Shooting events involving the Secret Service at DVinfo.net

James Emory · July 21st, 2005, 06:20 PM

Has anyone else been involved with a project that involves having a background check done by the Secret Service? I have an IMAG shoot coming up for some high profile heads of state and the producers have requested my SSN for a background check by the Secret Service. What all do they check besides a possible criminal background? I mean, that little thing with the bank..... that was a long time ago.

Barry Gribble · July 21st, 2005, 06:53 PM

Typically it isn't very strict. They are looking for blatant criminal background stuff, they won't be asking people any questions or anything. Financial stuff can make it tough to get a security clearance - because if you are broke you may be tempted to sell secrets - but it won't make you any more likely to want to kill a head of state.

James Emory · July 21st, 2005, 09:05 PM

I was talking about that bank I robbed, ha ha ha. Just kidding, of course.

Brian Wells · July 21st, 2005, 09:17 PM

It's just a press pass? There's nothing to worry about. . .

Chris Davis · July 22nd, 2005, 08:33 AM

They read all your internet message postings...

Wait, they've been doing that all along anyway.

Richard Alvarez · July 22nd, 2005, 08:37 AM

Depends on what level of access you are asking for. A press pass to stand in the back of the room with the rest of the photogs will be simple. A clearance to do a one on one with someone high up will be deeper... and more extensive. And once it's done, it will be of use in the future.

Gary Chavez · July 22nd, 2005, 09:11 AM

if the shoot involes being at an event and the SS is providing security, do what they say and be dont be mouthy. (learned the hard way.)
Those guys sucks at people skills.
But thats not what they are paid to do.
Usually on site procedures involve a dog sniffing your camera and a very long wait.
I dont remember ever being patted down or anything like that.
Those dudes are trained to read body language, voice tone, facial expression etc. Being bored and more bored is not real threating.

Sidebar:
I did have a (SS i think) sniper train on me from a rooftop once for quite some time.
I had stayed outside of an event involving VP AL Gore.
I was operating a live truck and was alone in the parking lot.
I still dont understand the threat I posed.
I had been cleared.

Anyway, it made for some cool looking video!

Brian Wells · July 22nd, 2005, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Chavez

Those guys sucks at people skills.

I disagree. The Secret Service are the friendliest people you'll ever meet, right up until the moment they shoot you! ;-)

Joe Gioielli · July 22nd, 2005, 08:08 PM

When I went to see the President get sworn in for his second term in January I took some pictures of what I thought was a sniper on the dome. When I scanned them I zoomed in really close I discoverd he didn't have a rifle, he was standing behind (what an ex-military friend said was) a TOW missle mounted on a monopod.

THAT'S WHAT I CALL PEOPLE SKILLS!

Thanks
Joe

James Emory · July 22nd, 2005, 08:57 PM

That is called government effenciency at work, ha ha ha!!! They don't have to use as many bullets because one missile usually does the job.

Ken Plotin · July 23rd, 2005, 12:53 PM

I don't know if the current crop of Secret Service folks are up on "film speak", but a million years ago during the Nixon years, I was told to ALWAYS refer
to FILMING instead of SHOOTING. As in "We're here to FILM the President".

Also, as noted by another poster, don't be ANYWHERE you're not suppoosed to be.

Hope this helps.

Ken

James Emory · July 23rd, 2005, 01:51 PM

I heard that! I will be sure to describe what I had to go through once the project it is completed.

Steven Gotz · July 23rd, 2005, 05:33 PM

A TOW missile is pretty darn big. Maybe some other smaller missile.

The BGM-71A/B missile has a rounded nose, is 1.17 m long, has a body diameter of 150 mm and a wing span of 0.45 m. The missile weighs 19 kg. BGM-71C ITOW has the same weight and dimensions as the BGM-71A/B except it is longer at 1.45 m because of a standoff nose probe. BGM-71D TOW 2 is 1.53 m long with a further extended probe, has a body diameter of 152 mm and, with a larger warhead of 5.72 kg HE, weighs 21.5 kg at launch.

I serviced the TOW and Dragon missile systems in the US Army for a few years. Especially the ones mounted on the Bradley Fighting Vehicle.

Yi Fong Yu · July 24th, 2005, 04:41 PM

lol. heh heh heh.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Plotin

I don't know if the current crop of Secret Service folks are up on "film speak", but a million years ago during the Nixon years, I was told to ALWAYS refer
to FILMING instead of SHOOTING. As in "We're here to FILM the President".

Also, as noted by another poster, don't be ANYWHERE you're not suppoosed to be.

Hope this helps.

Ken

Pete Bauer · July 24th, 2005, 06:49 PM

Yeah, probably wise advice to refer to "filming" or "photographing" rather than "shooting." Likewise, best refer to your shotgun mic as a "directional" mic when going through airport security. ;-)

I have occasion to chat with SWAT and Special Forces types of folks every now and then. Many (but not all!) DO have a perfectly intact sense of humor and are very nice people...except when they are doing their job. Then none of them can take a joke. I personally know more than one professional person who has "eaten pavement" when they haplessly brought themselves to the attention of SWAT.

July 21st, 2005, 06:20 PM	#1
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	Shooting events involving the Secret Service Has anyone else been involved with a project that involves having a background check done by the Secret Service? I have an IMAG shoot coming up for some high profile heads of state and the producers have requested my SSN for a background check by the Secret Service. What all do they check besides a possible criminal background? I mean, that little thing with the bank..... that was a long time ago.

July 21st, 2005, 06:53 PM	#2
Barry Gribble Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 817	Typically it isn't very strict. They are looking for blatant criminal background stuff, they won't be asking people any questions or anything. Financial stuff can make it tough to get a security clearance - because if you are broke you may be tempted to sell secrets - but it won't make you any more likely to want to kill a head of state. __________________ Barry Gribble Integral Arts, IMDB

July 22nd, 2005, 08:08 PM	#9
Joe Gioielli Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: New Port Richey, Fl Posts: 142	When I went to see the President get sworn in for his second term in January I took some pictures of what I thought was a sniper on the dome. When I scanned them I zoomed in really close I discoverd he didn't have a rifle, he was standing behind (what an ex-military friend said was) a TOW missle mounted on a monopod. THAT'S WHAT I CALL PEOPLE SKILLS! Thanks Joe __________________ Why ask me? I thought you were in charge!

July 23rd, 2005, 05:33 PM	#13
Steven Gotz Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Clermont, FL Posts: 1,520	A TOW missile is pretty darn big. Maybe some other smaller missile. The BGM-71A/B missile has a rounded nose, is 1.17 m long, has a body diameter of 150 mm and a wing span of 0.45 m. The missile weighs 19 kg. BGM-71C ITOW has the same weight and dimensions as the BGM-71A/B except it is longer at 1.45 m because of a standoff nose probe. BGM-71D TOW 2 is 1.53 m long with a further extended probe, has a body diameter of 152 mm and, with a larger warhead of 5.72 kg HE, weighs 21.5 kg at launch. I serviced the TOW and Dragon missile systems in the US Army for a few years. Especially the ones mounted on the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. __________________ Steven Gotz http://www.stevengotz.com

July 24th, 2005, 06:49 PM	#15
Pete Bauer Wrangler Join Date: May 2003 Location: Eagle River, AK Posts: 4,100	Yeah, probably wise advice to refer to "filming" or "photographing" rather than "shooting." Likewise, best refer to your shotgun mic as a "directional" mic when going through airport security. ;-) I have occasion to chat with SWAT and Special Forces types of folks every now and then. Many (but not all!) DO have a perfectly intact sense of humor and are very nice people...except when they are doing their job. Then none of them can take a joke. I personally know more than one professional person who has "eaten pavement" when they haplessly brought themselves to the attention of SWAT. __________________ Pete Bauer The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. Albert Einstein Trying to solve a DV mystery? You may find the answer behind the SEARCH function ... or be able to join a discussion already in progress!

July 21st, 2005, 09:05 PM	#3
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	I was talking about that bank I robbed, ha ha ha. Just kidding, of course.

July 21st, 2005, 09:17 PM	#4
Brian Wells Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 143	It's just a press pass? There's nothing to worry about. . .

July 22nd, 2005, 08:33 AM	#5
Chris Davis Trustee Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Willmar, MN Posts: 1,400	They read all your internet message postings... Wait, they've been doing that all along anyway.

July 22nd, 2005, 08:37 AM	#6
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Depends on what level of access you are asking for. A press pass to stand in the back of the room with the rest of the photogs will be simple. A clearance to do a one on one with someone high up will be deeper... and more extensive. And once it's done, it will be of use in the future.

July 22nd, 2005, 09:11 AM	#7
Gary Chavez Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Antonio Posts: 355	if the shoot involes being at an event and the SS is providing security, do what they say and be dont be mouthy. (learned the hard way.) Those guys sucks at people skills. But thats not what they are paid to do. Usually on site procedures involve a dog sniffing your camera and a very long wait. I dont remember ever being patted down or anything like that. Those dudes are trained to read body language, voice tone, facial expression etc. Being bored and more bored is not real threating. Sidebar: I did have a (SS i think) sniper train on me from a rooftop once for quite some time. I had stayed outside of an event involving VP AL Gore. I was operating a live truck and was alone in the parking lot. I still dont understand the threat I posed. I had been cleared. Anyway, it made for some cool looking video!

July 22nd, 2005, 08:57 PM	#10
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	That is called government effenciency at work, ha ha ha!!! They don't have to use as many bullets because one missile usually does the job.

July 23rd, 2005, 12:53 PM	#11
Ken Plotin Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 254	I don't know if the current crop of Secret Service folks are up on "film speak", but a million years ago during the Nixon years, I was told to ALWAYS refer to FILMING instead of SHOOTING. As in "We're here to FILM the President". Also, as noted by another poster, don't be ANYWHERE you're not suppoosed to be. Hope this helps. Ken

July 23rd, 2005, 01:51 PM	#12
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	I heard that! I will be sure to describe what I had to go through once the project it is completed.