Ed Nelson [Nelson - In the Movies

The Richard Jackson Saga

Book 4: In the Movies

by Ed Nelson

This is dedicated to my wife Carol for her support and help as first reader and editor.

Also the BHS class of 1962 just because.

That is exactly how it happened, give or take a lie or two.

James Garner as Wyatt Earp describing the gun fight at the OK Corral in the movie Sunset.

Contents

Copyright August 2019 by E. E. Nelson

Eastern Shore Publishing

7545 Lovey Lane

Parsonsburg, MD 21849

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage retrieval systems without written permission from the author, e xcept for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Chapter 1

I was getting used to rising at four thirty to exercise and run before going to the studio. At the studio the first thing they announced on Monday was that we would be taking a one-week hiatus next week. We had been working long and hard, and it was time for a break.

When we came back we would be doing our location shots. These would be out in Colorado at Mr. Easterlys ranch. This gave me a lot to look forward to. I would have to arrange a trip home, along with a side trip to Detroit to meet Mark Downing and tour Detroit Faucets.

In make up the Lead asked me where he could get more of the hairdryers. They were working wonders for them. I told him that they were doing the production tooling now and that the units would be available later.

How much later, he inquired.

I would guess six months.

Who should I make out the purchase order to? I need these now. The dryers will help with our shooting schedules tremendously.

I agreed with him after reflecting on getting thrown into a horse trough many times, and told him to make the order out to Jackson Engineering.

His purchase order, while small for the studio was a lot to me. Ten thousand dollars would almost pay the startup costs.

The mornings shoot went well. I think everyone was energized by the idea of having a week off. While I was waiting for my next scene, the key grip from another set approached me.

Rick, Im John Dawson. We are having a problem setting up a shot over on sound Stage B. Ive been told that you are good at mechanical things and maybe could help us.

We shook hands and I told him, No guarantees, but what is the problem.

We have to do a fight scene on top of a moving train. The Director wants the fight to bounce around because of the track joints. This is before welded rail so the joints really can bounce the car around.

I thought back to the clickity clack I loved, and remembered at times how we got tossed around inside the cars, so it must really be a problem on top.

Im aware of that. What have you tried so far?

We tried bouncing the cameras, but that is what it looks like, the cameras moving not the people. Our next step is to have stunt men do the fight on top of a moving car with a camera suspended from the side of the boxcar.

Even then to get the effect the Director is looking for, you would have to be moving at speed. That is a recipe for disaster, I mused.

You got it in one.

So modifying the cameras to bounce doesnt work, using a real life set up is too dangerous. That leaves a modified boxcar. How about cutting the top off a car, mounting it on something like walking beams or cam shafts. That way you could get the amplitude and frequency that you need.

Yeah, we could put airbags all around to reduce the falling danger. It would also allow us to set up several different camera angles, added an excited Key Grip.

He continued, It would be cheaper and easier to build a false boxcar top than cut one off. Thanks Rick, you have been a big help.

Im not sure how much I helped, but it was a fun few minutes.

I saw Dick Wyman at lunch, he told me that he had used the hairdryer this morning after his shower and he thought it was wonderful. While we were eating, my teachers, Miss Sperry and Mr. Danson, joined us and informed me that I had passed all of my State exams including Spanish, and had now completed my freshman school year. With Spanish I had picked up an extra credit towards graduation. They wanted to know if I was ready to start the tenth grade.

Wow you guys know how to burst a bubble, I finish ninth grade today, and now you want me in tenth! Have you ever heard of summer vacation? On a more serious note we only have three weeks to go. I havent been asked to appear in anything else so it probably would be a waste of time contacting Bellefontaine for my curriculum.

From a curriculum point of view we would use the California schedule. Your studies would match the test. We were lucky this year, but I hate to count on it, Mr. Danson told me.

Unfortunately you are correct about not starting anything since you wont be here. It has been a pleasure and your results have made our company look good. You will be part of our presentation for our license renewal and work with other production companies.

Do I get a fee, I asked.

From the look on Miss Sperrys face I had rained on her parade.

I was only kidding. If it would help I would give you a testimonial.

That would be great, enthused Mr. Danson!

I had redeemed myself with Miss Sperry, how I hated to disappoint attractive women. She then let me know how pleased she was with her new hairdryer. Mr. Danson chimed in, My wife is very pleased also, she can actually get her hair wet while showering and still only take fifteen minutes to be ready for work. She wants to know where she can buy them as gifts.

I had to inform them that they were six months or more from the market place.

After lunch it was back to the set for more scenes. We spent till three oclock doing walk throughs for tomorrows shooting. We had to be available for twelve hours a day. We rarely used all twelve hours. As a child, the labor laws applied to me. The studio got around this by tracking the hours I worked. They didnt count the time I was waiting for other scenes. From what I was getting paid, I felt like I was the one doing the exploiting.

Even so the State would check us out at random to make certain I wasnt being worked to death. That in itself was a laugh. I was the fittest I had ever been in my life. The person who checked on us looked like he had been in Dachau. He looked so bad I felt sorry for him. As Mum would say he looked a decent chap.

He would check my hour log the studio was required to keep, and ask me how things were going. He never gave anyone a hard time. I guess if guys like him werent doing their job, there would be abuses like the nineteenth century.

When the afternoon work was completed I went over to the stunt area. I actually out fought Sammy with the real swords.

I got off to a fast start. With my rapier in sixte and posted, I performed a Balestra followed by a lunge and a counter beat which disarmed him.

In English I started with my sword blade straight out and pointing slightly up in the sixte position, which was the most basic dueling start. I held it in a post which meant I had my fingers back a few inches on the hilt to give me a little more extension, this surrendered some strength and accuracy, but was needed for what I was about to try. I had backed off about ten feet which seemed like a lot but could be overcome quickly.

I performed a forward leap, the Balestra, and then lunged directly at him. As I landed in position I circled my sword under his and went up sharply causing his sword to fly out of his hand. It was the first time I had ever had him at such a disadvantage. I think he was more excited than I was. I guess it validated his teaching.