Greg MacLaurin
- Editorial Department
- Sound Department
- Actor
Greg MacLaurin began his film career only because he couldn't find a college that granted a degree in Theme Park Design, which was his first love. Film seemed kinda close to Theme Park Design (at least in story structure), and Cal State Northridge was near and cheap.
Just before graduating, Greg met David (a friend from high-school) for lunch at his awful job running errands and rewinding film at some grimy editing rooms on Cahuenga Blvd., kinda behind the Cinerama Dome. David hated the job, and some crisis kept him from taking lunch. Greg stood by, watching people race back and forth, overhearing arguments. David would run by and say "...just another minute." Now, Greg had done a lot of film work at CSUN, but mostly in Super 8 and 16mm, and he'd never touched 35. Another guy raced by Greg, 35mm film reels in his arms, stopped, and stared. "Here, rewind these", shoving the reels in his arms, walking away. Greg stood there, alone in the hallway and thought "Uhhhh, humm. I wonder where the rewind bench is." He went to the table, and tried to figure it out without breaking anything. The guy came by a minute later and said "Jesus Christ, just do it this way" and threaded the film. Greg stepped on the floor switch and was rewinding! Another guy walked by and piled more reels on the bench, and no one had lunch that day. David quit the day after, and Greg was hired.
Next week, at the graduation ceremony, Greg was the only person in his class to have a job in the film industry.
All during his work in feature films, Greg kept on submitting job applications at various theme park companies, including WED, but he never got hired. Finally, after 3 years, a small company called Art and Technology in Burbank (a theme park special effects house) offered Greg a job. Greg was by then a first assistant editor, making around $1500 per week. The offer was as a drill-press operator at minimum wage. Greg had never operated a drill press before. He leap at the offer.
After decades in the Theme Park industry as a concept designer and special effects designer, Greg still thinks it was the best decision he ever made.
Just before graduating, Greg met David (a friend from high-school) for lunch at his awful job running errands and rewinding film at some grimy editing rooms on Cahuenga Blvd., kinda behind the Cinerama Dome. David hated the job, and some crisis kept him from taking lunch. Greg stood by, watching people race back and forth, overhearing arguments. David would run by and say "...just another minute." Now, Greg had done a lot of film work at CSUN, but mostly in Super 8 and 16mm, and he'd never touched 35. Another guy raced by Greg, 35mm film reels in his arms, stopped, and stared. "Here, rewind these", shoving the reels in his arms, walking away. Greg stood there, alone in the hallway and thought "Uhhhh, humm. I wonder where the rewind bench is." He went to the table, and tried to figure it out without breaking anything. The guy came by a minute later and said "Jesus Christ, just do it this way" and threaded the film. Greg stepped on the floor switch and was rewinding! Another guy walked by and piled more reels on the bench, and no one had lunch that day. David quit the day after, and Greg was hired.
Next week, at the graduation ceremony, Greg was the only person in his class to have a job in the film industry.
All during his work in feature films, Greg kept on submitting job applications at various theme park companies, including WED, but he never got hired. Finally, after 3 years, a small company called Art and Technology in Burbank (a theme park special effects house) offered Greg a job. Greg was by then a first assistant editor, making around $1500 per week. The offer was as a drill-press operator at minimum wage. Greg had never operated a drill press before. He leap at the offer.
After decades in the Theme Park industry as a concept designer and special effects designer, Greg still thinks it was the best decision he ever made.
