O, Canaduh, Part 10

(I’m a locations production assistant. One of my responsibilities includes lock-up, which means preventing pedestrians from walking through the location when we’re filming. A man approaches me.)

Man: “What’s going on here?”

Me: “Hello, sir. We’re filming a movie called [Title].”

Man: “I can see that. I wanted to know about THAT.”

(He points to a bank building across the street.)

Me: “Well, the film is set in the US, and since [Bank] only operates in Canada, we’ve covered up their logo with an American flag.”

Man: “Well, take it down! Makes me feel like we’ve been invaded!”

Me: “We’ll be taking it down as soon as we finish shooting this scene, sir. Shouldn’t be more than another hour or so.”

Man: “Oh, yeah? Well, what if I went over there right now and took it down myself?”

Me: “Personally I wouldn’t be able to stop you, sir, but I would advise you against it.”

Man: “I’ll do it!”

(I know he’s just grandstanding, but I’m sick of this, as I can get in major trouble if he even ruins a take by making too much noise. I turn on my walkie-talkie.)

Me: “[Key Grip]? Can you come give me a hand?”

(As I’m one of the few women on location and a rookie, many of the crew are a little protective of me, particularly our key grip, a muscle-bound Frenchman who’s over two metres tall. He jogs over.)

Key Grip: “What’s the issue?”

Man: *blinks and swallows a few times* “No problem! Bye, now!”

(Unfortunately, I still had two more people complain about the flag later, including a woman who kept insisting that it was illegal to fly an American flag in Canada. One of the many reasons why I quit the film industry!)

Related:
O, Canaduh, Part 9
O, Canaduh, Part 8
O, Canaduh, Part 7