| Author | Message | ||
     Toronto_s3 |
Just thought while I was posting about Budweiser I would mention that I am going to Afghanistan at the end of the month to shoot a commercial for a Canadian donut company which I am presently contractually obligated not to divulge in case I get my ass shot to hell while I am over there. Any Canadians who are reading this will be able to easily figure it out. Long story short, what seemed would be a simple fly in, shoot, and fly out has turned into a logistical nightmare with numerous security breifings, hired South African mercenaries for security, work visa's, passport and background checks, equipment carnay's, wire transfer bribes, the list goes on and on. I quoted this job out at 100k for myself and a small crew and after the first security breifing told the client I needed to rethink the budget and then tripled it after being told that the possibility of "experiencing some hostilities would be around 50%". As a matter of fact I was told that things in Afghanistan are not nearly as buttoned down as most media sources would have us believe and that the biggest threat westerners face over there is not any Taliban or insurgent activity but pissed off Afghans who are bitter and armed and seeking retrobution and armed bandits who pretty much operate at free will. Should be mildly interesting. We will have one armed security guy (South African hired killer/mercenary/extortionist) for every two of us going over there. Of course finding crew who want to go over is pretty tough. I have been instructed to start growing a beard so I blend in a little better and I will be wearing a kevlar vest while moving around. That's about it I guess. I'll let you guys know how it goes when I get back. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
Is it Tim Horton's?  | ||
| Toronto_s3 |
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| Igneroid |
We will have one armed security guy Now how the hell is he gonna slerp his extralarge double-double and point his friggin gun with only one arm??  } | ||
| Sticks |
Why wouldn't you have just done this in an American desert? Would it really have been that much more? In any event, you'd have fewer people wanting to kill you in the states. I haven't rented a camel lately though... Budget, Hertz? Be safe. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
The news black out in Afghanistan is way more effective than Iraq. Rest assured, it is just as Shi@atty. If you didnt bring the guy with you, dont trust em as far as you can aim point and shoot, and sometimes even then. Stay safe, come home to ride again soon. | ||
| Glitch |
I know, let's go out of our way to go to a war zone and shoot a commercial! We'll go all out with this one, let's make it a 30 second spot! Are y'all with me? | ||
| Ratyson |
I'm not sure I get the idea of going to a war zone to shoot a commercial... Also, what happens if the feces does hit the fan? And what happens if your hired help doesn't have the ability to get you out? Are you going to ask the local friendly forces to help? Just remember, in doing that, you are putting friendly forces at serious risk.... for a commercial. Not slamming you here... just posting some things to think about. | ||
| Oldog |
S3 sounds like a bad idea to me. Bullet holes are permanent and are said to hurt. asuming that they are not leathal. Pssst try the studios here in Wilmington NC just a little safer. (Message edited by oldog on July 14, 2008) | ||
| Djkaplan |
Hell... I'd go. I can get killed here too. Course... that's pretty easy to say. I assume if I was there staring at the end of felafal, things might be different. | ||
| Hdbobwithabuell |
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html? id=8f567fe7-fb94-4b91-a261-69b4236c6566 Employees will make $15,500 to $17,000 during their six-month stint (based on a 371/2-hour week), plus a $1,800-per-month, tax-free stipend with room and board included. Ultimately, demand from 2,200 Canadian and 5,000 foreign troops at the base will determine staffing. Where there's a market... | ||
| Prof_stack |
exactly, why Afghanistan? | ||
| Skinstains |
Effin' awesome!!! Why not look at it as an opportunity to experience the ultimate thrill ? I'm sure you will be armed as well, right ? You may get to come home and put a few skull & crossbones stickers on your Buell. Enjoy. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
I'm with Glitch. No surprise there. | ||
| Bigdaddy |
"Bullet holes are permanent and are said to hurt." Right there's the smartest thing I've read today and highly accurate. On a side note I found Afghanistan beautiful, but I could never get past Man Love Tuesdays (which was subsequently moved to Thursdays IIRC.) | ||
| Bill0351 |
"I could never get past Man Love Tuesdays" Were you too exhausted? | ||
| Cityxslicker |
The filmed the moon landing in the Nevada desert, and Rambo 3 was in Jordan... I dont know why you could film somewhere mountainous and sandy and call it afghanistin  (Hell the guy from Borat isnt even from Khazakistan!) | ||
| Toronto_s3 |
The reason that we are shooting in Afghanistan is to shoot the established military base in Kandahar and a bunch of other established stuff (G-wagons, helicoptors, Coyotes, aerial shots, etc) that would be too costly to replicate at a location anywhere else. Remember guys this is a commercial with a 300k budget not a million dollar budget. And when I say it's a commercial it's really more of a goodwill film for the corporation, ultimately a 30 second spot will be made out of the footage. Eventually you will be able to see some of this footage on the in store monitor at your local Canadian un-named donut shot as you wait in line for your coffee. I will not be arming myself while we are over there. That's all another paperwork screwup and thats why we have hired security. We will be shooting on a military base and getting footage of some other stuff where we will be on our own. As for the danger involved, I don't think it will be that bad. I did a job in Sao Paulo, Brazil once that got pretty weird so I expect this to be about the same if not better. | ||
| Swampy |
Tim Horton is bigger than McDonalds over in Canada. Good Luck! Wish I was going with you. | ||
| Bill0351 |
Lets see if the video works. If not: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JXSz2aNefA&feature =related I know this is the wrong country, but it's still a goodwill film for the corporation. Bill |
