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 Support 03:35 First Encounter with Helicopter 06:27 From Childhood Fascination to Becoming a Stunt Pilot 08:20 Shark-Like Drive and Embracing New Opportunities 10:42 Dealing with Mistakes and Learning from Them 12:30 The Importance of Having an Open Mind and Connecting with People 14:24 Writing the Book to Share His Journey 25:08 The Role of Instinct and Connection in Flying 28:21 Finding a Way into the Film Industry 35:25 Understanding the Director's Vision and Offering Creative Solutions 41:06 QR Codes in the Book and Making it Entertaining 42:18 Closing Remarks and Future Episodes All the links This podcast is completely independent and made possible by listener support. If you’d like to help me keep making these episodes, you can join my Patreon community here: https://patreon.com/jamiebenning Watch more on YouTube: Check out the Filmumentaries YouTube channel for behind-the-scenes clips and extra content: https://youtube.com/filmumentaries All my links