Grady Bishop DGA Director SAG Stunt Coordinator 399 Hollywood Teamsters

http://www.infocus-magazine.com/article/StuntWork/464/

 

Latest 2/1/2011 INFOCUS Magazine Article.

http://www.infocus-magazine.com/article/StuntWork/464/

 

Film Magazine Article - "Don't Take Call If You Can't Make The Fall" 

EXTREME Philosophy

Integrity

Everything, and we mean everything, begins and ends with integrity. If you can't trust someone, then you cannot associate with them. At Extreme we don't promise to be perfect, but we do promise to be honest and be the team that has it figured out today.

Loyalty

We at Extreme are loyal to the project. We treat people as we wish to be treated. We learned from one of our best clients Walt Disney Imagineering that when a company openly says we will give you everything to set you up for success; it is due to your loyalty to them. If you are honest with them and ask for needs of neccessity not ego; loyalty through honesty is the best kind.

We have loyalty as 95% of our clients are return clients due to the loyalty built on our honesty and integrity of plan and attack, cost effectivness and honest answers of what can and can't be done within a time and funding budget handed us. No smoke and mirrors. Just loyal honest fact filled answers.

Teamwork & Respect

Whether it's working with fellow team members, clients, producers, resources or vendors, the philosophy's the same. The only way to get things done in a constructive, efficient, win-win manner is with teamwork and respect. That starts with being a careful listener. It also means sharing honest, sincere and constructive opinions on mission-critical issues and dealing with them on neccessity not ego. This means putting self-interests aside for the benefit of the project.

Extreme is different from most traditional motion picture stunt organizations. We have a strong culture that we're all very proud and protective of. Our goal is to create great work that is preemptive, completely truthful and convincing enough to change attitudes, preference and film making habits. We start by digging for the critical strategic insight to bring focus to our creative energies. The ultimate goal: Move the project forward with good attitudes and services.

Building Value

We believe a project should be managed as a company's most valuable asset. It should be central to the planning and utilization of financial and human resources, organizational structure and producing strategy. If this formula is reinforced and practiced in an organization, the odds are in favor that the project will maintain a stronger, healthier, more profitable position. Our Producers and Clients aren't just be satisfied...they are loyal for life.

Solutions Neutral Approach

If you talk with traditional stunt organizations, they think all business problems are solved by money. If you talk with our team members, every problem is a PR opportunity for us. So you know their advice is in your best interest; and in theirs. That's why Extreme has purposefully chosen to be different.

We're solution neutral. As a fully integrated film making and not just stunt company, we take a holistic view. Our objective with any project producer or client is to completely understand the film making challenges and opportunities and only then provide a recommendation that, in our judgment, will be the best, most cost-effective mix of communication, stunt, driving and film making services to accomplish the projects objective.

Whatever it Takes

You won't hear, "that's not my job", from any Extreme Member. We service what we sell...like nobody else. Service excellence with a smile and resourcefulness are designed, constructed and built into our culture. That's why we seem to thrive on time-pressured, never-been-done-before challenges. We're fully dedicated to finding creative solutions and being a hands-on extension of our producers, clients projects 24/7. We'll do whatever it takes to help our clients achieve a successful outcome…as long as it’s legal, moral and ethical.

We're constantly reinventing ourselves in order to best meet the needs of our producers, film makers and clients. All it takes is a quick conversation with one of our employers to find out how it's working out for them. We know you'll be impressed with our level of enthusiasm about what Extreme is always willing to do on your behalf day in and day out. So, today, we offer a variety of Directing, Stunt Coordinating, Camera Insert Vehicle and On Camera Driving services. You will see the list evolve—and that will occur because of the relationship we form with you.

One thing is sure: At EXTREME Stunt & Driving Team, Inc., we will have your best interests as our highest priority, and we will only offer you what we believe is the best possible solution.

We are all Film Makers and Paying It Forward wasn't just a good film it's a great way for industry friends to help on another keep the dream alive camera's rolling.

Grady Bishop

Why I Continue To Fight For My Florida Film Industry
By Grady Bishop

I have come to realize years ago being a person who doesn't try to make change, or find solutions can not become victorious. Mostly because they aren't willing to go from victim to victor because it's easier to sit back watch TV and blame everyone else for their problems. It's also from being lazy and not caring for others.

Then their are those who-- To take a racing term Draft off others. They do this for several reason's.

One of these groups sit back seem to support your fight. While sitting back expecting to be handed the work you obtained it.

Then there are those who do the same only when times are good; try to steal your work, clients and contacts once you have obtained them and the work. They ride your Draft and suck the blood of your hard work and determination to make change and help the others who also honestly with integrity help you obtain the change and success that comes from it.

Usually they pass you momentarily and run fast with their ill gotten rewards until they realize they aren't in the draft anymore. Then watching you and those in the draft working together for the best results for everyone pass them by.

Then their are those who Cut Bait and Run to draft off those who begrudgingly left finding the work and these bad drafters leach off a new blood source. Same usually whom are mentioned above.

Then there are those who leave for better job opportunities for good reason's to follow the work to continue to take care of their families. Usually and mostly just before they have lost everything trying to remain loyal to their families, the lives they have built here and their fellow industry friends

I Draft those who say; We are worth it, We can do this, We can make change. Especially when it helps us help others by "Paying It Forward" and ourselves by working. Creating and making our own money and money that will help our Children. Also trying to teach my daughter anything you believe in you should fight for or soon you will have all taken away and nothing to fight for.

I draft off those who say; Yes we have a problem. But who also have searched out and found the solution. So they can then say here is our solution. Here is proof as to how it works. Instead of here's our problem so fix it.

I hear it when people say oh Grady went off on another rant; did you see it. Or well I stay away from him he is stirring up trouble. They are some of the same who always accept work from me, my referrals or leads I send in my "Pay It Forward" philosophy. They are not wrong to me it is their right to that opinion. I feel they are just to weak or worse case to beat up and not confident enough to join in.

However I also know that our solution not only helps us. It helps us help our children, economy and community. Because our immediate income to local economies, and our six to one immediate profit to our state can help our children get school instead of jail. Bold statement, sounds crazy...not really here's why.

One third of school children drop out or fail do to cuts. Cuts in school budgets our industry can help and has more than the Lottery. Ya we have Power Ball but we are closing eight Orange County Schools, We are cutting Football, Drama, Political Science After School Programs that teach our children how to work in the community. We are cutting 31 Seminole County School District Teachers. Then busing our children to other already over crowded schools where they are lost in the huge number in the class per one teacher. Loss of individual hands on help when falling behind in the comprehension of a subject.

Now here is where crazy leaves and reality sets in. That one third who drops out, fails ends up in our Federal prisons and county jails before they are twenty one. One third of that before high school.

Now here is where our tax money goes that we took from our schools.

1 Year of so called decent education for a child is on average $9000.00 a year cost to you.
1 Year of Jail cost you $40,000.00 a year.
Now you subtract $9000.00 a year of education from $40,000.00 of Jail Per Child you pay $31,000.00
1 year cost you Twenty Four Million dollars you pay with taxes.
Now multiply that by 1/3 of our children.

Our industry also builds from within. I personally practice this by donating time to UCF, FMU, Fullsail, and more and can supply you with references. With our Schools cutting the arts programs make it hard for them to find work here in Florida where we are trying to build our own work force by growing from within. Now when we lose film students we lose immediate income from rental property, fuel tax, food and food taxes, our merchants lose at the cleaners, office supplies, gas stations, doctors offices, and ore. Can we lose film students coming here? Yes we have and here is how.

I sent out a story last week where a referral I sent to Dave School had two hour meeting. Showing great integrity and honesty at the end the school rep asked where the student wished to practice what he would be learning. Living with his single Mom and having a great relationship with her and roots being Central Florida -- he said right here. Showing the integrity, honesty and common human kindness over greed said: Then we don't want to take your tuition money because there isn't any work in Florida as it has all moved to the states with an incentive bring the film work to them.

So why do I fight. Four my daughter, my wife, my home and my right to work at home in a job I believe I'm good at. A job that creates income for other families, businesses and the proactive building of our community by putting a six to one return profit into my state which will help open back up the schools, hire back the teachers who are underpaid to begin with, and more than that pay for schooling our children not jailing our children

You can do that by voting, witting your leaders. If they don't listen vote them out. We practiced this here in Winter Springs by voting out two city leaders that voted to release five Police Officers but voted for a one hundred and fifty thousand dollar bonus check for another city leader who got the bonus and then resigned. That money could have paid three of the officers a year salary of $40,000.00.

So I'm so close to having to cut bait and run before we lose all my wife, daughter, loyal team members and I have built here. But I will not go without a fight for those who are doing this to help others and themselves as Victors not Victims.

Talk, laugh, ridicule bitch and moan about me. But I believe in those in our industry who care, who lead, who support one another for what is right, that is being able to work and support our families, industry and state while making them money not just us.

I find three types of people in this business:

Most Important are those who truly support, back and work with you because they honestly believe in your mission, goals, integrity, professionalism and or strive to have it. Victors

Next are those who speak loudly that are one thousand percent against you. Because they with integrity and honesty fight against you. Hand to hand in the open forum. Not sneaking around behind your back in cowardice fashion. Victors for the other side of the fight but Victors should they win.

The ones who are least of importance and are of danger to the entire community are those who boost to be friends to everyone and at the same time your best friend or associate. Loyal to none favorite of one "Themselves". Leaches, Victims the people who really destroy by looming between good and evil follow who ever wins.

I'm in this business because of what I create over the almighty dollar. It's my dream, my passion, what I love and proud to be a part of. I have known since I was 12 years old what I wanted to do and have been doing it for 31 years. Thirty two come June. I love my Mentors past and present and want to carry on their passion and philosophy. This is why I fight so hard for those in our industry and I. Please join with us and say.......................................
"Pay It Forward"
Be a Victor by saying We can Do It
We Are Worth It
Make A Difference Stand Up - Call Out Those Who Don't