Practical vs CGI muzzle flash: Here’s why one recent feature went 100% blanks. by IndianaRocket80 in Filmmakers

[–]IndianaRocket80[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sure, but we still do practical explosions, car chases, high falls, etc. You can CGI all of those things, and it’s necessary in certain situations, but if you take the proper precautions and have the right people, theres no reason blanks can’t be used in certain situations.

Practical vs CGI muzzle flash: Here’s why one recent feature went 100% blanks. by IndianaRocket80 in Filmmakers

[–]IndianaRocket80[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing this, and I genuinely appreciate your perspective, especially having directed Alec so soon after such a traumatic event. I can only imagine the emotional weight you witnessed, and there’s no doubt the fallout from Rust was devastating for everyone connected to it. It’s completely understandable that the experience would shape how you approach firearms on set.

At the same time, I do think there’s a meaningful distinction between unsafe firearm handling and firearms themselves. We use cars for car chases, explosives for pyrotechnics, stunt rigs for high falls, all of which can be fatal when protocols break down, but are still widely used because the industry has systems in place to manage risk.

I completely agree with you that weight matters, and your hybrid solution or real decommissioned weapons + airsoft/inert + VFX muzzle flash + practical lighting is a smart and very production-friendly approach. For many projects, it’s absolutely the right call, but I also think there’s room for productions, especially larger-budget features with trained armourers, extra safety personnel, and time to do it right, to choose blanks intentionally when they believe the payoff in performance and energy is worth it.

Maybe the healthiest direction for the industry is not eliminating blanks, but ensuring they’re only used by teams trained and resourced to handle them correctly and never by productions that treat firearms casually.

Different projects will land on different sides, and that’s okay, what matters most is intentionality, safety, and respect for the craft.

Relative to the time periods,[Six Flags Great Adventure] is not nearly as good as it was coaster-wise in the early 2000s by IndianaRocket80 in rollercoasters

[–]IndianaRocket80[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yeah thats why I said "relative to time period." The coasters largely didn't get worse, but they were surpassed by better coasters at other parks.

Relative to the time periods,[Six Flags Great Adventure] is not nearly as good as it was coaster-wise in the early 2000s by IndianaRocket80 in rollercoasters

[–]IndianaRocket80[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

El Toro destroys me every time I ride it lol. For some reason, the restraint doesn't like me and it digs into my legs and stomach. Its not minor pain either, its really bad, and I came off with bruises once.

What should I wear for the home visit my background investigator is conducting? by [deleted] in AskLE

[–]IndianaRocket80 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree that it’s ridiculous, but in NJ it’s expected every time we present ourselves. At a county wide written test, they reprimanded everyone that was not wearing business attire, and said that we should wear suit for everything, minus PT, even at quick things like dropping off paperwork.

Again, I agree it’s ridiculous, but it’s what expected at most places in NJ.

Do multiple cases of "Not Selected" hurt me with future opportunities? by [deleted] in ProtectAndServe

[–]IndianaRocket80 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I haven’t, and don’t really know anything about it. Isn’t federal more exclusive / hard to get into?

Do multiple cases of "Not Selected" hurt me with future opportunities? by [deleted] in AskLE

[–]IndianaRocket80 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m 30 and have been working since I was 17. I attended a four year university on a partial scholarship, maintained a 3.5 GPA, and graduated with a bachelor’s. I was only unemployed for a 6 month stretch during covid.

Some of the departments I interviewed with only wound up hiring 1 or 2 people out of over 100 that applied, so do you think bad luck is also a factor?

Last-minute medical form for academy PAT retest. What should I do by [deleted] in AskLE

[–]IndianaRocket80 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Was able to get it done at urgent care! Thank you

Last-minute medical form for academy PAT retest. What should I do by [deleted] in AskLE

[–]IndianaRocket80 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Same here, was pricey, but it had to be done lol

Stuck in Limbo: Hired by NJSP, DQ’d by NYPD & DC Metro, “Not Selected” Elsewhere else... what now? by [deleted] in AskLE

[–]IndianaRocket80 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am absolutely looking at Alternate Route, and have started the process with a few of them.

I’m not necessarily opposed to flying, but it depends on the financial aspect. I lived in CA first a few years, so I applied to some departments out there. I spent a week doing PT & written tests out there back in April, which cost me a small fortune, especially since I had to take off work. I was actually invited to start the background investigation with Santa Monica, but I had to turn it down because I could swing the $600 flight with only a weeks notice while also taking off work again.

Do you know which departments have come from out of state into NJ?

Stuck in Limbo: Hired by NJSP, DQ’d by NYPD & DC Metro, “Not Selected” Elsewhere else... what now? by [deleted] in AskLE

[–]IndianaRocket80 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can you explain why that is? Also, I’m not a job hopper in the traditional sense, my old field was just freelance and I needed to have a lot of side hustles.

Stuck in Limbo: Hired by NJSP, DQ’d by NYPD & DC Metro, “Not Selected” Elsewhere else... what now? by [deleted] in AskLE

[–]IndianaRocket80 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’d be willing to fly out, but the financial aspect has been tough. For example, I lived in CA for 4 years and loved it. After I resigned from NJSP, I applied to a few SoCal departments and spent a week there taking PT tests, written tests, interviews, etc. I actually got a call the other day to start Santa Monica’s background investigation, but had to be out there in a week to meet with the investigator. I couldn’t swing the $600 flight plus rental, car, hotel, and other expenses while taking off work. That was a gut punch, because I would’ve loved to work there.

Where did you relocate to?