Chemical Plant Explosion in Saint Louis!!!

A

aerosolcheese

Well-known member
http://www.aerosolcheese.com/stl/chem_plant.mov

I took the day off from work yesterday. As I sat in my loft playing online poker, I heard a really loud explosion. I looked out the window, saw nothing, and sat back down. Then I heard it again. I looked out the window again and saw fire and smoke in the reflection of the window across from me. So I grabbed my DVX and ran outside.

I got some really great shots from the parking lot of my apartment buiilding, which was only a block away from the explosions. It was pretty shaky because the adrenaline was pumping, I could feel the heat and there were large projectiles being shot several hundred feet in the air landing in the parking lot. I got about 10 minutes of footage before the fire deptartment rescue team evacuated our building.

My parents happened to see this live on CNN so they called me to make sure I'm safe. Then my dad suggested I lend the footage to a news station. So I called Fox news and ended up going to the station. They dubbed straight from my camera and had my footage on the air within 10 minutes of arriving. I couldn't belive the rave reviews I received from everyone at the station, from the anchors to the techs on how good the video looked. (I shot it letterboxed in 24p) A couple of guys even wanted to take a look at my DVX.

Anyway, it was a great experience and thankfully no one was hurt in the explosion. It looks like FOX took it nationally because my parents saw my "amateur" video in Houston and a friend of mine saw it in Virginia. I will capture the video by the end of the weekend and post a clip soon.
 
Did you get paid? I once sold a video to that "Most Outrageous Stuff Caught On Video" show done by Nash Productions for FOX. I got $1k for my friend almost lighting himself on fire trying to light a bonfire w/ gasoline. It was terrible Hi-8 nightvision, audio was awesome, w/ nightvision, it enhanced the explosion, whole screen went white, and even a mushroom cloud is seen ... u should have gotten way more for it being a dvx. ****...
 
must be cool to know your stuff went all over! but i do kind of feel disrespetfull being excited about that if anyone got hurt in that incident..? anyway nice work!
 
Yeah, your footage looks great. Oh, wait....

Okay, cool, I'm looking forward to seeing your footage!!

:evil:
 
aerosolcheese said:
Then my dad suggested I lend the footage to a news station. So I called Fox news and ended up going to the station. They dubbed straight from my camera and had my footage on the air within 10 minutes of arriving. I couldn't belive the rave reviews I received from everyone at the station, from the anchors to the techs on how good the video looked. (I shot it letterboxed in 24p) A couple of guys even wanted to take a look at my DVX. .
Click to expand...

Ummm... congratulations, I guess. That was an interesting story you told and I'll be watching Fox to see your video.

However, please don't ever "lend" footage to a news agency ever again in your life. If you have exclusive footage of a such a major newsworthy event, then they will pay for it. However, this should be agreed upon prior to letting them record your footage.

Frankly, I'm surprised that someone's father would make such a suggestion as to "lend" your work - especially knowing you have a $3,000+ camera to pay for (unless he bought it for you).

Handshakes and kudos are nice, but it still leaves a hollow feeling in your wallet. I don't wish to sound cruel, but I've witnessed good people in the ENG world get used and abused unless they stand up for themselves. So, it is with your best interest in mind when I say, "Please don't be so naive.". You can't buy more equipment with their backslaps and smiles. If they can get your video for a smile and a compliment, then they will take it.

Please excuse my harsh tone, but this matter has reared it's ugly head more than once in my career. Good luck to you and please be prepared to negotiate if you should ever find yourself in such a unique position in the future.
 
Nice job aerosolcheese. So there are some dvx users in Missouri. That makes at least three by my count. Once again good job.
 
uh, what was the chemical anyway? Just better hope it wasn't radioactive. Then again it would be nice to have a third arm. That arm can be used for rack focusing.
 
Hey, think I saw your video on the BBC in the UK! Was it a place that stored gas cannisters or something??

$200 doesn't sound like much to me... especially if Fox sold the footage on to the BBC etc. Did you sign a contract?
 
Wow a chemical plant, and you’re out there breathing that toxic air getting shrapnel thrown at you. You are a true journalist my friend. You only got $200 bucks for your life threatening experience. Funny, I would have done the same thing. I would bring my camera everywhere if I wasn't worried about it getting stolen or broken.

-Kevin
 
This footage wasn't all that unique. They had news helicopters all over getting a birds eye view of the footage that gave a far more complete view of what was going on. These explosions and the fires went on for quite awhile and there are hours of footage of it. You're lucky FOX2 gave you $200!
 
look again. I actually captured pieces of those tanks flying in the air. Plus, I was on the outside taping within 4 minutes of the first explosion because I heard it and I live there.
 
...it sounds like 9/11 - thousands of cameras, but I believe only one captured the impact of the first plane.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top