datsunfreak Posted June 17, 2008 Report Share Posted June 17, 2008 Long winded, but hopefully worth it... About two months ago I was put in contact with a movie producer. She was told I might be able to find what she was looking for. When she called, here's how it went: Me - "What did you need help finding?" "I need a 4dr 1971 Datsun 510, preferably light blue". "I think I can find that..." :D So after looking around for a volunteer, no one wanted to step up. I told her we could use mine (she didn't know what I drove), but we'd have to paint it. She was hip to that, so off we went. I prepped the car as best I could for the shoot... Before: http://datsun510.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14395&size=big After paint: http://datsun510.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14385&size=big On the set: http://datsun510.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14725&size=big So I got to downtown Houston last Friday night and got all the stuff put on the car they wanted, different mirrors, license plates, seat covers, etc. When I got to the first location they all jumped on it and cleaned it until it was nearly spotless. Cool, or so I thought... http://datsun510.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14766&size=big Then I noticed he's spraying dirty water over it after it was cleaned... http://datsun510.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14773&size=big Then he started spraying fake dust/dirt on it to make it look like it hadn't been washed in awhile. Kinda like when it arrived, huh? :D http://datsun510.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14773&size=big Then they added some fake clutter to my dash: http://datsun510.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14779&size=big The Assistant Director drove while the Director was in the back seat and the Director of Photography was in the passenger seat shooting. Bet they wished I had put A/C in it before the shoot... http://datsun510.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14785&size=big http://datsun510.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14787&size=big They drove it around for a few hours doing "point of view" footage, as in what the star would see while riding in the passenger seat while driving around downtown Houston. After that was over we moved the whole operation to the second location. At the second location I met the actress in the film who "owns" my car. While showing her a few things in the car so she could drive it she mentions "I have no idea how to drive a stick, never done it before". So, I spend the next 20 minutes teaching her how to drive a manual transmission car. Once she has the hang of it I turn her loose, scared but well insured. If you met her, you'd know why I didn't mind teaching her... :wink: http://datsun510.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14795&size=big They do some shooting of her and the "boyfriend" driving down the street, which after 7 takes they finally get. We wrap that location and move on. Then we move to a local Chinese restaurant where they are doing the final shot. Luckily, for this shot my car is just parked in front of the restaurant along with a few other "background" cars, while one drives by. http://datsun510.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14836&size=big http://datsun510.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14835&size=big After that we are done. It was definitely a fun experience I think everyone should try once, but I won't be rushing to do it any time soon. All told it was about two full days, with about 5 hours of actual work and 15-20 hours of standing around waiting. So we loaded up and head home, and 40 miles outside Houston we have a blow-out... http://datsun510.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14837&size=big Some new tires on the trailer and we were good to go. I saw it blow in the rear view mirror of the truck and a huge chunk shot straight up in the air and made a perfect arc over my car missing it by about 3 inches. :shock: Now she's safe at home and it's back to the regular job... http://datsun510.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14838&size=big If you want to see all 120+ photos I took, you can go through them here: http://datsun510.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=3520 Some neat stuff there if you want to see the "behind the scenes" of the film being made. Here's a link to the IMDB page for the movie: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1071812/ I'll probably post up again when they announce a release date. ;) Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted June 17, 2008 Report Share Posted June 17, 2008 Thanks for making the story for us. Most interesting. We helped get a Datsun 1200 wagon for 20/20 a couple of years ago and the same thing, they painted the car a different color. Quote Link to comment
b210in Posted June 17, 2008 Report Share Posted June 17, 2008 what a cool story, you know, movies like this and covers on cd's will only make these dattos more valuable and cool. did you get paid to have your car in the movie? Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted June 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 did you get paid to have your car in the movie? I wouldn't have done it otherwise. ;) But honestly, the free paint job was enough to talk me into it. Quote Link to comment
datsun dreamer Posted June 18, 2008 Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 So cool:D!!! Your datsun is a Star now:cool:! And your cars value just went up as well:)! I like the stock look they gave your car! Will you leave it like this???? Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted June 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 I like the stock look they gave your car! Will you leave it like this???? I gave it the stock look, not them. ;) And as far as leaving it stock looking, not no but HELL NO. Guess you didn't click on the last photo then? :D It didn't even make it one day after the shoot as a stocker... Quote Link to comment
bonvo Posted June 18, 2008 Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 i kinda liked the lowered look with the stock wheel ganny could ride in style :Pbut great story so they payed for the paint job? Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted June 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 so they payed for the paint job? Yes, they did. I told them if I paid for it they'd get white.If they wanted blue they needed to pay for it. :P This is the stock color for this car, though. It's #567 Robin's Egg Blue. Quote Link to comment
bonvo Posted June 18, 2008 Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 its definatly a beautiful paintjob and for free cant beat that with a stick and the actress who drove your car:drool: Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted June 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 i kinda liked the lowered look with the stock wheel granny could ride in style :P I did think about it for a minute, though. :D I do like this one... Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted June 18, 2008 Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 So it's a Robin Bluebird... Quote Link to comment
zhent Posted June 18, 2008 Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 Did you use doublesided tape to put the side markers on for the movie? Quote Link to comment
datrod Posted June 18, 2008 Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 I did a foto shoot with my Z car back in march. It was for the Nissan frontier pick up. They used my z for a towing scene. I was asked to bring the car up to the local foothills for a shoot. I had no idea what they were going to do. but I drove up and they put it on a trailer and took still shots ALL F/N DAY. It was a long day but fun. They had a big ass motorhome on site with a gourmet chef. We had filet minon with shrimp and salad for lunch and snacks all day. They cut me a check at the end of the day, $750.00 They said that Nissan would use the pic's in the brochure for the frontier. No free paint. but You might see my car next year at your local Nissan dealer.:cool: Quote Link to comment
phatdave Posted June 19, 2008 Report Share Posted June 19, 2008 Screw the paint job...tell us about the young poonanny! Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted June 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2008 Did you use doublesided tape to put the side markers on for the movie? You know what's funny? Out of the possibly thousands of people I showed the photos too, you are the first to notice that. :D Or at least first to ask... :P Yes, I removed the metal light bezels, glued the trim rings, gaskets, and lenses together so they look "complete", and then attached them to the car with double-face tape. Also put on the rear badges with double-face tape as well. This trunk came from my old '69 so it had no badge holes in it. Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted June 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2008 tell us about the young poonanny! The photo really tells you all you need to know. :P Quote Link to comment
fiveohthree Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 Sweet pics and awesome story. I'm a film student and nothing extreme like that [yet] but I used Dave Lum's 510 in a short I shot but never completed. Productions are alot of fun and pay really well. Glad you enjoyed it even though the days were long as they usually are, but for a car wrangler, etc alot of waiting can be a pain unless you're enamored with the process and production which it looks like you were... I'm going through your gallery of pictures now.. exciting stuff.. thanks for the high quality pics! Quote Link to comment
fiveohthree Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 Might be a silly question: The dusting of the car looks really good. Do you know if they just used a paper or saw dust or some commercial application? heh.. thanks. Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted August 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2008 The dusting of the car looks really good. Do you know if they just used a paper or saw dust or some commercial application? heh.. thanks. They used a product called "whole earth". It's essentially filtered and purified dirt. Takes out all rocks and big chunks and just leave behind fine soft soil. He has a small device he uses to "spray" it on (you can see it in the photos). Quote Link to comment
dat521gatherer Posted August 1, 2008 Report Share Posted August 1, 2008 interesting story and cool pics.:) Quote Link to comment
denveratsun Posted August 8, 2008 Report Share Posted August 8, 2008 Know anyone that wants to put my amazing truck in a movie? You can even count me in for multiple paint/ wheel tire options. :)I suppose that if they needed to...and I mean ABSOLUTELY NEEDED to...they could put it on bags and 20's. with huge Nismo discs all the way around,:D with a ka24 for those really scary "fast action" scenes:lol: Great story man...I look forward to seeing the pics when I get home. Quote Link to comment
FJDatto Posted August 18, 2008 Report Share Posted August 18, 2008 I like the clutter on the dash. Cassettes and an 8-Track. What kind of radio does both? ;) Quote Link to comment
lynchfourtwenty Posted August 30, 2008 Report Share Posted August 30, 2008 is that one of your fuel injected cars? Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted August 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2008 is that one of your fuel injected cars? No, pretty basic under the hood, dual carbs, header, etc. :D Quote Link to comment
Llittle_Llama Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 He has a small device he uses to "spray" it on (you can see it in the photos). hey, this is a family site! and yeah, i noticed the 8 track and tapes too, lol Quote Link to comment
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