Here's a true story from one of our long term submitters, Jay Taylor. He was arrested and faces a court date for making Citrus with Attitude in Chapter 3 of Chance Encounter. We are all humbled by the determination of Jay, who got arrested, but still finished the shoot. Now that's dedication!
Here's what Jay had to say about the incident:
Let me set the scene for this story:
- small town
- were behind a Walgreen's in a small shopping complex
- 3 people dressed in all black
- bearing antique pistols
- there is a high school about 200 yards away
- band practice is in session
We had been filming for about an hour when; three cops pull up surrounding us and yelling, "Freeze! Put your hands up!" Like decent everyday law abiding citizens we immediately raise our hands and stop what we are doing.
Approaching us is one very angry police man in the group, let's just call call him Mr. Jerk. The other officer is an extremely pleasant female cop, whom we shall call Ms. Wonderful.
Ms. Wonderful proceeds to question me and my actors, while Mr. Jerk searches my car. I tell them about the three guns in my car, and we explain ourselves. Ms. Wonderful scorns us with a motherly overtone while Mr. Jerk proceeds to yell at me for having the guns.
When things have settled down and our SSN have been properly checked. Ms. Wonderful asks her Supervisor what to do. I'll give you one guess as to the name of her boss - that's right kids, it's none other than Mr. Jerk.
Mr. Jerk says, "put him in the cruiser and take him downtown. Arrest him for inducing panic!". Now this is a serious offense, as a matter of fact in the good state of Ohio, "inducing panic" is a felony crime. Crimes commonly considered to be felonies include, but are not limited to: aggravated assault and/or battery, arson, burglary, illegal drug abuse/sales, embezzlement, grand theft, treason, espionage, racketeering, robbery, murder, rape, kidnapping and fraud. Yeah, that kind of felony. The kind that can make you lose the right to vote, run for public office, and shows up on your criminal record when apply for a job. Good stuff.
*Next thing, I get ushered into the back of a police car. So now I'm sitting in the back of a police car thinking to myself, "This %^&$ sucks. So much for scholarships, a good job, and the integrity of my rear end".
But then my ears begin to tickle with the sounds of arguing. I peek through the back window and witness Mr. Jerk and Ms. Wonderful having words. Now I'm no Doctor Phil but there seemed to be some underlying man/woman tension between them.
Mr. Jerk comes over to car and opens up the door. "Have you ever been to jail," he asks. "No, sir" I replied. I began to go into a rambling explanation why I thought it was ok to not break the law, "........ I guess I just wasn't thinking" I ended.
He replies, "Well you'll have alot of time to think about it in your cell, your going to be in there a few day's with a felony!" and SLAM! goes the car door. He gets in his car and leaves.
Ms. Wonderful gets in the car and tells me how she talked him down into letting me off - with a misdemeanor!
Long story short I have to appear in court the first few day's of September and plead my case before a judge.
Here's the good news. while Mr. Jerk was searching my car he only found two of my three guns, so we were able to go to a different parking lot and finish filming. Great stuff huh?
Comments
:<
Whoa. That really sucks. And I can't believe you guys went back to shooting, too, albeit somewhere different. >_> I think I'd have just tried to "cut it artistically" in post and call it a day. x_X But I guess they can't do much else to you, having already found out you were only filming...
That's probably a good story to have shared, too, because I know I haven't really considered the potential repercussions of being caught wandering around town with pistols and shotguns, either. :< I'll remember this and think twice next time I go pulling guns out of the trunk in front of the tennis courts...
Good story for the future grandchildren! >:3
Yay Ms. Wonderful!!
Boo Mr. Jerk...
How real were your guns?
The guns, are antiques. Were talking cowboy days. My Dad bought them at an auction. I inherited them after his death earlier this year. The worst part about all of this is they took the two guns they found in my car, and I don't know if I'll ever get them back.
Damn. Next time try Airsoft or water guns even :P
In all seriousness, this really does suck. Sorry it had to happen. And, keep us informed.
craziness! yeah man, i feel for you :( . On a side note, did the sudden reduction in guns cause you to change the script? Did you end up shooting a different story than originally planned?
No. I only had to shoot the April on the hood and the lines of the guy who shoots the girls. I was super bummed when they told me the guns were being taken. But I had stashed one of the guns under the seat when they pulled up, I figured he would have found it. When I signed my court citation it cites only two guns, I knew from that moment I was still going to film. There was no way I was just going to give up. I just drove us to another town and we finished filming in a church parking lot.
Because of schedules I filmed almost everything separate. The conversation between the guys, and the button scene was done on one day. The girls was done on one day, Sliding on the car and the blood another day. If you pay close attention to the bandana wearing guy he has two different types of guns; I forgot my antique guns the first day of shooting. Because the blood was chocolate sauce I couldn't put it on my car and then film for an hour, people noticed that mistake. That chocolate scene took a long time. We did it three different times, not only was it hot as hell outside but it gross, chewing up fruit and spitting it out everywhere isn't my idea of a tasty treat. BTW my car smells so bad, it has this very sour smell inside from the chocolate, I scrubbed and scrubbed the interior but the smell still lingers
I suppose that they can try and get you for "inducing panic" but that really is a bull charge and any sensible judge ought to realize that. Also here's something you could look into. If the guns you have were made before 1897 they are technically antiques therefore not subject many restrictions. I don't think you can get in trouble for them, but I don't know much about the specific laws in your state. Anyway, I hope your talking to a lawyer.
...and -THAT- guy knows what he's talking about with firearms. XD He also happens to be the source of weapons used in our Chapter 6 entry last round.
Really, really sorry about them taking the guns away, though. That just seems unreasonable. I'd think just confirming what they're being used for would be good enough, and then the fact that they're not even current models...
Do let us know how the talks continue to go. :<
great story, too bad your cameras weren't rolling during the whole incident. It would have made for some great footage. I kind of feel bad for not voting for you now. I loved your film, but went with the musical because it was "out of the box".
Shame on "Mr. Jerk" for doing his job.
It's great how when people do stupid things without thinking and then have to face the consequences of their actions, it's the police officer that is the problem.
Next time think about what you're doing before you do it, get permission of the property owner, and take a second to think what other people will perceive when they see people running around in hoods carrying firearms.
You're lucky you didn't get shot by the responding officers.
Yes grandpa.
I don't think anyone here is defending his lack of judgment, or condoning it. Frankly, I find it incompetent that old cranky cop didn't find the other gun. It proves that he was more focused on pointing out this young man's mistake, and not doing his job thoroughly. That could get a police officer shot.
Woot david!
Boo TWSS...
=D
Definitely sounds like Mr. Jerk was having some sort of a bad day. I'd think any decent officer would have laughed it off, or at least issued a stern warning about gun safety, and maybe even requested a location change. Not tossed you in the back of the squad car and confiscated the props.
Was your camera out Jay? Having a tripod with a camera on it may seem extra disarming to outsiders (although your film doesn't look as though it ever needed a tripod...)
Yeah my camera was sitting on the car.
@ TWSS, I did talk to the property manager and I did get permission.
I don't live in a big city, I live in a small town. I lived here since I was 7 years old. I know half the police force by name. We were completely cordial and cooperative. There was no good reason for him to be so crude.
I got a 150 Dollar fine. And my pride was slightly damaged because the judge made fun of me a little. He did enjoy my case tho because it was something different, there were 30 other people in the room with me; most were there because they didn't pay their taxes. After my hearing I went to the police station the had to beg another cop for my guns back. I got them back, and a free gun lock! So a hundred and fifty dollars sucks to loose but at least I'm not in jail.