Tough day on the set

[Mad Mike]

I was working as a Precision driver in a movie over the last few weekends. Looking forward to posting a few pictures of what was happening around me. It is fascinatingly interesting to see how a movie is really made.

However; today we got word that a propmaster Nick Papac died yesterday 8/12 due to a freak accident. Which I was 2 minutes behind, and saw the attempts to save his life, life flight, etc.

We had carte blanc on a closed section of 3 mile of freeway.

As we were huddled in the catering tent this morning, and listening to the director speak...very emotional moment. "We are encompassed in a surreal atmosphere, the Police are protecting us from the outside. We lose a bit of reality, and think we are all invincible".

It is so true, as I could hit 110 mph on a closed set, and the Police are watching me do it. It was surreal. When I would leave the set, I was driving like a total idiot...like I was all day on set (because that is what we were doing for 12 hours, but coordinated). I did a crazy move into a parking spot at Safeway, what I was doing all day long, didn't even think about it. Then realized the person I cut off, isn't on the same page nor has a radio telling me what to do. It really is a total mind game, you lose your sense of reality.


Best advise is to only hurriedly run to hug your family, take it easy the rest of the time.

Mike

[legion]

In high school, my best friend and I would go to the arcade and play 'Ridge Racer' (one of the first 3D driving games) for hours.

On the way home, we would drift around corners, pull the handbrake to kick the back end out--drive just like we did in the video game.

Same thing, we didn't think anything of it at the time.

[craigster59]

What film were you working on? I know Nick and his Dad Mike, both are usually working as 'armors" handling the guns on set. Terrible news.

[pegasus9]

I heard it was on the set of the new movie "Kingdom" starring Jamie Foxx. That's a real shame Mike, very sad. Be careful out there. I think we all take life for granted.

[Mad Mike]

Correct, it was on the set of The Kingdom. We had the freeway closed for appx 3 miles for driving stunts and shots.

Nick's dad Mike was at the set Sunday to just see the site, talk to people, do whatever he has to do to get through it.

Still just mind blowing.

[Hugh R]

Man Dies On Set Of Jennifer Garner's Film
An assistant propmaster died on the set of Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Garner's new movie, "The Kingdom," according to NBC News.

Parts of the film were being shot in Mesa, located to the east of Phoenix.

Just after shooting ended Saturday, Nick Papac, 25, of Los Angeles was driving an all-terrain vehicle on the freeway, which had been closed to the public, NBC reported.

Papac crashed the golf-cart-sized vehicle into a SUV carrying the director of the film, according to a press release from officials with the movie.

After paramedics with Universal Pictures/Forward Pass attended to Papac, he was airlifted to a local hospital, where he died a few hours later from severe head injuries, according to NBC.

NBC reported that no one else was injured in the crash.

Papac's father, longtime Hollywood propmaster Mike Papac, flew to Arizona and was with Nick at the time of his death, NBC reported.

Filming of the movie was suspended on Sunday and will resume on Wednesday, NBC reported.

Papac's death was the second, far worse, accident that has plagued "The Kingdom."

Garner passed out due to the heat while filming the movie last week, according to an online report.

However, Access Hollywood has confirmed the actress is doing fine and is back at work.

"Kingdom" follows a team of U.S. government agents that is sent to investigate the bombing of an American facility in the Middle East.

The film also stars Chris Cooper and Jason Bateman.

[craigster59]

I talked with some guys who were there and Nick was apparently driving a Yamaha "Gator", striking (removing) the fake license plates off of the vehicles used in the freeway scene and was hit by the Directors vehicle ejecting Nick and throwing him into the K-rail and causing massive head injury. It's a very sad situation and I know His Father is having a very hard time with this. As Hugh R on this board knows, filming is a very complex, expensive and "hurry up" business and accidents like this are the outcome. It's because of guys like Hugh that I'm sure they don't happen as often. We all need to "Be Aware" no matter what line of work we are in.

[Mad Mike]

That is absolutely correct. Peter Berg gave us his account of what happened in the Sunday meeting, as he was in the Escalade. I know the Gator did a u-turn without notice and there were 3 people in the Gator, 2 were fine and Nick didn't make it. The Gator hit the tail of the Escalade, causing the crash (almost missed). This happened all after the "Martini Shot" was wrapped.

I know if has hit hundreds of people hard, if not more. I am only speaking of those I saw on set. It was a sobering moment, for everyone. Lots of what if's were mentioned by Pete. What if I spoke to someone two seconds more, or less...

Wayne, I still have to retrieve my car, then remove it. Just moved a few weeks ago and my life is a little discombobulated at the moment. Unpacking, working during the week and shooting movies on the weekend. I will let you know when things are looking like we are coming out.

Mike

[Mad Mike]

And I continue to forget to extend my condolences to Mike. Please extend them if you have the chance!

[DonDavis]

Wow. I'm very sorry to hear this. Please pass on my condolences.

BTW, hey Mike, I'm sending you a PM.

[Mad Mike]

Don, PM sent back. I'll have to start a new tread for photos. I don't think this one is appropriate.

[Hugh R]

The single biggest safety issue on set is long work hours. Movies and TV shows budget for 12 hour days, but more often goe 13-14 hours sometimes much more. Everyone's judgement goes to crap, all the way from the lowest production assistant to the producers themselves and everyone in between. You forget simple things (like looking before you make a U turn), not saying that's what happened, but its long hours are very dangerous.

[Mad Mike]

Coupled with working in 100 plus degree heat takes a huge toll on the body and judgment.

First weekend out, we had multiple crew dropping due to heat exhaustion or dehydration, or a combination of both.

I was speaking to the stunt coordinator about the next shot and literally thought he had a mannequin in the passenger seat, until he moved. The guy looked fake and wasn't moving or sweating anymore. Soon after, he was on all fours on the freeway.

Majority of the crew was in the heat all day long. We had pallets of water and Vitamin water, electrolytes as well as pallets of Gatorade. Still, 12 hours plus in the heat is brutal.

Myself, I was in a air conditioned car all day. So at least all the stunts and drivers had their heads on straight.