Superfire Film

[Nathen Paisley]

The Los Angeles Fire Department, specifically the Film Unit in the Bureau of Fire Prevention and Public Safety, handles all fire and life safety oversight for motion picture and television production studio sound stages, approved production facilities and production locations, and all commercial digital media production conducted within the City of Los Angeles.

In the City of Los Angeles, a film permit is not required while filming in a "certified studio"--that is, while filming in any of the three (3) areas defined in Chapter 48, Section 4801.3, of the LA Fire Code that have been approved by the LAFD Film Unit:

*PLEASE NOTE: The phrase "certified studio" does not exist in the LA Fire Code, but is commonly utilized by members of the film industry to indicate any of three areas defined above that have received final approval from the LAFD Film Unit.

The nostalgia is an important aspect of the film, which opens with a 1979memorial service for one of the men, Harold Abrahams, and then flashes back sixtyyears to his first day at Cambridge University. We are soon introduced to thefilm's other central character, the Scotsman Eric Liddell. The film'sunderlying point of view is a poignant one: These men were once young and fastand strong, and they won glory on the sports field, but now they are dead andwe see them as figures from long ago.

Twoof the best moments in the movie: A moment in which Liddell defeats Abrahams,who agonizingly replays the defeat over and over in his memory. And a moment inwhich Abrahams' old Italian-Arabic track coach, banned from the Olympicstadium, learns who won his man's race. First he bangs his fist through hisstraw boater, then he sits on his bed and whispers, "My son!" All ofthe contributions to the film are distinguished. Neither Ben Cross, asAbrahams, nor Ian Charleson, as Liddell, are accomplished runners but they areaccomplished actors, and they act the running scenes convincingly. Ian Holm, asAbrahams' coach, quietly dominates every scene he is in. There are perfectlyobserved cameos by John Gielgud and Lindsay Anderson, as masters of Cambridgecolleges, and by David Yelland, as a foppish, foolish young Prince of Wales.These parts and others make up a greater whole.

And as a 67-year-old retiree, my hopes of making the cinematic cut sank down even further when radio reports said On Fire production crews had wrapped up their work weeks ago on the St. Louis University campus. Guess I missed this one.

However, fate had a different idea this time. I was dozing at the breakfast table when THE call came in from the local Joni Tackette JT Casting Agency. Did I want to go down for a potential cameo appearance as a member of the crowd at Busch Stadium?

The email arrived, and after some tense moments trying to fill out an online I-9 employment form so I could officially get paid, the computer accepted my attempts to identify myself as a local human with the appropriate paperwork.

My reporting time was 7 a.m., so I parked at the Starr Lot on 8th Street near the stadium and got in line. After showing everything from my passport to my birth certificate, I joined a small group that movie staff hustled over to a massive wardrobe trailer. Production crew reps had to approve what our Cardinal gear looked like so we could be fans from the year 2017.

Friends who know me well say I need consistent help in dressing myself, but I worked hard on my Cardinal outfit the night before. My $37 south county haircut from Laurie at Great Clips looked stellar. I got a thumbs up on my remodeled beard and Cardinal accoutrements. When Ozzie Smith walked by our little neophyte group of actors, I knew it was going to be a good day.

I have no idea if my three seconds of glory will stand up in the editing room, but selfishly, I really hope it does so my grandkids can smile at Grandpa sometime next Thanksgiving when the film is released.

Until then, God bless all the fine people involved in this uplifting production. Unlike a large portion of Hollywood content today, there was truly a wholesomeness on this set that you can feel, like an aura of goodness all around you.

Chris Schildz is a former reporter for the St. Louis Globe-Democrat and, quite possibly, headed to a big screen near you in On Fire later this year. While Schildz is allegedly retired, his wife, three kids and two grandkids keep him employed.

The RFT welcomes short essays on topics of local interest. Contact [email protected] if you've got something to say.

I haven't quite figured out how to search group discussions...but I haven't found anything online elsewhere. Sorry if this is a common problem.

I was out shooting with my A-1 the other day, and after advancing to the next frame, the shutter button doesn't do anything. I thought maybe the film didn't advance all the way, but the lever feels the same as the lever on my AE-1P after it's been advanced. The battery is brand new, and the meter and everything else works fine---the shutter just won't fire. I assume this is something electronic, but I have no idea. Anyway, I'm a DIY type of guy and would prefer to take a look at potential problems myself before sending it off to have it repaired. Can anyone point me in the right direction? What are the first things I should look at?

4:17PM, 18 October 2013 PDT(permalink)

Whenever my A1 does anything odd, I flick the little multi-exposure catch under the winder, and wind the lever again. This is the recommended method for resetting the EEEE.EE error, which is supposed to happen when you do something wrong with stopped-down metering, but it seems to have reset other odd behaviours for me.

ages ago(permalink)

MichaelDillonMedia:

What are the first things I should look at?

Did your camera have a squeak problem before the shutter doesn't fire? I have been told that such a problem happens after a certain period of squeaking without fixing it. I think of it especially because it looks like the meter works fine - according to you - and the battery isn't drained out.

ages ago(permalink)

Have you taken the bottom off and tried to trip the shutter mech with a small screwdriver. I had to do this once. If I remember correctly there was a little lever connected to the part that contacts the electromagnet, mine was just stuck so it seems.

Originally posted ages ago. (permalink)

mymamiya1 edited this topic ages ago.

Batteries are definitely good, I've tried multiple. There was a very mild squeak before this happened, but that JUST started happening with this roll. I've run 4 other rolls through it so far.

I can't flick the multi-exposure lever as the shutter is cocked already. Or at least, that's my understanding...that lever only works when the winder hasn't been advanced. If I try to flick it, it doesn't move very far.

After taking the bottom cover off I think I've found the problem. The winder mechanism is stuck. The top of this photo is an AE-1P with the shutter cocked. Bottom is how my A-1 looks. I don't know the technical terms, but there's an arm which I assume cocks the shutter, and notice that it's stuck to the electromagnet in the A-1. Thoughts on what to do next, if anything? I'd really like not to have to rewind the roll that's in there.

ages ago(permalink)

Oops, I didn't see mymamiya1's reply. I did try to engage the shutter mechanism, but it doesn't want to come "unstuck", and I'm afraid I'll break it if I try to force it.

ages ago(permalink)

.if you are worried about the film currently in the camera..why not take it out.. the counter on the A1 counts backwards as you rewind..so if you take note of where you are on the roll you can take it out of the camera (look at the counter and as you approach 1 slow down and try to feel the leader unhitching from the takeup roll.. when you want to resume shooting that roll put it back in the camera and with the lens cap on and the a fast shutter speed advance the film to where you left off.... sometimes just pushing the rewind button will free up cameras..but in anycase you can pokearound alot better without film in there good luck

ages ago(permalink)

Like missterpissta, I think I'd have taken the film out long before I reached for my screwdrivers!

Don't understand what you say about the multi-exp lever. I have my A1 here. It's wound on, with a film in. I push the advance lever fully to the left, and then move the multi-exp lever to the left (uncovering a red spot on the top plate). Now I can wind the advance lever again, and there's a slight mechanical sound from the camera, though I can feel from the light resistance that I'm not moving anything very much inside the camera; certainly not the film (or it wouldn't be much of a multi-exposure control!)

ages ago(permalink)

I think it's only half-wound, since it's stuck. When I push the multi-exposure lever to the left, it doesn't go very far, and definitely doesn't show a red dot. (I've never actually used this lever before so I'm not sure what it does.) I'll try removing the film without rolling the leader all the way in; thanks for that tip. Afterward I'll take some video so it's more clear what's going on.

ages ago(permalink)

So...I pulled the film advance lever a little harder and it got "unstuck". The shutter worked fine after that. However there is still a problem with it, as it's doing this every time I advance the film. Clearly something needs to be lubricated, and it's not just the little brass gear that causes the shutter squeak. Anyone have suggestions on what components might cause this, and if there's a simple fix? If not, where could I send it to have it serviced?

ages ago(permalink)

I had an A1 and for my first slr and loved it. silver chrome 7 might be onto something, if you can engage the rewind mechanism but the rewind lever wont budge, you could try opening the back in a changing bag and try to gently remove the film and wind it into the can? otherwise it may be worth thinking of other options?

if you're really attached get it serviced but you might have better luck with a different body? I think a few of us could just about get the lid of and desqueak it, but beyond that its 35 an hour for a camera mechanic in my part of the world and it can soon stack up.. some of them are going for less than 50 on ebay..

ages ago(permalink)

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