In Hawaii it wasn’t so bad because they were terrified of our teamsters who came from the local criminal underground and had a reputation for murder and setting things on fire. So many people are related here that it’s really risky to show up from somewhere else and start stepping on random toes. We basically had to train the Californians to live aloha, which has nothing to do with being nice and obedient but is actually a code of conduct that keeps this place from turning into a cannibal holocaust. Looking forward to the book!
Lol the pissing thing sounds like a flex. Like how LBJ would talk to reporters in the bathroom while he was shitting with the stall door open just because he could and what were they going to do about it?
As much of an abusive asshole as Pytka sounds like, I'm sure he's also a guy that if someone sees his name on your resume and the time worked is more than a week, they're like "Get this guy." Trial by fire has a way of making people decide how serious they are about the craft and I'm sure his antics weeded out a lot of people that would have been liabilities on set.
Order placed, and I'm happy to do so. When I got out of college, I worked as a PA on a number of sets before I changed my mind and got a "normal" job. A part of me has missed it ever since. There's a camaraderie on set that really doesn't exist in the 9-5 world of Normals. I met a lot of interesting people, heard a bunch of great stories, and embraced the weirdness of it all. I enjoy your writing and expect to have a blast reading the book.
Just ordered the book, looking forward to reading. Not sure if it's the same story but I remember hearing from the 1st AC on Mr. Robot a story about a fully loaded camera getting shoved off a roof because a director wanted to break for lunch and producers wanted to keep shooting. Hard to keep shooting when your camera is in pieces a couple stories down.
I will be ordering this. I got into the industry in the 90s in a sort of cockeyed way, following my future husband to a location shoot to help wrangle a French 75 field artillery piece. Moviemaking is definitely its own thing. You are so right about outsiders just not "getting it". You become part of a tribe like no other. It’s grueling and intoxicating and creative on a grand scale. Actual shooting days are a complicated ballet. Visitors to set would scoff about there being so many people who seemed superfluous …when the cameras rolled. At "cut" these same people sprang into action and got things the heck done as fast as possible to reset or move to the next shot. We used to joke about it being like the army: hours of tedium punctuated by wild action. Anyway, I look forward to reading your recollections.
In Hawaii it wasn’t so bad because they were terrified of our teamsters who came from the local criminal underground and had a reputation for murder and setting things on fire. So many people are related here that it’s really risky to show up from somewhere else and start stepping on random toes. We basically had to train the Californians to live aloha, which has nothing to do with being nice and obedient but is actually a code of conduct that keeps this place from turning into a cannibal holocaust. Looking forward to the book!
Hawaii Teamsters have that rep. Glad you kept everyone sane and level;)
Lol the pissing thing sounds like a flex. Like how LBJ would talk to reporters in the bathroom while he was shitting with the stall door open just because he could and what were they going to do about it?
As much of an abusive asshole as Pytka sounds like, I'm sure he's also a guy that if someone sees his name on your resume and the time worked is more than a week, they're like "Get this guy." Trial by fire has a way of making people decide how serious they are about the craft and I'm sure his antics weeded out a lot of people that would have been liabilities on set.
Looking forward to the book!
It totally works like that. If someone mentions that name then you know they can handle anything.
Order placed, and I'm happy to do so. When I got out of college, I worked as a PA on a number of sets before I changed my mind and got a "normal" job. A part of me has missed it ever since. There's a camaraderie on set that really doesn't exist in the 9-5 world of Normals. I met a lot of interesting people, heard a bunch of great stories, and embraced the weirdness of it all. I enjoy your writing and expect to have a blast reading the book.
Thanks Alex! I hope you enjoy the book.
Looking forward to reading your samizdat, comrade.
Thank you comrade🫡
Just ordered the book, looking forward to reading. Not sure if it's the same story but I remember hearing from the 1st AC on Mr. Robot a story about a fully loaded camera getting shoved off a roof because a director wanted to break for lunch and producers wanted to keep shooting. Hard to keep shooting when your camera is in pieces a couple stories down.
Haha.
Thanks for ordering. I hope you like it🙏
I will be ordering this. I got into the industry in the 90s in a sort of cockeyed way, following my future husband to a location shoot to help wrangle a French 75 field artillery piece. Moviemaking is definitely its own thing. You are so right about outsiders just not "getting it". You become part of a tribe like no other. It’s grueling and intoxicating and creative on a grand scale. Actual shooting days are a complicated ballet. Visitors to set would scoff about there being so many people who seemed superfluous …when the cameras rolled. At "cut" these same people sprang into action and got things the heck done as fast as possible to reset or move to the next shot. We used to joke about it being like the army: hours of tedium punctuated by wild action. Anyway, I look forward to reading your recollections.
🙏
Just pre-ordered along with The Last Men. Passage is putting out great stuff this summer.
Snagged. Can’t wait to read.
Thank you sir. I hope you like it.
Ordered. Can't wait for my copy. Congrats again on putting the book together Rambo.
🫡