November 18, 2011

Two to three weeks ago I worked on a Got Home Alive shoot on location at the San Gabriel River above Azusa.  The segment was about a fisherman that got his leg stuck under a rock in a river and I was fingered to be a ranger on camera since I was already working for the show as water safety/medic.  It was a very cold day in the water, but at least it was a sunny and warm.  Temperatures have dropped a lot since then, with nights getting into the low 40s.

Day One on set. The DP that day, Kevin O’Brien, thought it was funny when I pulled a GoPro out of my pocket and started shooting him. Then he paused and said “Hey, send me a copy of that!” Photo: P. McCurdy

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November 14th, 2011

Got Home Alive has almost wrapped for the season, but I continue to get regular work as a Safety/Medical/Rope Rigging Dude.  This segment is about a hunter who got stuck in mud and almost died before being discovered.  All the outdoor segments of this show seem similar, but it’s cable.  And The Travel Channel is the low end of cable.  And it pays okay, so what the hell?

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September 19, 2011

I’ve been working off and on for a TV show as a medical/safety consultant.  This is a reenactment/reality show and we were shooting a segment on a grizzly attack.

After a lengthy safety briefing from the bear handlers (including the admonition to get out of the way if the bear charged in you direction), they got the female out first.  Okay, big bear.  Later they got the male out.  Oh shit!  That’s a huge flippin’ bear!

See below for photos.

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