WAYNE, of course, was past 'employee' @Channel 41 Television Productions[along with Rick Reagan]
after ALEX fucking COOLEY stole our master-print of softball game
I always wondered who in the fuck was looking at it
when we were filming SHARKEY'S MACHINE/Bert Reynolds
DAR ROBINSON came to Atlanta, for stunt-work
jumped out of Regency Hotel glass tower onto air-bag
"THAT'S INCREDIBLE" wanted footage of his jump, and interview with ROBINSON/REYNOLDS for TV-special
they use 16mm film http://www.arrirental.com/camera/416.html
which means, pick-up local camera crew/equipment, send correspondent/announcer w/script & fedX exposed film to New York/KODAK
it just worked out, that those production-schedule days required reduction of force; I was David Holt's #2, and was home by phone
phone RANG! "Are you busy?" "Who is this?" "Producer for That's Incredible." "How may I help you?"
I had no prior knowledge of stunt for film; even Holt & his California boss in the dark!
They did 2nd Unit 'capture'/35mm stunt at C&S Bank tower[across street from Fox-stagedoor]
tossed a dummy down from rooftop; hokiest scene in flick, but never cut out
my 'caller' wanted the famous Channel 41 TV-producer to do the camera work
I offered to beta-max it in B&W; no experience w/16mm; SORRY!!
"Can you be my electrician" "Hell Fuckin' YEAH!"
first day on job, I'm to re-con three floors at Regency[for electrical power/set up 'rented' ligjts], while the very famous...
DAR ROBINSON[mere months before his tragic death in a murdercycle stunt gone wrong] was rehearsing his stunning fall/stunt
Special Effects had provided sugar-glass panes for filming stunt
clear ones for rehearsal; mirrored ones to match rest of building's glass
that shit was 1.75 "-thick, and hard as fuck to break
Sharkey's Machine producers had windows out on 3, 10 & 23, w/sugar standing by
on 23, where the main shot woud be filmed the following day[three camera units, on the ground, for insurance],
the GRIPS had constructed, from 2X4's, hand rails going about last 14', to open window to airspace
I'm on first floor, waiting for elevator going up, for inspection of 23; when I get on
there's civilian on w/me; black guy going to Polaris[all the way up]
we pick floor buttons, and ride... not speaking; car stops @10, and DAR gets on with us
three now riding; no talking[but I know it's DAR]
when the doors slide open, on 23, it is perfectly alligned with room-door, nigger-rigged hand-railings & wide-open sky!!!
DAR does 20/yd dash to open window and disappears; I'm giving civilian first-aid, w/foot holding doors open
I get that poor nigger off the elevator, and when he gets to breathing again, try to get him to that open window
to see DAR below[he ain't going nowhere near no crime-scene to see splatter below]
DAR is smiling; joking with Special Effects crew & stunt coordinator; the airbag performed perfectly!
I'm watching the show from above, instead of checking out electrical service options
always CHOOSE Door #3; I'm gonna tell my producer to go with batteries
DAR is ready for install on clear-sugar; we are in a holding pattern
I'm telling flabbergasted nigger all about DAR ROBINSON, That's Incredible & Sharkey's bad-guy getting blowed through 70-story window[we are supposed to be filming WESTON PLAZA, but using stand-ins @Regency & C&S Bank]
He's fucking amazed at all this, and wants DAR's autograph; he still won't get close enough to that hole, to see the air-bag!
DAR starts his trial runs on 10; first try, clear glass don't even crack
next try, crew below ready... all systems GO... comes over two-way[crackling]
here comes DAR; full speed run from out in hallway; spin... shoulder-impact on sugar; out goes DAR
I'm looking down from 10, as there are no cameras[should have been; great That's Incredible documentary MISSED!]
DAR is barely on near-side of bag... CURSING LOUDLY!
a big chunk of 'glass[about 2.5 pounds]' fell on his ass; scared the fuck out of him
he comes up to 23, to supervise removal of clear pane/install mirrored pane[looks like obsidian from inside/no light penetrating at all]
me & DAR are discussing tomorrow's big stunt
He tells me, that if he is going to be killed, free-falling 250 feet, it'll damn well be for the BIG MONEY!
Rehearsal is OVER! The stunt-coordinator acquiesces to DAR's demands. My first day on the job is over too!
On the follwing day, the whole crew, plus add-ons, is gathered around the Regency tower.
Catered breakfast[CONTINETAL; gourmet entrees every day from prominent NYC-chef] & Craft Service; lotta fine bitches everywhere[Rachel Ward; major boners for "Domino"]; Sharkey is basking in the moment; APD has traffic/public barricaded two-blocks away in all directions; it sounds like a fucking GARDEN PARTY; we get our interview with Bert/DAR pre-stunt[party in background for 'atmosphere']
I'm 'steadying' sun-gun; battery-belt around my waist[tee-hee!]; the two Celebrities agree to second interview on camera, after stunt.
Everybody in-the-know, has been apprised of danger DAR will be in, and EMT's, trauma surgeons & multiple ambulances are standing-by!
SHARKEY was the first one brought up-to-speed, and no expense has been spared; Reynolds knows personally, most Hollywood
stunt-industry players; Bobby Bass[a great southern boy w/creds out his ass] is stunt-coordinator, and him and Bert go into whiskey-fueled huddle on the sidelines with Special Effects crew/radio comm's; DAR disapears into Hotel, as 3 units scrambe to ready themselves for "ROLL CAMERA!" ...I'm watching my crew scarf-down breakfast burrito's, jelly-dougnuts & belly-full's of Hollywood-style coffee[sweetened with Hot Cocoa-mix]! Me, DAR & Bobbie Bass are the only ones, present at yesterday's rehearsal, and privy to the discussions prompted by the epic fail! After DAR had finally stopped cursing, the Special Effects gang were told to secure their safety-equipment, and get off the clock; NOTHING MORE! Only that trauma surgeon knows what Reynolds 'knows,' and his INTEL is second-hand from Bobbie! APD is keeping the set cordoned-off, because the sight of a man falling 250 feet, could cause traffic accidents. Finally, DAR makes his dramatic EXIT from hotel; all eyes/cameras are on the glass when it bursts, due to AD's bullhorns! ALL THREE UNITS capture perfect slow-motion prints that are cut into the film for release! Our interview begins, while an elated DAR ROBINSON is still climbing down from 12'-tall rubberized air-bag into Sharkey's waiting arms.!
Sharkey & DAR look like World Series MVP's right after a dramatic defeat of NY Yankees in 7th-game upset! Bobbie Bass s grinning like a Cheshire Cat, & winking at me! GAME OVER! Off the clock! Next day, I'm #2 Grip on-set with Bert & Rachel! Ain't life GRAND?
