01/25/2026
Hard to believe it's been nearly 2 years without a full-run show booking. I really enjoyed working on "The Bondsman" back in the Spring of 2024. It was the best long-form working experience of my career, and to date, it sadly remains my last one.
More 'Humane' scheduling of 11-hour elapsed days, only working past midnight twice over the course of a 3+ month schedule. (and done by 2:30-3:00 AM at the latest). For once the prodution base was close to home in Senoia, so driving AWAY from ATL, with only a 13-mile commute to the stages. 55-60 hour weeks meant smaller paychecks with less overtime than the typical 65-70 hour weeks, but I actually had dinner with my family on several nights during the production, and often saw my kids before they went to bed. I didn't get burnt-out exhausted after the first 2 weeks like most shows. This show proved it's not only possible to make something good with more humane working schedules and hours, but beneficial in a multitude of ways. This is more of how it should be done.
Our crew was great, and our production staff didn't feel like enemy combatants, which is too often the case. We had logical and reasonable adjustments and accommodations when there were shifts and curve balls thrown, and other than some hectic double-up days and multiple unit work, it was pretty damn smooth, and even those were met with deft aplomb. Kevin Bacon and the rest of the cast were great also - no diva meltdowns, no cringe drama. Celebrities that came to work, not to bless us all with their presence while they act like spoiled children.
Really miss this. Miss this kind of filmmaking, it's sustaining income and benefits. Miss the people I met and worked with on this show. It may be all over for me and so many others, never to return. That ROYALLY sucks if true, but I'm fortunate to have experienced it and thus appreciate it more as times get tougher and tougher, leaner and meaner. I used to have a cool job, doing cool things with other cool folks, and that was cool.
