Working as a 'film Runner' week 2

Another interesting, crazy, frantic, and even satisfying week working in Wyndham on a film, where the average daytime temperature is 32 degrees.

Days in pre production start around 7.30am, and finish between 5.30-6pm. When filming begins soon, it will obviously change.

This week.....

* left town at 6.15am and drove 100km return to bus stop to pick up actor, thankfully she was on the bus (that was 1 1/2 hours late).

* many 202km return trips to Kununurra to order/buy/collect supplies for Set/Camp site/Office. Including costumes, camp lights, extension leads, tents, chairs, cleaning products, bedding, fans etc etc..

* a few 202km return airport pickups

* filling up individual glad bags with laundry powder for crew to keep themselves tidy

* so, so much more that has kept every minute of every day filled

An observation I've made after doing so much driving recently, is that drivers in this region must have superpowers. Not only can they see over hills/crests, but also around blind corners. Crazy!!!!!

The bus stop

Let me just show you a little of our Wyndham life at the moment, with the start of our tent city at the caravan park, plus the Mess tent set up for meals, and a caravan park resident.

Jesse inspects the tents.

Here's the result of some of my shopping...the Mess tent!

'Fuzzy' lives at the Wyndham Caravan Park

He's very friendly, and always hungry.

A few new words I've learnt since being here. 'Humbug' is the common term for fighting, and a few stores need to make it clear it's not acceptable. Every couple of weeks when it's payday and alcohol supplies can be topped up, humbug happens. A new rule has come in around the East Kimberley over the last couple of years, that you can't buy alcohol until 5pm, and then it's either, 1 box beer/cider, 2 bottles of wine, or 1 bottle of spirits per person. In part to help keep the humbug at bay.

Also 'bookup'. Short term store credit. They try it, but not successfully.

No humbug! You've been warned.

One of my favourite and most memorable things to happen this week was last thing on Friday. A couple of dogs in the backyard of the Production Office were going crazy barking and yelping. One was big...Labrador size, and the other small...Jack Russell size. From where I sat all I could hear was one of the Producers yelling 'we've got to help those dogs, they're stuck together!' I could almost hear the Benny Hill theme song playing over the next few minutes as then both the Producers found a hose from the front yard, raced around the back and gave them a squirt....and they parted. Hopefully there won't be any new additions to that dog family in the future!

Might stock up for the rest of my Oz lap.

Also, the last 2 weeks have been so busy, I completely missed a milestone when I reached Wyndham. Since my start point, I've taken JC for a drive over 10,000kms! 

Simple Stats

Days since departure: 100
Distance travelled: 10,060 (+2022km for work)

Snakes run over: 2

Portaloos towed: 1

Weeks worked as Runner on film: 2

Whale Sharks swum with: 2

Emergency mechanic stops: 1

Kangaroos hit: 0