97 - Fred North - Helicopter Stunt Pilot - "Flying Sideways"

In episode 97 of the Filmumentaries podcast, I interview helicopter stunt pilot Fred North. Fred shares his journey from a childhood fascination with helicopters to becoming a successful stunt pilot in Hollywood. He emphasizes the importance of creating opportunities for oneself and having a shark-like drive to keep moving forward. Fred also discusses the art of flying a helicopter and the importance of connecting with the machine. He shares insights on working with directors and understanding their vision to offer creative solutions. Takeaways

• Creating opportunities and having a drive to succeed are key to achieving success.
• Connecting with the machine and understanding its nuances is crucial in flying a helicopter.
• Understanding the director's vision and offering creative solutions can make a helicopter pilot invaluable in the film industry.
• Embracing mistakes and learning from them is essential for personal and professional growth.

Chapters00:00 Introduction and Patreon Support03:35 First Encounter with Helicopter06:27 From Childhood Fascination to Becoming a Stunt Pilot08:20 Shark-Like Drive and Embracing New Opportunities10:42 Dealing with Mistakes and Learning from Them12:30 The Importance of Having an Open Mind and Connecting with People14:24 Writing the Book to Share His Journey25:08 The Role of Instinct and Connection in Flying28:21 Finding a Way into the Film Industry35:25 Understanding the Director's Vision and Offering Creative Solutions41:06 QR Codes in the Book and Making it Entertaining42:18 Closing Remarks and Future EpisodesAll the links