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2005-05-26 Home Front: WoT

"Rational disobedience" saved lives at the WTC

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Posted by Mike 2005-05-26 16:18|| || Front Page|| [5 views since 2007-05-07] Top

the movie cliche of the unreasoned mob fleeing in panic doesn't seem to apply in real life

I don't think it does in most circumstances, either.

I got roped into being an extra (for lack of a better term) in the crowd scene near the end of The Jackel. When the "shooting" started, we were instructed to run in all directions, and they had other extras in police uniforms actually waving at us to go back toward where we had just left (i.e., where the bullets were landing).

I did as I was told, since it was just a movie. But having been in terrorist attack and sniper situations, I can tell you the way they had us behave would be the last thing I would have done in real life. Someone's shooting at you - particularly with an automatic weapon? Hit the deck, preferably behind something solid and thick, and stay down. That's a normal response, I think. Running around like a chicken with its head cut off is not, for most people.

Except, apparently, in Hollywood.

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2005-05-26 17:23|| 2005-05-26 17:23|| Front Page Top

#2 Barbara, I'd have given you lines, babe.

"Rewrite!"

Everything's different in Hollyweird, heh.

Posted by .com 2005-05-26 21:49|| 2005-05-26 21:49|| Front Page Top

#3 LOL, .com.

That was one of the most boring jobs (and I use the term loosely) I've ever done. A great deal of sitting around doing nothing. On folding chairs. Outdoors. On a cloudless day. For more than one day.

I can't believe people do that for a living.

If you're ever watching the movie and see a (ahem) queen-sized middle-aged woman in a white linen jacket in the crowd at the "hospital" dedication running toward the cops, that's me.

Luckily, I think I'm on the cutting room floor. ;-p

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2005-05-26 22:33|| http://ariellestjohndesigns.com]">[http://ariellestjohndesigns.com] 2005-05-26 22:33|| Front Page Top

#4 Was that scene in the US, then? They make so many of them in Canada (Montreal is tops with the HW dinks, I've read) that it makes it unusual. I read a guy's description once on the making of a Bay Watch episode that was exactly as you described it - lots of sitting around, endless waiting for that 2-30 seconds when they were to do some milling around or similar shit, lol! Since it was Bay Watch, all the HS teen queens who had never scratched that itch mobbed the casting call. The guy who wrote the bit said there were barely enough men to fill the needed slots - so he and almost all the others were selected. Malibu Pier, milling around. Some measly flat $ day rate, bad & insufficient food, Kool Aid, boredom. Sounded like a day wasted - and that was his conclusion, though he said it was pretty funny to see himself onscreen for 3-4 seconds.

BTW, I only called you "babe" to see if I'd get the Barb Wire treatment, lol! It's so "Hollywood" doncha think? Lol! Good on ya - you know much more than those frustrated teen queens - regardless of their gender, lol!

Posted by .com 2005-05-26 22:46|| 2005-05-26 22:46|| Front Page Top

#5 unsentimental rigor? Civil Engineers? Alaska Paul and I are pussy cats! I cry every time Jeremiah Johnson finds his family dead (probably 15 times watched to date, and now I have the DVD!). Call us tough assholes, but ones you'd like to have on your side for the right reasons

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2005-05-26 22:55|| 2005-05-26 22:55|| Front Page Top

#6 You can call me "Babe" anytime, .com.

Well, almost anytime.... ;-p

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2005-05-26 23:57|| http://ariellestjohndesigns.com]">[http://ariellestjohndesigns.com] 2005-05-26 23:57|| Front Page Top

#7 And to answer your question, yes, some of it was shot in the States. We have a lot of movies shoot scenes around the Richmond/Petersburg area. We've got both new and centuries-old buildings around here, city scapes and old-fashioned-looking small town looks (Ashland), the James River, etc. Lots to work with.

This time, Richmond stood in for D.C. There was an empty building near downtown (not quite finished, IIRC) with a parking lot next door - they used it for the new D.C. children's hospital the "first lady" was dedicating when Bruce Willis started "shooting" at her & Sydney Poitier ran across the stage and tackled her to protect her.

The scene where Bruce Willis' van was blown up was filmed not downtown but up at Chimborazo Park on Church Hill - it was a nine days' wonder, very cool.

Nobody ever saw Richard Gere, except when he was acting, though I read that he had great dining experiences at the 5-star Jefferson Hotel. I didn't see Bruce Willis, though I read he was polite and relatively accessable.

Sydney Poitier, though - when he came through the crowd (of extras) to take his place at the side of the stage when they were ready to shoot the scene, everybody spontaneously stood up and applauded him. He seemed a little surprised, but he was very nice and smiled and waved at everyone. A real gentleman.

I had done some stage work many years ago, but no TV or movie work, so I wasn't prepared for how BORING the whole thing was. And I don't do boredom well.

Live and learn.

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2005-05-27 00:13|| http://ariellestjohndesigns.com]">[http://ariellestjohndesigns.com] 2005-05-27 00:13|| Front Page Top

00:13 Barbara Skolaut
23:57 Barbara Skolaut
23:54 Phil Fraering
23:46 gromgoru
23:43 gromgoru
23:34 .com
23:07 Frank G
23:06 Frank G
23:03 Frank G
23:02 Frank G
22:58 Frank G
22:57 badanov
22:55 Frank G
22:53 badanov
22:53 .com
22:48 Frank G
22:46 .com
22:43 Frank G
22:40 trailing wife
22:38 trailing wife
22:35 trailing wife
22:33 Barbara Skolaut
22:30 Lone Ranger
22:28 .com