who was that guy, the one with the plane...?

June 30, 2007 1:58 PM

UpdateFilter: while I was waiting in line for an iPhone with my friend yesterday (for him not for me) I was catching up on a little work. I was showing my friend the MeFi admin interface and someone looked over my shoulder and said "is that MetaFilter?" I said yes, was he a member? He said no but a video that he had made got linked on MeFi last February and had catapulted him to mini-stardom for a few weeks. He gave me some backstory on the movie....
posted by jessamyn to MetaFilter-related at 1:58 PM (73 comments total)

This is fly4fun (#14 in line) and this is his Flickr profile and his website. He shot the movie to show his daughter what his day was like as a pilot, a few days after that U2 song came out. It was hosted on his site, but then people started watching it and enjoying it so he moved it to YouTube where it was fairly quickly removed for terms of use violations because of the U2 song. However, many people had already downloaded it and it was reuploaded by a bunch of people pretty quickly.

We watched the video in line (free wifi outside the Apple store) and he talked about how he hadn't really intended the movie to get out as much as it had. He hadn't asked his employers at American Airlines what they thought of the movie. Turns out that they pretty much liked it and were actually really supportive. He was a little sheepish when the parts of the movie featuring him in his underwear came up but I assured him we'd all seen much worse. That's my report from Dorkville, hope you enjoyed it.
posted by jessamyn at 1:58 PM on June 30, 2007 [5 favorites]

That was really a lot of fun to watch. Really fun. I just hope that too much publicity doesn't get this guy into hot water with his overlords. He showed a lot of footage that A/A may not want to be shown.
posted by SeizeTheDay at 2:10 PM on June 30, 2007

I remember that... it was and remains awesome. ps. Youtube 'terms of use violation. removed.'
posted by acro at 2:23 PM on June 30, 2007

I will be punished?
posted by acro at 2:24 PM on June 30, 2007

acro, I don't understand what you're talking about. Can people not read my first comment?
posted by jessamyn at 2:26 PM on June 30, 2007

I really enjoyed the video, which I missed the first time around, thanks Jess.
posted by vito90 at 2:30 PM on June 30, 2007

Sorry jessamyn, I hadn't read your comment when I posted.
posted by acro at 2:32 PM on June 30, 2007

And I apologize for doubting the veracity of the video in the original February 2006 thread.

How cool for jessamyn and fly4fun to connect in the iPhone line!

Life works in mysterious and wonderful ways!
posted by ericb at 2:42 PM on June 30, 2007

Anyone have a downloadable version they could post? I'd like a copy of that, just for the fun cockpit views...
posted by anthill at 2:49 PM on June 30, 2007

Awesome! Thanks Jessamyn! Small world.

Well, I guess it gets whittled down to the residents of Dorktown once in a while.

I hadn't seen the post before. Great job but... WHO WAS FLYING THE PLANE!!!!! (Insert dramtic chipmunk.)
posted by The Deej at 3:19 PM on June 30, 2007 [1 favorite]

Wow - thanks for the update. I really enjoyed that video when it was first posted and it's fun to learn more about the guy behind them. His trip reports give some nice insight into being a pilot.
posted by Staggering Jack at 3:30 PM on June 30, 2007

I hadn't seen the video but will watch it now. Thanks for the nice story, Jessamyn.
posted by dhammond at 3:33 PM on June 30, 2007

hope you enjoyed it.

Besides the part where I scared everyone in the room because I forgot this damn thing has built in speakers, I did enjoy it. Story, video and all.
posted by shelleycat at 3:41 PM on June 30, 2007

Awesome.
posted by cortex at 3:50 PM on June 30, 2007

Yay! I love stuff like this, and I loved that video.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 3:50 PM on June 30, 2007

Strangely, he left out the parts where the lavatory sewage seeped out and ran down the aisle. I guess they don't get that in the cockpit.

Anyone have a downloadable version they could post? I'd like a copy of that, just for the fun cockpit views...

Uh, there are like a million various ways to download videos from youtube. Try keepvid.com for a start.
posted by Rhomboid at 3:54 PM on June 30, 2007

Niiiice!
posted by JohnnyGunn at 3:54 PM on June 30, 2007

Aw, internet.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 4:21 PM on June 30, 2007

I missed that the first time around; thanks.
posted by Tuwa at 4:25 PM on June 30, 2007

I hadn't seen the video first time around. I'm surprised by how much thought he put into syncing the song with the film. Cool.
posted by Brittanie at 4:33 PM on June 30, 2007

This video has been removed due to terms of use violation.

Pity.
posted by Samuel Farrow at 5:07 PM on June 30, 2007

Well, when he's forced into mandatory retirement at whatever age American proscribes he can become a video editor. That was fantastic.


Viral

posted by MarvinTheCat at 5:09 PM on June 30, 2007

I missed it first time 'round, as well. Very cool video and very cool coincidence.
posted by trip and a half at 5:09 PM on June 30, 2007

Oh rats, my tinfoil tags around Viral didn't show up. I lose. At the internets.
posted by MarvinTheCat at 5:10 PM on June 30, 2007

He showed a lot of footage that A/A may not want to be shown.

Like what? I thought mdevore debunked that pretty well in the original thread. OK, I think someone entered a door access code near the beginning, but it's probably changed by now. The biggest worry would be that he would be disciplined for screwing around when he was supposed to be flying the plane.
posted by grouse at 5:21 PM on June 30, 2007

So, didja convince him to drop a $5er and become a member?
posted by quin at 5:28 PM on June 30, 2007

This only confirms that Metafilter jessamyn is the center of the my world.
posted by OmieWise at 5:54 PM on June 30, 2007 [1 favorite]

Just to hone in on the charmedness of this day, I actually somehow left my wallet in the mall someplace -- perhaps when I was making an iphone call to mathowie from the store while my friend bought his iphone -- and when I got home today and called the security guys they were like "oh yeah, you're from Vermont right? We have it right here, looks like all your stuff is in it."
posted by jessamyn at 6:43 PM on June 30, 2007

Jess, this brings something to the front-of-mind - I've been curious about what the MeFi admin interface looks like for as long as I've been coming here. Any chance you'd do a screencast?
posted by jbickers at 6:55 PM on June 30, 2007

Very cool. Thanks for sharing this, jessamyn.
posted by boo_radley at 6:56 PM on June 30, 2007

Cool.

Now we need a MeTa sidebar for accidental meetups (historical).
posted by allkindsoftime at 7:11 PM on June 30, 2007

Awesome story!
posted by mathowie at 7:23 PM on June 30, 2007

This is really cool.
posted by Arturus at 7:43 PM on June 30, 2007

Just, you know, in case it hadn't been said enough already.
posted by Arturus at 7:44 PM on June 30, 2007

I love it when real life meets the internet.
posted by Devils Rancher at 8:09 PM on June 30, 2007

I missed this the first time too, spiffy!
posted by rfbjames at 9:05 PM on June 30, 2007

Jess, this brings something to the front-of-mind - I've been curious about what the MeFi admin interface looks like for as long as I've been coming here. Any chance you'd do a screencast?
posted by jbickers

This recent MeTa addressed your very request. Prepare to be disappointed.
posted by The Deej at 9:11 PM on June 30, 2007

jbickers, Cortex let a screenie slip recently, too. Noob.
posted by Rock Steady at 9:17 PM on June 30, 2007

What a great story!
posted by amyms at 10:06 PM on June 30, 2007

You should totally interview that guy on the next MeFi podcast. I'll boot the five bucks to make him a member. He lives in Vermont? I love Vermont.
posted by trip and a half at 11:15 PM on June 30, 2007

Very fun small world...
posted by taosbat at 11:22 PM on June 30, 2007

Loved that vid first time round and I echo the comment. It's cool when internet transects meatspace.
posted by Wilder at 1:12 PM on July 1, 2007

Whoa. The guy's a good editor!
posted by brundlefly at 1:18 PM on July 1, 2007

I missed this the first time around. My dad flew for American before he retired our of LAX and JFK. When I was little (before security was made insane), he used to take me to check his mail, so I got to see the areas that usually only the pilots see. It was great fun and I have many memories of walking through the back passages at those airports. This really made my day!
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:37 PM on July 1, 2007

Yea, I missed this one too. That guy really should look at doing video production if he ever decides to not do the pilot thing in the future...

If only YouTube had this quality of stuff all the time, instead of dumbasses farting into their cameras or watching their 14 yo buddies try to recreate Jackass stunts, I'd be more inclined to check it out more often.
posted by plaidrabbit at 3:12 PM on July 1, 2007

1. I missed this the first time around so thank you for the heads up on the terrific video.
2. Awesome followup.
3. That little girl has a kick-ass pop.
4. Now I want to be a pilot.
posted by LeeJay at 3:53 PM on July 1, 2007

I'm here! I've seen the light and I've finally joined MeFi. Of course, meeting jessamyn and Casey sealed the deal for me. Oh, that and reading this nice thread about my video.

Thanks for the very nice comments both here and last year about the video. As jessamyn said, I really just made it for my 3 year old (at the time) and my family in 2004. But it sure made the rounds during the 1 week that it was up on YouTube. It only resurfaced a few months ago. Three people had a lower resolution version of it that they've posted. I don't know what to think about that. Should I have asked them to take it down or should I have said, "Here, use this higher quality version instead!"

I had a Paris trip on the day after that Vertigo song came out. I couldn't get it out of my head and I figured it would sync up well with a 'daddy goes to work' video. The crew I was flying with was fantastic and so I was inspired to give it a go. The cockpit shots were done by the relief pilot (we have 3 pilots on flights over 8 hours) and he did a great job.

I love my job (so did my dad and so did his dad-all pilots) and there really isn't a job with a better view. So it's fun to share that view through my site.

So if I can ever break away from this slick iPhone, maybe I'll make an updated video sometime. And yes, if I couldn't fly, I would love to do video editing, but I have a LOT to learn.

Well, thanks for the nice welcome to the site and I hope I'll be able to contribute in the future.

It sure was great to meet you J and C!

Kent

Oh, and since it always gets brought up, the keypad in the video rearranges the numbers everytime you approach it. So no security problems there. And I'm really sorry for the underwear scene. I would have reshot that if I had known so many people would see it.
posted by fly4fun at 8:24 PM on July 2, 2007 [8 favorites]

Welcome Kent!!!!

OK, who wants to break it to him that even though we liked his video, he will get his ass kicked with snarkiness if he makes one wrong move?
posted by The Deej at 8:28 PM on July 2, 2007

*melts*
posted by Lucie at 8:29 PM on July 2, 2007

I'll be really careful Deej. I promise!
posted by fly4fun at 8:42 PM on July 2, 2007

Fly straight, sir. *salutes*
posted by The Deej at 8:46 PM on July 2, 2007

Yay, hi Kent, it was good to meet you too. Hope this isn't too metaweird. Welcome to town!
posted by jessamyn at 8:56 PM on July 2, 2007

Kick the tires...
posted by taosbat at 9:04 PM on July 2, 2007

Neat. Hi, Kent!
posted by cortex at 10:23 PM on July 2, 2007

Absolutely awesome! I feel all warm & squishy inside - serendipitous mefi meeting and a spectacular video. Perfect! Great to see you decided to join, Kent!
posted by goshling at 9:01 AM on July 3, 2007

As an editor myself, I have to say kudos! That's a really well put together video. I missed it the first time around, but color me impressed.
posted by MythMaker at 10:23 AM on July 3, 2007

fly4fun, if you ever feel any nervousness about posting here, just visualize yourself in your underwear.

Well, just visualize any of us in our underwear. It's the internet. Somebody is.
posted by dhartung at 2:25 PM on July 3, 2007

*removes underwear*
posted by The Deej at 3:58 PM on July 3, 2007

dhartung,

I'm sure it will be easy for you to visualize ME in my underwear, I mean, I was dumb enough to post a video of it!

But thanks for the advice!
posted by fly4fun at 6:57 PM on July 3, 2007

Hey! It's hot here!
posted by taosbat at 7:19 PM on July 3, 2007

Pleez delete! Pleez delete! Pleez delete!
posted by taosbat at 7:24 PM on July 3, 2007

Okay so first he on MeFi via FPP, then there was the IRL meetup.. then back again as a MeTa.. and now he's actually inside the system posting on a thread about himself, which links back to the IRL meetup.. and .. and...

The recursions in this thread will make my head explode!
posted by your mildly obsessive average geek at 2:38 AM on July 4, 2007

that should have read "he was on MeFi" of course.. gah
posted by your mildly obsessive average geek at 2:39 AM on July 4, 2007

fly4fun - I loved the post the first time around, really excellent video and a great gift for your offspring. Well done you.

This kind of thing is what makes mefi great.
posted by triv at 7:53 AM on July 4, 2007

Great video! I still get a little teary-eyed when I watch it.
Thanks for sharing Jessamyn (and fly4fun)!
posted by matty at 8:14 AM on July 4, 2007

Welcome, Fly. Now you'll never get anything done...
posted by Samizdata at 3:30 PM on July 4, 2007

The recursions in this thread will make my head explode!
posted by your mildly obsessive average geek

It's like being in a Charlie Kaufman script.
posted by The Deej at 4:21 PM on July 4, 2007

Wow.

WOW. This was so cool; I missed it the first time, so I got to come on board to see the follow-up AND the joining of Kent - welcome!

This is why I still love MeFi, many years and many near-flameouts after first lurking.

And, I forwarded the video on to my dad (who is a pilot for fun).

Just, wow.
posted by jennaratrix at 1:27 PM on July 5, 2007

Wow, that's my post! *jumps up and down and waves arms*

My one and only post in the Blue with a follow-up in the Gray. Sweet!

Kent, welcome to Mefi! I'm glad I was able to introduce your almost nakedness to the community.
posted by junesix at 1:20 AM on July 6, 2007

Wow, that was hella cool! Welcome to Metafilter and thanks for sharing both your video and your comments, even if there was an effective 3 year delay between your making it and it getting to an audience.

I hope U2 eventually pays you for all your hard work.
posted by vhsiv at 2:48 PM on July 6, 2007

Oh that video IS awesome. I also missed it the first time around. Jessamyn, thanks for giving it a new audience!
posted by harkin banks at 6:02 PM on July 8, 2007

re pilot thinking ... a few days after that U2 song came out ...

I thought Gary Powers is on YouTube ?
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoID=1873108497

The AA/Vertigo mixup was great, thanks for sharing.
posted by _squid_ at 2:50 PM on July 15, 2007 [1 favorite]

What a wonderful gift to make for your daughter -- I hope she liked it as much as we did! Welcome aboard, Kent, it's good to have you with us.
posted by Zonker at 7:11 AM on July 21, 2007