The View

The Pacific and PCH.

Cooler

As I was saying yesterday, the heat really took it's toll on the
Background. One woman was on the verge of collapse due to the weather.

This patient was able to continue work after she got something to eat
(she said she hadn't eaten since 6:30AM. It was now 2:30 in the
afternoon.)

Photos From Santa Barbara

It is a sunny, windy, and warm day here in Santa Barbara.

We are now shooting a Christmas tree lot so I wanted to get my picture taken with Santa Tim. I heard about Tim on "This American Life" from NPR on KPCC. If you get a chance look up the episode on their web site.

That's it for now.

Be well.

Beyond Behind The Scenes

So far from the action I can barely see the video monitors.

Setting Sun

Here we are in Thousand Oaks again.

The Rigging Medic is here for Special FX and I thought, no reason for
two of us on the clock.

My Loopt Journal

Sign up for Loopt at www.loopt.com

Hybrid

Hybrid Yukon

CSI: Santa Clarita

Out here where they shoot a lot of this show. The weather is nice
today, warm in the sun and a little cool in the shade.

Working at an abandoned bank and now at a mobile home park off Vasquez
Cyn. Rd. This is pretty run of the mill rigging.

Interesting to see that the show uses Hybrid Chevys and GMCs. Check
out the photo.

I've put together a new blog: "Confessions of a Movie Set Medic" also
on blogspot. It's still under construction so keep an eye out.

Be well and have a great weekend.

Hours And Years

I was curious about how many hours I've worked and how many years
vested in this business. The Motion Picture Pension Fund informed me
that I have accumulated 32,700 hours and 12 years.

In order to get the full pension, one has to work 30 yrs AND 60,000
hrs. This averages out to 2,725 hrs/yr and I will have to keep up
that pace for the next 18 years to get the full benefits. The way
work is shaping up this year I won't work those hours. Even if the
work picks up, I don't think I want to start cranking out multple long
hours.

I can get lifetime medical in three more years but I don't see myself
working as a Medic at age 70.

The requirement of 30 years and 60,000 is difficult to reach and I
don't think younger people getting into the business will be able to
reach that threshold.

Be well.

Griffith Park

It's been a few days since the last posting and that reflects my lack
of work as a card carrying IATSE member.
Perhaps I should branch out and start blogging from the beach, because
I've worked almost as many days as a Lifeguard as a Medic.
I will work as a W.A.T.E.R. Program Instructor next week through
Lifeguards.

Reshoot Day

Using the same VFX facility as CSI. This day will be at least 13 hours, now that's a long day when you're used 8 hour beach shifts.

Thankfully there's wifi and Mob Wars. I'll try to update how the day goes. They say the truss for the stunt will be ready at 8:30, that's movie time though.

Change

One day I'm sitting in a lifeguard tower on Santa Monica beach and the next I'm sittin' in the mill of the #1 TV show, "CSI: Vegas" or as they refer to themselves; "CSI". The sound of the sander and the shop radio forces me to turn up the music on the computer but thankfully there's wifi in the mill. This variety has made working 11 days-in-a-row bearable. It's fun to be at a different location every day. For instance, if the weather is decent tomorrow I'll work at the beach. Listening to a "genius" mix from my iTunes. That's a feature I've come to love. I can listen to music that's similar in tone and melody and not have all my music on the iPhone. I've got a playlist that starts with Brad Paisley, who I probably never listen to but I heard him on "A Prairie Home Companion" and found his songs to be hilarious. I've also found a lot of good music from NPR's Song of the day emails. I guess this isn't very entertainment related but then again it entertains me. Have a great weekend and be well.

Lifeguard To The Stars

I'm at Warner Bros. Ranch to be the Lifeguard for a pool scene.

I can't tell you how peaceful it is not to have a radio.

Gotta go because they are going to shoot, have to be on my toes.

Good Rates

Now this is a good price for parking. However, they don't use this
anymore but the price is still the same.

"A Thousand Words"

No pictures allowed so a thousand words will have to do. I'm working
re-shoots for the Eddy Murphy show with the above title.

It's always comforting to find a familiar face on a crew especially
when they worked on principal photography. The Genie operator/driver
and I worked on "Spang'lish", "The Longest Yard", and "Benchwarmers"
and the Standby Painter was on "Couples Retreat" which I was on for a
week. It's the folks that I've worked with for a week that seem to be
the toughest to place, even if it was recent.

We're shooting in a restaurant on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood. It may
be a long day or Eddy may decide not.

That may not be a thousand words but it's the best I can do.

Be well.

Trust Me

Here I am in the infirmary/sound cave for Construction today. Work out there is still slow and last night I emailed out a bunch of resumes.

The sag issue is not helping things in the least.

In the meantime Facebook has become a good way to find old friends and pass the time.

I wish there was more to say but there isn't. Check out the FB page and follow along on Twitter.

Time for lunch.

Be well.

In the car & the mill

I like the mill better than the car. The car was warmer but I can stretch out and hook up the computer.

Grateful to be working anywhere today.

Work is so slow The Entertainment Super Highway is like a muddy one lane road with wagon wheel groves.

Be well.

This is the Fuel

Sadly this is what powers the industry. Emer'Gen-"C" is what every
background player wants when he/she is sick, tired, or hungover.

Last day on "Trust Me"

Well here it the last day on the show. It's nice to come in at 6 and be off after the eight hour guaruntee. There isn't much money, especially on the first season TV rate but you have a life. Yesterday I got to swim before 5 PM at Santa Monica College, had a lane to myself and swam 1800 yds. Here's a picture from last night

That is all I know at the moment.

Be well.

Pirahna Medic?

Many of you have been wondering who and what is Pirahna Medic? The following is the history and evolution of "Aggressively Caring".

Last year, it seems so long ago, I was driving up hwy. 5 through the breadbasket of the state aka the San Joaquin Valley to visit my sister Linda. There was a truck in my lane and it had a logo of a pirahna on the side. Now I can't remember what the company was or what they sold, I think it was air-conditioning (which makes sense in that part of the state). Not only did the logo catch my eye but the slogan was great, I think it was "Aggressively Cooling" which fits if it was air-conditioning.

I started to think about my work as a medic and my full service cart and I made the leap to, "Aggressively Caring". Months later, I pleaded with older son Hunter to draw a pirahna for cards. He came up with a few images and then lost them in his black hole of a room for a few more months.

I found the image while working on "G.I. Joe" and the Standby Painter was going to make decals but the show ended before he could complete the task. Here is the image in all it's glory.

Downey Shores

This is the beach at Downey where Ext. Night shots of actors in canoes
will be caught in a storm.

"Couples" Talent Show

The kids at Camp Couples Retreat have gotten really close over the
five days/nights we've been shooting on stage 12.

Fwd: Good Morning Its 3:00 PM

Begin forwarded message:

From: Tony Whitmore <tony.whitmore@gmail.com>
Date: January 19, 2009 5:10:43 PM PST
To: Tony's Blog <go@blogger.com>
Subject: Good Morning Its 3:00 PM

There is nothing more disspiriting to me than "morning" greetings in the afternoon.  When I leave and return to work on the same calendar day I get grumpy.

The background is (or is it are?) beginning the phase known as comfortable.  The novelty has worn off and sometimes people feel entitled to the same things as the crew.  I don't mean food and water but they do have a set-up for themselves that is equal.

That's it for now.

Be well.

At Crafty

Background has to show their SAG tag before they can eat off the union
table.

Behind the Retreat

This is behind the "C. R." set in Bora Bora. Yesterday was one click
short of 15 hours, that's roaring back into work.

There is a lot going on on this stage beyond the 230 background
artists. I kinda hope this is my Friday because the beach hours
spoiled me.

Be well,

Tony

BG Medic

I'm the Medic for the Background today. The show is "Couples
Retreat" and we are shooting at a major studio.

It's good to be back at work for the IA.

Be well.