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Name: Kevin
Hometown: Des Plaines, IL
Occupation: Cable Puller
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What attracted you to the Entertainment Industry, and what was your first job or big break in the business?
I saw "Star Wars" when I was seven. I helped produce an hour-long film for a friend from high school.
What is the biggest challenge you faced trying to break into the industry, and how did you overcome it?
My biggest challenge was meeting the right people. I overcame it with perseverance.
What advice can you give those trying to break into the "industry?"
Take any job you can. Don't do anything on a movie set until someone asks you to. Stand there and look like you belong there. Don't be intimidated by anyone, even actors.
Please describe your job for those who might not know what a Cable Puller is.
My job is to assist the Sound Mixer and Boom Operator. I run cable for the Boom Operator, pull it when it needs to move during shots and run him different microphones and boom poles. I plant mics and make sure the Director and others are able to hear the takes.
Can you share any tricks of the trade that help you work faster/cheaper/better?
Stay aware of the shot. Anticipate how we're going to mic the scene. Don't lose power to the Mixer and keep batteries charged. Don't run sound cables parallel to power cables. Check connections.
Please illustrate the way the performance of your position can help or hurt a movie. Name a movie that you've seen (or worked on) that we could view and understand the difference between a good job and a bad job.
Bad location sound can lead to editing problems, which spends money. Looping is not always an option. If the audience can't understand the dialogue, they loose interest.
Are you a writer, and if so, how many screenplays have you written?
Yes, five.
What's the best lesson you've learned in regards to working in Hollywood?
Be honest. Don't backstab. Be respectful. Be professional; show up on time and try to do a good job. Don't take a job you feel uncomfortable in. Don't let people think they're doing you a favor by letting you work on their film.
What advice would you give to writers on how to craft a script that addresses practical production issues?
Use common sense. Don't write scripts that take place on the moon, or on Mt. Everest, or in 1600 A.D. Write things that take place today, in average neighborhoods. Don't use kids or animals that talk.
What advice would you give a director on how to make production easier?
Be cooperative. Listen to your department heads. Be flexible. Don't let actors act like irresponsible children. Don't work longer than twelve hours. Know your shots in advance. Don't think of the crew as slaves. Don't think of the set as your laboratory, your place to experiment unless you're paying the crew adequately.
List your top 5 favorite films
- Star Wars
- The Godfather
- Buster Keaton's The General
- Unforgiven
- This is Spinal Tap
**Please feel free to add other comments here
Production is easiest when there is a clear blue print. The call sheet is the key source of information for that day's work. People rely on it to plan their day. When production changes the schedule willy-nilly, the crew is lost. The ensuing confusion results in lost time, lost money, and hard feelings and resentment. Everyone wants to do a good job, but when they're constantly asked to pull answers out of their asses, they're going to feel abused and disrespected. This leads to apathy and lack of team spirit. People like to feel that their efforts are going towards a worthy cause. A film crew is made up of artistic technicians. If not, we'd go to work at the Ford plant, or we'd be greeters at Wal-Mart.
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