11/21/2024
This is a hard one.
John Hartigan was very kind to me. I owe him a great deal of gratitude for fostering my Special Effects Career and lessons about coordinating shows and what it takes to be successful in the business, there is no doubt I would not have even begun if it weren't for him.
More than that he showed me lessons about what it meant to have good people around you. What it meant to give people 2nd chances. What it meant to not hold past mistakes against people. What it meant to foster relationships when there isn't money to be made but relationships to build. That student film makers will do better one day and they often times call back the guy that got them started or taught them what doing it right would take.
Most of all John showed me that helping people would pay back the most. That having enthusiasm was the most important part and that you give a little extra for your own pride in the work, and that's what actually gets you the next job.
I started as a kid from Michigan with little connection and no real skills. He gave me a shot, allowed me in told me if i managed his shop for 2 years, he'd put me on shows that would flip and get me in the union. He gave me over the Blumhouse work which to a young coordinator was being handed the start of a good resume, making a lot out of a little. He knew that it'd make me money to build off of and give me plenty of experience. I owe much of my success to him and Beverly and I'll miss him very much. I was lucky to spend time with him before the end and have some good talks about all of this. Never miss the chance to tell your loved ones what it all meant to you.
This doesn't begin to scratch the surface of my gratitude.
