A missed opportunity...

[deanl]

Hey there.

I have just been offered six weeks work as a runner on a film shoot that starts in October. It's about 250 quid a week cash in hand to hang out of a film set and basically be a go for... It may not sound THAT exciting but I think it would be chuffing great fun.

One problem though. I needed a car. And I don't drive. Now I can't do it. How **** is that?

With it being 6 weeks I would have had to have quit my job (It's pretty ****** anyway) to go down and do it. But I think it would have totally have been worth the experience. What do you think?

Would you have gone and done it?

What's the fastest anyone has ever got their licence, a car and insurance?

It looks like now I'm just going to go down for a week as a guest of the production while they are on location and just help out as I can. It will still be fun I'm sure. And they will put me up in a hotel. But I just feel I have missed out on something that could have been GREAT just because I was too lazy to learn to drive...

One good thing though. When I do go down they will be shooting 2 weeks location work in a female boarding school...

Should be fun.

Despin out.

[twister!]

That's a real shame!

You could look into doing an Intensive Driving Crash-Course (amusing that they call them 'crash' courses). It's seems pretty tight to me and a bit of a gamble if you fail the test but have already quit your job. But then I have been accused of always playing it safe, which is not always the best way.

The one-week's work should be a great experience though (especially at the female boarding school).

Maybe you should learn to drive anyway and then when something like this comes up next you will be able to go for it.

What's the project anyway? Or is it under wraps... and how/where did you find out about it etc?

[Generic Skinhead]

Sorry to hear it man. 250 sterling is as much pay as any runner job ive ever heard of!

And one of the big things I've learned at film school is how important it is to have a car. Its critical, because people are always looking for your services on short notice. Thats why im learning to drive right now.

Tell us a bit about the project Desp.

[Alex]

Just call up a local car rental agency and tell them you're a poor pathetic loser who has no car and could they help keep you off the unemployment lines by renting you a car at a one day per week rate for a month or two.

However, the bigger picture is you should know how to drive whether or not you get the gig, and should you weasel a car and get a license, go the city the movie is shooting in and practice a for a few days before the movie begins shooting there.

[Chance1234]

I missed out on a job on Oliver Stones Alexandra as i couldn't drive, the result being out of work totally for 6 weeks till the Armoury gets its **** in gear.

Take the week and learn how to drive pronto!

[Alex]

I was contemplating starting a new topic called "Driving with Despin" in which we all give Despin driving tips.

Here are my 5 universal "Driving Tips" (plus a couple more).

Check your mirrors, set the radio stations on your car radio before you start driving.

Use the 2-second rule for keeping the proper distance behind the car in front of you. (As your speed increases, the distance you keep to the car in front will also increase).

USE YOUR FRICKIN TURN SIGNAL, even when others use your signaling to race around you and take the lane you were going for.

When making an actual turn, put your turn signal just before you begin to brake.

Pretend every other driver on the road has a gun in their glove compartment and behave accordingly.

Oh, and know where the oil, coolant, and brake fluid compartments are and check them periodically. And you should know what a worn rotor looks like, and make sure your temperature and gas gauge work and check them periodically.

[Patriarch]

make sure you know which pedal is speeder and which is break [img]wink.gif[/img]

[Alex]

In the US, The Production Jobs that require a car used to be called "driving job" PA's. In all liklihood you'd be the one that got the late night pizza, picked up film, delivered film to the lab, etc....

Set PA's are considered a step above driving PA's because you are in the heart of the action. However, it can be very cool to learn the actual places that are used by the production company by going to them.

One bad case scenario is when your car is ghastly, (especially on the inside) and they want you to pick someone up from the airport. [img]frown.gif[/img]

[Sam Gowland]

Hey Christian you may joke but i've hit the wrong one a few times [img]redface.gif[/img] ... so far i've only hit non vehicles (ie lamp posts, fences and walls )..

I thought my driving was ok until one of Ians(hubby)mates threatened to take me rally driving with him [img]confused.gif[/img] I'm assuming that's a bad sign...


Despin I would take the job(but then i have both driving licence and car)....
Just wondered why it's essential to drive/have a car?? Is it just for running around or to actually transport things(hey I have nothing to do with movie making - so I am honestly clueless as to why he needs a car).