DVD

I'm a huge fan of time travel and of American history, so the recent announcement that Universal Studios is releasing the old TV series Voyagers! on DVD is great news. Here's a show that combined time travel with American history, with its heroes trying to "correct" errors in time. From Cynthia Turner's informative daily Cynopsis newsbrief (get a free subscription here):

Remember the TV series Voyagers!, which ran on NBC 1982-83?  Universal Studios Home Entertainment is set to release all 20 episodes of the cult classic on DVD for the first time, on July 17, 2007.  The series followed the time-traveling adventures of Phineas Bogg (played by the late Jon-Erik Hexum) as he makes his way through time in an effort to keep history on track.  Along the way he gains an unexpected companion a 12-year-old boy (played by Meeno Peluce), who coincidentally knows lots of history. The show was released on VHS about five years back.

Check out the Voyagers! fansite here, and preorder the DVD at Amazon.com. For another take on "What Ifs?" in American history, Robert Cowley edited a book with just that title. Take a look here.

New article in DramaBiz Magazine: costume troubleshooting

Check out my new article for DramaBiz Magazine, "Costume Troubleshooting," in the just-published May-June 2007 issue. The article deals with last-minute costume emergencies that occur during theatrical shows. Here's a snippet:

Many last-minute costume crises revolve around rips, tears and misplaced items — “zippers failing, buttons popping, costumes falling off,” says Schenz. Adds Catanese, “I’ve had costume coordinators tell me that they broke zippers or the whole crotch of a pair of pants came apart.” Even worse: actors who become enamored of a wardrobe item, take it home, and forget to bring it back.

You can visit DramaBiz Magazine at www.dramabiz.com. A journal of the theatre industry, DramaBiz has great tips, tricks, and advice in every issue. The editor is Joel Dorr.

Fox Home Video advertises new DVD release of "Twelve O'Clock High"

With the new DVD of "Twelve O'Clock High" hitting the shelves on Tuesday June 5th (see previous post), Fox Home Video is running online advertisements like the one below, which appears on the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com). If you visit the IMDB page for "Twelve O'Clock High" you'll see the ad. The Fox War Classics website also has information about the new DVD, which contains several special features, including documentaries about WWII and the making of the film. Look for me in a few of them! While you're at it, check out the companion book, The "12 O'Clock High Logbook: The Unofficial History of the Novel, Motion Picture, and Television Series," available at Amazon.com.