A Day In the Life of a Movie Location Scout

001 Pittsburgh

Well, Pittsburgh’s no Qatar, but it is definitely a beautiful city.  This is a shot taken from the rooftop of the Convention Center in downtown.  You should see it all lit up at night.  I love my city.  I love Pittsburgh.

I worked 20 hours yesterday.  Ah, yeah.  I’m officially back to scouting on the movies, and it feels good, if only for just this week.  There’s more work coming down the pike and I’ll be back at it full time very soon.  Making that ca$h monies, living the dream.

Scouting on movies is wild.  It’s full throttle, action packed, hustling, on the go.  Seeing some of the most interesting and beautiful locations all over the city and surrounding areas, and meeting all sorts of people.  Just to give you an example of an average day, a few of yesterday’s highlights went like this:

– Scouted several ornate churches built in the early 1900’s.  Got the history on Tiffany Glass stained windows, and got to see the windows up close and personal.  Climbed to the bell tower, got pigeon poop in my eye, but the view was worth it.  Not too many people get to climb the bell tower.

– Scouted the Convention Center.  Security guard told me all about how her daughter was an extra in a movie.  She wants to be an extra in a movie, too.  Everyone everywhere you go wants to be an extra and wants you to keep them informed when the movie fires up.  It’s exhausting, but people are so friendly and nice.

– Scouted a hotel restaurant.  The one waitress gave me the history of the giant mural painted on the wall.  She pointed out several flaws in the painting then insisted I check out their new speak easy restaurant and led me downstairs to peek in the window.  The gal was pretty, blond and enthusiastic.  I think she liked me.  I took a photo of her and two of the other waiters, and told her I’d be back sometime to say hello.

– Ran into a homeless person.  She wanted me to take her photo sitting on a bench.  I did. Then she asked me what I was doing.  I explained I was scouting on a movie, and she told me of her concerns that if we choose this particular church for a location, she and the other homeless people won’t have a place to sleep on the adjacent hidden sidewalk at night.  I assured her I would take care of her, and see to it that she has a place to sleep somewhere else if we end up filming here.  Said goodbye.  Had to run.

Speaking of having to run, gotta go.  I had a short break in between making phone calls to set up appointments today.  I have a list of 20 locations to try and get into today and tomorrow.  Many more adventures to be had.  Just wanted to check in.  I’ll respond to comments and such maybe this weekend.  I have another 20 hour day ahead of me.   Cheers.

One last thing, please do me a favor.  I like to help people out when I can.  This really talented artist that goes by the name Alexandra is in a competition.  She’s so sweet and talented (and super cute!)  She’s just got a great spirit about her and very humble.   I want to help her win this competition, so could you please click the link and vote for her on Facebook.  It will only take less than 2 minutes of your time.  I worked a 20 hour day, but I took the time to try and help her out.  It would mean a lot if you dimwits did the same.

Click the link here to go vote for her.  Also, check out her site.  She has this favorite series of mine with these cities of miniature houses she makes out of paper receipts and candy wrappers.  It’s truly amazing.  Give it a look when you get some time.  Thanks so much.  Off for some more adventuring…

002 Pittsburgh003 Pittsburgh004 Pittsburgh005 Pittsburgh006 Pittsburgh

40 Must See Photos of Italy

Three years ago, I took my Mom on a two week vacation to Italy.  It’s always been a dream of hers to visit the motherland, so I was happy to be in a position to finally see that her dream was fulfilled.

Despite a few tense moments to be expected when a mother and her 32 year old son team up to travel, it was a great trip.  We traveled to Rome, toured the Colosseum, visited the Vatican, took a train to Sicily, walked the beaches, drove the countryside, and ate gelato until our hearts were content.

Whether you’ve personally been to Italy or have only seen the beautiful country through photos, I think you’ll find a mother-son take to be a fresh perspective.  I previously posted 25 must see photos of Italy back in March.  This time I’m upping the ante.  Without further ado, may I present 40 must see photos of Italy like you’ve never seen before.

1.  My Mom taking a picture of an Italy tour guide book
001 My Mom taking a picture of a Italy tour book

2.  My Mom taking a picture of a map of Italy
002 My Mom taking a picture of a map

3.  My Mom taking a picture of me reading a brochure
003 My Mom taking a picture of me reading a brochure

4.  My Mom taking a picture of a pine tree
004 My Mom taking a picture of a pine tree

5.  My Mom taking a picture of a barren tree
005 My Mom taking a picture of a barren tree

6.  My Mom taking a picture of a TV
006 My Mom taking a picture of a TV

7.  My Mom taking a picture of a monk
007 My Mom taking a picture of a monk

8.  My Mom taking a picture of a nun
008 My Mom taking a picture of a nun

9.  My Mom taking a picture of Jesus
009 My Mom taking a picture of Jesus

10.  My Mom taking a picture of a severed head
010 My Mom taking a picture of a severed head

11.  Me taking a picture of a severed head
011 Me taking a photo of a severed head

12.  My Mom taking a picture of a fruit salad
012 My Mom taking a picture of a fruit salad

13.  My Mom taking a picture of a Coke can
013 My Mom taking a picture of a Coke can

14.  My Mom taking a picture of a McDonald’s dessert menu
014 My Mom taking a picture of the McDonalds dessert menu

15.  My Mom taking a picture of red chili peppers
015 My Mom taking a picture of chili peppers

16.  My Mom taking a picture of oranges
016 My Mom taking a picture of oranges

17.  Me taking a picture of bread
017 Me taking a photo of bread

18.  My Mom taking a picture of me eating pizza crust
018 My Mom taking a picture of me eating pizza crust

19.  My Mom taking a picture of me eating liver and onions
019 My Mom taking a picture of me eating liver and onions

20.  My Mom taking a picture of me dipping bread in olive oil
020 My Mom taking a picture of me dipping bread in oil

21.  My Mom taking a picture of me ordering cheese
021 My Mom taking a picture of me ordering cheese

22.  My Mom taking a picture of me eating cheese
022 My Mom taking a picture of me eating cheese

23.  Me taking a picture of my Mom ordering cheese
023 Me taking a picture of my Mom ordering cheese

24.  My Mom taking a picture of me sitting in a chair
024 My Mom taking a picture of me sitting in a chair

25.  My Mom taking another picture of me sitting in a chair
025 My Mom taking a picture of me sitting in another chair

26.  My Mom taking a picture of me looking at an iron gate
026 My Mom taking a picture of me looking at an iron gate

27.  My Mom taking a picture of me looking at a napkin holder
027 My Mom taking a picture of me looking at a napkin holder

28.  My Mom taking a picture of me contemplating suicide
028 My Mom taking a picture of me contimplating suicide

29.  My Mom taking a picture of a lady with a bag over her head
029 My Mom taking a picture of a lady with a bag over her head

30.  My Mom taking a picture of a police car
030 My Mom taking a picture of a police car

31.  My Mom taking another picture of a TV
032 My Mom taking a picture of another TV

32.  My Mom taking a picture of snails
033 My Mom taking a picture of snails

33.  My Mom taking a picture of a dog
040 My Mom taking a picture of a dog

34.  My Mom taking a picture of a cow
034 My Mom taking a picture of a cow

35.  My Mom taking a picture of a horse
035 My Mom taking a picture of a horse

36.  Me taking a picture of a seagull 
036 Me taking a picture of a seagull

37.  A close-up picture of a seagull 
037 A Close Up of a seagull

38.  My Mom taking 86 pictures of a sunset
038 My Mom taking 86 pictures of a sunset

39.  A picture of me and my Mom at the Trevi Fountain in Rome
039 Me and my Mom at the trevi fountain in Rome

40.  My Mom taking one last picture of a TV
040 My Mom taking yet another picture of a TV

Chris Hinton’s Life Book – Chapter One

Get this you dimwits.  So my former room mate is in the process of adopting a child.   The adoption agency asked her to put together what’s called a life book.  Essentially, a life book is an overview of a person’s life in pictures so the child can begin visualizing and getting comfortable with the idea of living a life with their new parent(s).

Here’s the thing though.  My former room mate is single.  She asked that when the adoption finally goes through, would I mind spending some time with the kid on occasion so that he has a male figure in his life.  Are you kidding me?!!  I didn’t even have to think about it twice.  I said, “Sure.  Have the little runt come up to mow the grass and fetch me a beer while I’m watching Sports Center or something.”  Man oh day.  Me, the Dimwit, a father figure of sorts.  Break out the fat cigars.  This is gonna be something special.

It wasn’t required, but I went ahead and put together a life book of my own just so the kid can start getting familiar with my life as well.  Junior, meet your new daddy!!!

Chris Hintons life bookSteelers GameHey Junior.  Check this shiznit out.  Here’s your Papi with your aunt and uncle getting ready to go over to our friend’s house to watch the Steelers game.   We love football and bleed the black and gold.  Go Stillers!!!  Stairway to Seven, baby!!!!

Paragliding

Oh, no big deal.  It’s just your daddy paragliding off the Swiss freaking Alps son!!!  What a rush.  I love traveling and taking adventures.  One day, that will be me and you jumping off the cliffs, dodging trains, racing cars for pink slips, and skydiving 12,000 feet from out of an airplane.  We gotta wait until you’re at least 9 or 10 before we start doing all of that stuff though.  Keep it on the down low or else Mom will have a major conniption fit.

001

Look who it is!  It’s your cousins from Arkansas after your Pops took them out for a mani/pedi.  I had the nice Asian lady paint a unicorn on my index finger.  Tried to anyhow but there was a bit of a language barrier trying to explain what a unicorn was to her and she jacked it all up.  It’s cool though, it still turned out better than my last mani/pedi.

Unicorn Nail
Easter

Now who are these strangers?  That’s two of your uncles hiding eggs for an Easter egg hunt!  That’ll be you out in the yard, looking for eggs one day.  Holidays are always a fun time out at Gram’s.  Picnics, and grilling, and shooting bottle rockets at each other on 4th of July.  Some good times ahead, buddy.  I can’t wait.

Pills

Boy, I remember this one.  This is the day your daddy damn near had a nervous breakdown.   Had to make an emergency visit with the doctor and everything.  I’ve had a few more mental meltdowns since then, but your daddy is a survivor.  Got a cocktail of pills and a fifth of Jack, and a new son!!!  Which reminds me, I better get a refill before your paperwork goes through.

Balloons

Here’s your daddy at the roller skating rink with his good friend Ana.  Isn’t Ana a hottie McTottie?!   I’d take you roller skating, but I was banned for life from ever going back there again.  Long story, but I can still take you to the arcade or my cousin’s bar that has all these really cool stuffed animals that he shot in Africa, or somewhere like that.  You’re gonna love cousin Joe’s place.  It’s better than the zoo any old day of the week!

KissHere’s your daddy putting on his Sunday best, on the way to morning church services.

Fire

Watch out!!!  Fire in the hole!!!  This is when my flipping drunk friends almost burnt down the entire cabin, so daddy had to swoop in and take some quick action to save the day.  Bet you didn’t know your daddy was a superhero, did you?!!  Alls I need now is a cape!!

Christmas partyJust mixing and mingling it up at the Christmas party.  Keeping it fresh with the ladies.  Daddy’s gonna bring you home a new mama so you can have two of them!!  Wouldn’t that be fun?  Shoot, maybe I’ll even fetch you three mamas if I play my cards right.  Can never have too many mamas, son, especially the sugar mamas.

TerminatorHere’s your daddy scotch taping an LED light to his eye like the Terminator.  I went around the house knocking over tables, breaking lamps, chasing after your Gram pretending that she was Sarah Connor, and threatening to exterminate her.   What a great night.  You’ll absolutely love the family, Junior.  We’re a close-knit bunch.

Well, hasta la vista baby!  It’s almost Friday night, and I gotta go to the Casino to try and win back my savings that I blew last Friday night.  If you don’t hear from me for a while, it just means that daddy’s gotta hide out a little, lay low on the lamb for a spell.  I’ll send ya another life book soon, buddy.  Introduce you to some more of the cousins and family.

Stay in touch son.  We’re gonna have one hell of a time, me and you and mommy.  Big hugs and high fives.  Gotta run.