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Were you ever in a situation where you said "No" ?


Beau Cuizon

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A few years ago I was on a TV show where a stunt double was jogging in a military compound. On the rehearsal a big truck comes around the corner at considerable speed. They miscalculated and the stunt performer dives out of the way, narrowly avoiding tragedy while the truck swerves to miss her. I ask the DP what he wants for the shot and he says "You are running next to her and the truck goes between you two." I say "Absolutely not!" The DP asks why? I remind him that I would be exactly where the truck swerved to miss the stunt performer, while wearing 80lbs of gear. Grumpily, and a bit amazed I said no, he asks "Well, what do you suggest?" I told him we would do the shot from the dolly 100 feet away on a long lens. Begrudgingly he agrees. The shot worked perfectly the first take. Director was ecstatic! Said it looked way more dangerous than expected. I have refused work with this DP ever since.

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Ah I remember a shoot… horses and pyrotechnics what could possibly go wrong? Just to add to the fun because there was not enough pyrotechnic crew the guy setting off and resetting for the next pass was just some guy they picked out of the public. Our show producer (who the year before had been a runner in the last series I had shot with the company) showed him how to do it. The guy gradually upped the amount of diesel in the mix to get a bigger bang until it was massive and set fire to the fire engine that was nearby on standby.

That was especially relevant to me as I was supposed to be positioned between the fire engine and the explosion.

The sound guy and I had a department meeting and said “hell no.”

We set up well back on a long lens and the heat still melted the Rycote windshield.

The horse bolted though a field and then a skate park knocking over a teenager and breaking his collarbone

After the shoot we wrote a list of concerns to the production company and I never worked for them again. Later that year they set someone on fire, forgetting to put them in the flame retardant suit first.

Edited by Stephen Press
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13403890_284442775237697_455149744860497so on the last performance i was operating on, i had a taped off area in front and to the side of the stage (Photo below, if i can figure out how to do that), and this was the area i would walk up and down with my rig, and most of the time i would have my eye on the monitor, and on the ground. problem with this plan was, there were many kids in the audience and they thought it was funny to run underneath the tape, and run in front of me, while i was operating. i managed not to hit most of them, but at one point i was moving to quickly to be able to stop in time, and i hit this little kid with my arm. he was maybe nine. i feel so bad about it.... i told them i was concerned about hitting someone again, and they said from now on they will have an actual fence. Maybe not as dangerous as some of the other situations on this thread, but i don't want to injure anyone, let alone a child.

Edited by Adrian Proleiko
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Earlier this year, I was on an ad which ended up being very run and gun, very rough terrain (think State Park primarily famous for it's rock climbing features). I am in low mode, being coaxed ever closer toward the edge of a sheer cliff (few hundred foot drop) by the director, when I eye over at him and notice he's not even looking at the monitor. I pointed the rig at the sky, causing all other heads to to look my way, and I didn't even have to say a word. Our producer screamed all the right ones.

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Years ago, I showed up to a low budget job. Before loading into the space, the production had a letter from the stage owner that they wanted me to sign, I believe it was a waiver of liability or hold harmless for the stage. Long story short, I didn't sign it, refused to set foot on the stage, and I wound up leaving.

 

Important part of this story: when I told them I wouldn't sign it, the person replied, "But everyone else has signed it."

 

Safety starts with me (and you and you and you). Just because everyone else developed the same blind spot to the same potential threat or danger does NOT mean you should too. Just like in Jess' story, go speak to the person in charge so you know exactly what's going on, and don't accept "everyone else is going along with this" as a viable reason for you to participate.

 

Also, I highly recommend learning about guns. Lots of gun owners, gun enthusiasts on this forum and in our community, and we camera people wind up around a lot of guns loaded with blanks of various types and sizes. Safety Pass program doesn't have a firearms awareness class (for some stupid reason), so just ask another gun owner to educate you about firearms. You may not overnight become an NRA member, but you will know what you're looking at when the gun wrangler shows you what they're using on set.

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so on the last performance i was operating on, i had a taped off area in front and to the side of the stage (Photo below, if i can figure out how to do that), and this was the area i would walk up and down with my rig, and most of the time i would have my eye on the monitor, and on the ground. problem with this plan was, there were many kids in the audience and they thought it was funny to run underneath the tape, and run in front of me, while i was operating. i managed not to hit most of them, but at one point i was moving to quickly to be able to stop in time, and i hit this little kid with my arm. he was maybe nine. i feel so bad about it.... i told them i was concerned about hitting someone again, and they said from now on they will have an actual fence. Maybe not as dangerous as some of the other situations on this thread, but i don't want to injure anyone, let alone a child.

 

Ah ! This is quite dangerous but reminds me of a deeply amusing ( and embarassing ) story.

 

In the summer of 2006 I shot a tour through Ontario of Blues Festivals. I was traveling with The Detroit Women. Amazing group of singers with a killer band behind them. We were in a small town called Porquis Junction, Iroquois Falls, Ontario. TINY town. They hosted this Blues Festival in the ice skating rink every summer. It's just insanely hot and humid. No rope line for a barrier, but before the show started I walked along, getting people to step back to where I'd need them to be. Many were already drunk, none were jerk offs and I figured I'd be just fine.

 

We get set, our band goes on and because the stage was quite tight there, I was limited to being the "human dolly", tracking back and forth during the entire set. We've all done those.

 

Before we even get started, I'm quite sweaty. By the end of the second song I'm just drenched. And yet....and yet... as I do a move from one edge of the stage line on the floor moving to center, with the lead singer in my frame, I come to a stop. And two hands very firmly grab my butt cheeks. I hold my shot and turn and look and see two very inebriated young women laughing. I had no rope line- and had no need for one.

 

It was a very weird moment. I moved away doing a shot. EVERY single time I stopped near center to concentrate on the lead singer, that gal's hands held onto my bum. Sometimes one, usually two. I knew I was drenched and was part irritated, part grossed out and part flattered. They just kept laughing. And doing it. Not once did they reach out for me as I was operating.

 

When the band finished, I walked up to them. Just dripping with sweat. They were both laughing and grinning. I said, so.... what's the deal? One said, " It's her birthday- give her a kiss ! " I wished her a happy birthday, shook her hand and bailed.

 

I hadn't thought of that in years till I read the post quoted above. :D

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The only time I can recall saying no wasn't your typical safety concern.

 

I was on a low budget horror movie. As horror movies go, 2 of the characters had to have sex. We had already blocked it; standard missionary style, no nudity. As the AD said "roll sound," a producer storms on set and loudly asked of the actress "why the f--- is your top still on?" She explains they had not agreed to a nude scene, to which he replies "I don't give a f---, take off your top." He then turns to the actor and says "and I don't like this position; flip her offer and f--- her doggy style." At this point the actress is quietly crying and is clearly embarrassed/humiliated. Producer walks off set telling us to roll. I had already docked and said not a chance. The producer got in my face, made various threats but I made it clear that was the most unprofessional thing I'd ever seen and would not be rolling the camera until this was addressed.

 

Long story short, myself and about 6 others walked that day and they wrapped very early to regroup.

 

I don't believe any film/tv project is ever worth another human's self worth and this producer had more than crossed that line.

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Just yesterday, shooting on the beach in Far Rockaway. DP asks me if I could do a shot on the rock jetty. Wen went closer, just a bunch of boulders stacked with large gaps and weird angles. I said no, my B cam AC agreed and DP understood. DP went shoulder mount with the A cam instead, but the A cam assistant slipped and badly scratched his calf while slipping, he's ok with a large bandage on the leg now, but I can only imagine what would have happened if it was me with the 50 lb rig on.

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Grant, I think you made a great decision, and Im sure that it took an enormous amount of pressure off of the performers for you to stand up and make it less about them and more about the shot. Great job dude. I do a show which involves a lot of sexual assault and at the beginning of each episode I have a small talk with our female actors and letting them know that safety and respect is important to me. Ive yelled our safety word more than once as a result of a dangerous situation or something going awry. Since I am usually closer to the performers than anyone else, often in their grills, I want them to be communicative with me about any discomfort they have with the shot.

 

NO is the most powerful word in your vocabulary. There is a fair amount written about the value of NO and how is can actually help your career. Every year, my wife and I decide on a "word of the year" that helps to promote a philosophy that wed like to live out in our lives that year. The most memorable to me has been ACTIVATE-stop thinking so hard, make your decision, do it. This very often comes in the form of NO. Dont waffle. Decide.

 

There are two experiences I recall, though I am sure there are more. I am happy, often thrilled, to do some dangerous stuff, as long as safety is considered, but sometimes theres just stupid ideas.

Recently I was shooting at a river and there was a lane of large rocks protruding from the water, creating a bit of a dam. I work in the water a lot, but I am usually in it, not atop it. The director wanted a low mode tracking shot on a wide lens across the rocks, looking back towards the beach. Even the grip who would have been spotting me would have been in an extremely difficult situation. I knew I wouldnt do the shot, but to humor him and make my decision seem valid (and hell, why not take a five minute break to walk in the river?!), I walked the path sans rig and came back to the director and just said there is no safe way of achieving the shot, but Id be happy jump in the water and plant the camera on sticks and get the lens at low mode level. We wound up doing that and the director was satisfied. I also had the key grip and DP on my side, so there was no problem. Presenting a suitable alternative helped.

 

Before I accept a job I ask a series of questions, and one of them is "will my feet ever leave the ground?" I accepted a music video gig and show up to find out that they have discussed a shot with a step-off. I asked them about which crane theyd be using they said "no crane, the warehouse has a forklift and some pallets. I was amused and not totally scared away, so I asked if they had the COI for me. They said they couldnt get one in time so I said not to the shot and then the video. If a production cant get it together enough to call in a COI by the time I show up, then its just not worth the risk. I realize that the COI isnt binding in any way, but it reveals a lot to me about how the shoot may go and by that point my expectations were set. Spent the day on my bike cruising up to Port Hueneme, so it was a good day.

 

brett.

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It always amazes me when people want to do things like step-offs but haven't bothered to discuss it with the operator. It's my job to get them the shot they want but if they don't bother telling me what it is with enough time to execute it properly then I don't see why they are surprised that I don't want to risk my life doing it with the tools at hand.

 

I was on one shoot where I thought we had discussed what we would be shooting that day only to show up and have the stunt guys tell me they brought the quad they talked with the director about. I love doing vehicle mount shots but this thing was tiny, they wanted a forward facing shot, the AC had nowhere to pull from so I had to pull my own focus and there was no time to rig it. Ended up going handheld although even that I probably should have said no to. That quad was not designed for two people, especially with one riding on the front of it.....

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I've said no to sitting on the seat of a Helicopter while hanging the rig out the side door. Crazy!

 

Got a call for Herbie Reloaded years ago to do Steadicam on roller blades. Pass.

 

On a western was asked if I could wear it while on horseback to track with the stage coach. Yeah NO.

 

Was asked if I could go low mode and walk through 3 feet of water in a canal for 100 feet, with the camera skimming over the top of the water while following

the actor through the water. Again, sorry guys, one trip or fall and me, and all the gear goes bye bye.

 

 

Each person has their abilities and comfort levels. If you ever feel unsafe or uncomfortable, politely and professional speak up to the DP and 1st AD.

Just say you really aren't comfortable doing it, as if anything goes wrong, it will be your life in peril or your safety on the line. No movie, TV show, or whatever is worth your life or spending the rest of it in a wheelchair to get a shot. Steadicam is physical enough and directors, DP's and others have the best intentions in mind when they suggest shots, but often they don't think of the safety as deeply as we do. I have never had any of them complain when I said NO.

I don't have to say no often, but when it does come up, they always understand and we do the shot differently and with safety in mind and often they are just as happy. Their unsafe suggestions are often just "hey this would be awesome if you could...." types of thoughts.

Once they realize "awesome" can sometimes have detrimental affects if something goes wrong, they will say, "you are right, sorry, lets do it this way instead".

 

Cheers

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I received a call for a commercial from a UPM that told me the ASC camerman had requested me. I hadn't worked with him in several years so it was good to hear that I might get another chance. The UPM then started asking me if I had rain/water covers for my gear, and was quite serious in her tone. I asked what the conditions were likely to be so that I could be prepared and supplement the gear I had. She told me that I would be strapped onto the back of a waverunner shooting surfers in action with my steadicam. I politely reminded her that if I was doing the shot while wearing the vest I would drown if I got knocked off by a wave, and hardmounting to a vehicle driving through the surf didn't sound like the right tool for the job and certainly not the safest way to do it. I wished her luck on the job and that was the last I heard of it. Hopefully they found another way of doing it. Please keep this topic active - very interesting what we are asked to do!

 

Brooks

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