Mike Ford

I work mostly in narrative as the utility. We keep names and numbers on them. We have 16, average day 5-6 go out to the regulars on their chairs, often gets muddled if I'm away wiring or on set booming and the mixer is being harassed for them when they call rolling so we implemented a sign out sheet again but that hasn't made them magically come home, led to a wild goose chase this week rather...When they don't come back after a week we file a loss and damage report and wait a month to get a new one...first three seasons only lost two total...as of today we've lost five in this season alone. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

For chairs I try to stick some scraps of duvetyne or whatever I can find between the cushions rubbing together to minimize squeaks. I've had bad experiences with the set dressers after rubbing any kind of creams or pastes on leather or vinyl furniture that ended up leaving a residue but that's another topic..jackets I ask wardrobe for help Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Director: "the boom! The boom was in!" Mixer: I'm not calling you a liar, but when we tilted up I saw a c stand, a flag, a PA, and lastly the boom as well..." Director: " why is the boom always in????"

I wish I had brought mine on location on my current show (full season of episodic far from home) Instead brought my baseball glove. Today at lunch we had about 7 guys throwing the ball around....also have my Xbox with me too...

My kit is usually: Belt with pouch to keep spare batts, multi tool, flashlight, transpore, moleskin, cotton gloves, extra foot foam, candy and gum stash. Boom HD-25 headphones Remote Audio 7506s for some days Boom box, grips love it. Rain gear Full change of clothes and sneakers Ibuprofen pepto bismo and tums. Head lamp Bag of jokes and a sense of humor

I often wear dark clothes to hide myself as a boom but that's not too far from what i wear usually....it's not too often that my pale arms stick in the reflection that I'm blamed for...and then usually they say "you're ok if you don't move" and I say " that's great...as long as the actors don't either!"

On set I usually rotate through two different pairs of Merrells, one with more firm, aftermarket insoles and often skate shoes. I try to swap shoes at lunch, socks too sometimes just to be comfy when it's warmer. Neos for rain but weary of them since a friend slipped on the gate of a truck wearing them in wet weather. Winter shoots, electric socks and foot warmers!

I'd have hit the tone button to censor what I would say next from being recorded

Also take it easy on the left wrist and try to boom ambidextrous when I can

I'm starting week two tomorrow booming on a 6 month long episodic show far from home. 3 days before I left home I woke up not being able to walk due to fluid in the knee. Saw my sports doc who drained it. Still not 100% after week one but feeling better and SITTING whenever possible when I rest the boom. My years of skateboarding have finally caught up with me... I'm still young in the game and not even 30 for a few weeks yet...I try to eat right, stretch and keep active without aggravating the knees or shoulders and keep my fingers crossed...ive heard many horror stories and don't want to compromise a career I love..

I've replaced the cable once only to find it was the right side driver. Replaced that and alls been good so far. I love them for booming as they're smaller and offer low end so i can hear any handling noise...now if only the cable didn't take so much abuse when it gets caught on the ACs walkie as he squeezes by me slating on these tiny sets...

On an episode of "Arrested Development" the Bluth family is having an emergency meeting about some possible leaks about family business. At the moment when Gob Bluth says "it's almost like they have a microphone in this room!" you see the boom intentionally dip deep into the frame...cracks me up.

You could use those DVD ram cartridges from the PD 6 as a wheel chock after I'm done with the machine..lighter and would recycle them into good use!

"Does anyone with experience purchasing 80/20 materials know of a good place to order online?" I do believe our friend Johnpaul215 on here has fabricated his cart himself out of the material from a local supplier here in Philly. Give him a shout, sure he'd be able to answer any questions firsthand.

Sam, my PSC has threads to add a bumper on the base, recall it used to be an available accessory but could be wrong. Planning a trip to the hardware store to figure out thread sizes, one of these days