So much has been said of the "perks" included in being a part of any one of Michael Landon's projects. We'd like to share this post with permission from Rick Farris on Facebook!
"The Dude"
What was it like working with Michael Landon?
"Little House on the Prairie" & "Highway to Heaven" . . .
The most important thing of all is how he treated us every day. Michael would arrive on set in the morning with his Producer & best friend, Kent McCray.
He'd almost always start the day with a joke, or funny story.
We used to shoot every scene in one take. Not only was Mike & co-stars prepared, but also the guest stars who were often well-known veteran actors such as Dick Van Dyke, Leslie Nielson, Eli Wallach, etc. His guest stars were also pros who could do things in one-shot, then we'd move on.
We were paid "over union scale" for 12 hours a day (4 hours of OT), but we rarely worked eight hours. Mike also did very little night work during a season, as he wanted us all to be home from work by dinner time, so we could enjoy our families, which is very rare in the filmmaking world.
If he knew a crew member had a personal issue, he would often approach us privately and let them know if he could help in anyway, to be sure to let him know.
He would promote within his ranks. I knew a set medic who became a cameraman, somebody who worked in his office became an assistant director, and many more experienced the same rise in responsibility.
He'd rent set lighting equipment from the chief lighting tech and even use his signature to purchase new equipment which would be paid for out of future rental fees.
At the end of every season Producer Kent McCray would walk up to each of us individually, shake our hands and say: "Thank You". He'd also hand us an envelope with a very large bonus check that would equal a month's pay.
He wanted us all to succeed, he was kind and had a heart! He also was no-push over, he'd stand up to anybody.
Just a few little things that were very big things to those of us who had the luck to be a part of his crew.
The financial perks were legend, however, his treatment of those he depended on were unequaled in the history of filmmaking.
We were blessed, he was our angel!
-Rick Farris/Lighting Tech
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