Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1521715
Summer 2024 – LOCAL695.COM 43 risk repeating this problem. So, when scheduling the flight for trip number two, I requested Production book me on a plane with standard-size overhead bins, like a 737 or something similar. They did, and I departed from Burbank Airport for Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) Airport, with an hour-and-a-half layover connection to Tulsa, Oklahoma. As we were half an hour out from DFW, the pilot announced that there was bad weather, and they were waiting for clearance to land. An hour later, we finally touched down. I grabbed my carry-on and sprinted out of the plane. Those of you who know DFW know that most connections require a train ride to the other side of this massive airport. I ran to the train, caught it, and ran to the next terminal. Unfortunately, the gate had closed and the plane was taxiing. I immediately called the Production's Travel Coordinator and told her what happened. She was awesome. We both started researching alternative later flights. Staying overnight was not an option, as I had a COVID test and rehearsal the next day at noon before the shooting call. It turned out the next flight to Tulsa was at 5:00p.m. She booked me and I seemed good. I ate at the nearest Food Court and waited. When I went to get in line for the five o'clock flight, the crowd of people had increased to the point that you couldn't see the end of the passengers in either direction. There must have been several hundred people waiting in line. It turns out they had cancelled that flight and the next one was at 8:00p.m., but there were so many cancelled flights and passengers, there was no way I would be on that one. We checked and the next flight to Tulsa was tomorrow night, which obviously wouldn't work. As I stood in line, I started talking to a nice lady next to me who was from Wichita, Kansas. She suggested I fly to Wichita and rent a car to drive the two-and-a-half hours to my hotel in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. I thanked her and immediately called the Production's Travel Coordinator who was helping me. She booked me on the flight and reserved a rental car for me. So I raced to the train which took me to the other side of the airport (of course), where the Gate was located, and made it 15 minutes before the Gate closed. It was a 737 and I settled in with my carry-on for the flight. We landed at 12:30a.m. and Avis Car Rentals was only open until 1:00a.m., so I had to rush there as well. I got my car and began the drive to Bartlesville, Oklahoma, from Wichita, Kansas. At one o'clock in the morning, the only route was an unlit highway through rural countryside. About halfway, I had a direction to "Turn left on 5th Street." Watching my odometer carefully, I looked for the street but didn't see anything until I saw a different street sign for 17th Street, half a mile further than where the street should have been. I turned around and carefully retraced my route until I could barely make out what looked like an alley in total darkness. That was 5th Street. I turned and continued following my GPS. At 4:00a.m., I finally reached the hotel room Production had reserved for me in Bartlesville. I checked in and went to sleep in my clothes with only my carry-on by my side. My regular suitcases were in limbo somewhere between DFW and Tulsa. I would need to retrieve them before going to set. So, after just two-and-a-half hours, I got up and started the drive to Tulsa. I arrived at the airport by 9:00a.m., picked up my suitcases, and swapped rental cars. Production had reserved a Hertz rental car for me in Tulsa for $25 per day while the Avis I picked up in Wichita was being charged at $250 per day. As a courtesy to Production, I agreed to swap cars. I hit the road back to Bartlesville, drove to set, and went immediately to the COVID testing trailer. After being cleared for work, I made my way to rehearsal, and got there right at my 1p.m. call time. Then I proceeded to set up with my audio ninja music playback carry-on for rehearsal. Fortunately after rehearsal, I was able to grab a bite before the set call time. For her awesome assistance, I dropped off a bottle of champagne with a really nice "Thank You!" note to the Production's Travel Coordinator, Maddi Bruton, who helped make it happen. I was proud and relieved that our team effort resulted in a successful outcome. This is one of the many things that make me grateful to be a union member dealing with other experienced professionals! So, long story short, the filmed music playback scenes went great and what was supposed to be a two-and-a-half hour flight turned into a twenty-four-hour audio ninja adventure that made the rest of the production seem like a piece of cake. I will always remember this as the closest thing I've ever come to a "Hero's Quest!" The moral of the story is that when working in this industry, you have to be flexible. Prepare for as many outcomes as you can foresee and be adaptable when the unforeseen happens. By having a positive attitude and with the help of others, what was a problem became one of the most memorable experiences of my career. And as Jeff Bridges once said, "Those who make a film have a totally different experience than those who watch it."