Author Topic: renting your halftrack to hollywood  (Read 27223 times)

steve-0

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renting your halftrack to hollywood
« on: August 18, 2012, 01:25:20 PM »
i have heard good and bad about renting military vehicles to movie sets.

im starting this post because hollywood is headed my way. they are building a movie production studio in dixon ca or vallejo ca. not to far away for me.

http://dixon.patch.com/blog_posts/hollywood-north-or-river-city-iowa#photo-11024329


some posts about the good and bad of renting to movie sets
http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/showthread.php?t=16925

i have heard you can make 2500 a day for a halftrack


Tapper02

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Re: renting your halftrack to hollywood
« Reply #1 on: August 18, 2012, 03:49:41 PM »
Try going through this company....they're kind of like a co-op but they've streamlined the process.  Obviously they'll get a cut, but they ensure you get top dollar for your vehicle, can help with transportation, ensure the movie company treats your vehicle properly and will hold them accountable for any damage that might have been incurred.

WW2 Military Vehicle Rentals, Ltd.
Stephen Frederick, Principle
(949) 632-4345

www.ww2militaryvehiclerentals.com
1944 Autocar M15A1 (M16A1) Halftrack
  (Being restored to an M3A1 configuration)
  Serial Number M-15 A 1, 1356
  Model M-16 A 1, Ord Serial Number 1106
1944 Schelm Bros. M10 Ammunition Trailer
  Serial Number 16959
MVPA # 30507

steve-0

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Re: renting your halftrack to hollywood
« Reply #2 on: August 18, 2012, 04:05:42 PM »
thanks tapper, thats some good info
i had heard of someone doing that but i never knew there name.

if there is interest i will add another category to this site titled "halftracks for rent to movie sets" or something like that where members can post pics of there halftracks location ect.
i can then send emails out with links to that section of this site to everyone that might be interested.

let me know with a reply to this post or email.
steve@halftrackinfo.com
« Last Edit: August 18, 2012, 04:07:33 PM by steve-0 »

FrankUSMC

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Re: renting your halftrack to hollywood
« Reply #3 on: August 18, 2012, 06:59:31 PM »
I did it once, never again. They destoried my vehicles.The money was good, but I ended up selling the vehicles after the movie was made. Just to much damage for me to correct at the time.
If you are going to rent to a movie company, make sure you SPEND EVERY MOMENT with your vehicle, if not evil things can happen to it, remember it is easy for the movie company to say "I'm sorry, than to ask your permission"
One of the few, Frank USMC RET

Captain Crank

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Re: renting your halftrack to hollywood
« Reply #4 on: August 19, 2012, 07:20:41 AM »
I was asked to participate in the movie, Memorial Day with my HT.

Just the BS involved in their haphazard scheduling....winter scenes, drop everything and go at the last last minute made it a total PITA.

No one understood the fact that transporting 300 miles during winter needed to be enclosed and I also have a real job.

They also seemed to think that being in their movie was fair return for my efforts and providing the vehicle.....pffft.

Needless to say.....I didn't do it.


steve-0

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Re: renting your halftrack to hollywood
« Reply #5 on: August 21, 2012, 08:34:20 AM »
thanks for the replies on this.
so far not one post or email expresses interest in a category for movie rental.
i may eventually add a category, i have a few beat up halftracks that could be used as battle damaged halftracks in the movies.

WayOffTrack

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Re: renting your halftrack to hollywood
« Reply #6 on: August 21, 2012, 12:51:39 PM »
I rented the first scout car I had to a tv movie. It was called Rhodes Raiders or something similar. It was set in the Phillippines and had Japanese markings like it was captured. There is a scene of it driving up to a church and filled with Japanese soldiers. A friend rented his cckw on the same movie. This was in the late 80's. I made 2500 and they had it a week. They lost the canvas top but paid me for it. I billed them double and they paid no questions asked. It was a rough scout car, i would not rent a good one unless I was there with it all the time. You can't trust those guys at all. You may get lucky and you might be burned like Frank indicated.
« Last Edit: August 21, 2012, 12:54:11 PM by WayOffTrack »

Dinadin

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Re: renting your halftrack to hollywood
« Reply #7 on: August 21, 2012, 03:39:05 PM »
I think you should make this as a sticky for future reference.  We probably should make list of what someone should ask for before agreeing to doing a movie.  I have done a one day shoot for a local film and got $100 for it, but the total budget was $ 20,000 for the whole movie so I didn't expect much. 
Rich

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. -- Edmund Burke

Schafer's Folly - Halftrack Restoration

steve-0

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Re: renting your halftrack to hollywood
« Reply #8 on: August 21, 2012, 06:09:49 PM »
thats a good idea. its now sticky.
i think one thing i would do is have them add me as an additional insured on their policy. it doesn't cost them much if anything to do it. then if you run over tom hanks you will be covered.

fielddrab

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Re: renting your halftrack to hollywood
« Reply #9 on: August 21, 2012, 08:09:43 PM »
Hey Guys, I rented my slantback HMMWV in a movie and quite a few documentaries and an Air Force commercial.  The movie tore the poor stupid HMMWV up.  I was in Afghanistan and my poor buddy didnt see all the damage till he got back.  I made $4500 but they didn't pay for damages because they were not reported before vehicle was removed.  I learned that I must be the driver and present at all shoots lol!  I have never rented the halftrack, might if I were there the entire time.  Overall It was not that great of an experience because there is more hurry-up-and-wait than the Army!  Like the others said, they expect you to drop everything for them! ::)
John

KC

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Re: renting your halftrack to hollywood
« Reply #10 on: August 22, 2012, 08:05:18 PM »
I had once been contacted about using our 5 ton for a 1-2 day photo shoot by a production company. Some manufacture wanted to mount a radar unit in the bed and take pictures. I quoted $1,600 per day plus expenses. They kept changing the dates and finally wanted the truck painted desert tan (currently 3 color NATO camo). I said no because of lack of time and had no interest in painting the truck.

andy

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Re: renting your halftrack to hollywood
« Reply #11 on: September 01, 2012, 10:51:06 AM »
Well, before i got mine, one of the previous owners rented it out. Here she is, this was 1987 in captain power series. This is in the beginning of computer effects so they used real explosives  >:(
click the pic

1943 M4A1 (restored to M2A1)

steve-0

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Re: renting your halftrack to hollywood
« Reply #12 on: September 02, 2012, 02:16:47 PM »
Veluzat Army Rentals in newhall ca has an american halftrack made to look like a german halftrack for rent.

http://www.melodyranchstudio.com/VAR/trucks.htm
http://www.melodyranchstudio.com/images/army/germ_halftrack.jpg

Tapper02

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Re: renting your halftrack to hollywood
« Reply #13 on: September 02, 2012, 06:49:41 PM »
Wow, that's kind of sad.  It's funny though that they realized they can get away with such butchery since most of the population can't tell the difference.  Wonder how much it cost them to make that conversion instead of using an OT-810?

-Tom
1944 Autocar M15A1 (M16A1) Halftrack
  (Being restored to an M3A1 configuration)
  Serial Number M-15 A 1, 1356
  Model M-16 A 1, Ord Serial Number 1106
1944 Schelm Bros. M10 Ammunition Trailer
  Serial Number 16959
MVPA # 30507

FrankUSMC

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Re: renting your halftrack to hollywood
« Reply #14 on: September 03, 2012, 05:46:24 PM »

My friend rents all his trucks to the movie makers. He does not restore them, but just keeps them running for different shots. The halftrack being made to look like German one, he told me that at one movie he was renting vehicles for, they needed a recoiless rifle (I think), he said he had one, but they turned him down as they could have one made for the shot.
I am thinking that German halftrack was found like most we see with no rear armor. A little bit of sheet metal, and wow! a German halftrack for the movies, it has to look good for a few seconds.
One of the few, Frank USMC RET