Never Ignore Late Night Phone Calls.

Sad Max said:
Any connections where Davis-Monthan is concerned?
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Not directly, but with a few calls, I probably could get you AF OPR there on base. They are they ones you want to get cozy to. And have them like you and whatever it is you are wanting to do there.

I can tell anyone this little "secret": If you want to shoot on a military base, it can be done. But it takes months of time, approvals, and people signing off on your project. And yes, you have to know the right people (which is why this is a good thing for me here in So Cal). You can't call them up one day and ask to shoot the following weekend. And the cast/crew has to undergo a background check w/fingerprints (be ready for that). No felonies.

Oh, and the script cannot shed a bad light on the military. Period. They have final say on the script if you shoot on base. If they say change something, and you don't.......expect an escort off base. Whole kit-and-kaboodle, don't let the door hit you where the good Lord split ya'.

But on the other hand, if you are approved for shooting, there are a lot of plusses. Vehicles for your set....usually free (other than donating a case of beer to the crews) Helos......same thing. Maybe even personnel/extras for your shoot. B Roll out the wahzoo........... Whatever the military has, you can ask for. Doesn't mean they will give you everything, but they will help you out however they can, depending on the needs of the service at the time. Plus if you know who to talk to on the QT, you can usually arrange for other cool stuff. Wasn't film related, but I took a case of Coke's and a case of beer over to the EVAC unit's ready room, explained I wanted a dust off for some cadets when I was at Ft. Ir***. Their reply...."well, hell, Doc, we need to do a training run anyway. You wanna fly out?" It's all in your delivery and who you talk to. I got my dust-off and it only cost 20 buck at the time. For a Blackhawk, full crew, and they medi-vac'd one of my cadet's, flew him around the area, and dropped him back off.

But seriously, if you are going to shoot on base........have someone who is prior service on your crew. It makes things easier.
 
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Just wondering Doc, could you build up a library of b-roll/stock footage you could license out to other projects? I don't have any specific projects in mind, but that might be another revenue stream for you. That would probably require some tricky release documents legaleze to get approved, but might be something to look into. Just saying.
 
:happy: Working on it. Gonna take some serious time, but already getting footage. Gonna use my connections for that "special" footage.



See, great minds think alike.
 
Deepfocus88 said:
I have a saying in our house: if the phone rings after 10pm, someone better have died or it better be about clearance to shoot at los alamos.
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The last time I got a late night production phone call someone had died. My contact was 15 minutes from boarding a plane to the East Coast and they needed someone to live stream the funeral service. All they needed from me was to take their feed and stream it. I quoted at 6 times my normal rate and they took it. I later asked why they chose me over their regular streaming guy. He quoted twice what I did for the last minute job.
 
David G. Smith said:
Just wondering Doc, could you build up a library of b-roll/stock footage you could license out to other projects? I don't have any specific projects in mind, but that might be another revenue stream for you. That would probably require some tricky release documents legaleze to get approved, but might be something to look into. Just saying.
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It's official. We are getting into that market. Indie Arms will be hosting/selling stock military footage. Webmaster will be setting up that arm of the company very soon. We already have over 5 gig of footage. Will be reaching out our contacts in the military for much more footage (on % basis). And accessing the unclassified archives.

Thanks guys! Ever since we talked about this, it lit a fire under my butt. I have been hit up too many times for footage for me to ignore it.
 
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LOL, what's your budget? And........what will my position be in the new government once we are done? Like that "we" part?
 
You will be generously paid in local currency once my picture's on it. Plus a Field Marshal's commission into the new army, if'n you're into that sort of thing.
 
You know.........this would make a great movie script. Action-Comedy. Film company pairs up with prop company to overthrow a small country in order to film on location.

Opening conflict was country would not issue film permit. I shall be played by Costner, Duvall or Statham. (whoever has the best audition)


DIBS!!!!!!!!!!! Please note date and time stamp on this post.
 
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Congrats Doc. Good to see your biz expanding.

Btw, I'm forwarding all of my late night calls to you now for screening purposes.
 
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