Civil War Stupidity
Okay, so I was working on this Civil War (American) film and one of the production crew advised me that despite having gotten up at the ass-crack of dawn and gone through hair, makeup, wardrobe and saddling up and leading my horse to the set, I was not going to be needed until well after lunch.

Brilliant thinks me. I need a nap.

So there were three other officers in the same situation and I said "Lets go over to that mock camp over there and start a fire." It was December and BLOODY COLD!

So we get over, collect the kindling and some logs and we have a perfect fire pyramid built...complete with newspaper for the starting of the blaze. But for whatever reason, the paper wouldnt light. It was damp and the morning dew was still an issue I guess, so we start trying to find a good fire accelerant.

Then it occurs to me: Ive got black powder on me! Brilliant!

So, we dump a couple of cartridges worth of black powder on the paper in the hopes that the intense flame will dry it enough to allow it to burn.

And then we start flicking matches at the accumulated black powder in the newspaper...and flicking...and flicking...until:

WOOOOOOOOSH!

It started the fire. BUt sadly, it also singed all the hair on my hands, my eyebrows and my hair in front had all these ashy looking burnt ends.

NOT one of my more stellar moments in film history.

Cheers (and Merry Christmas...erm....Happy Christmas to you all!)
Sean
( Citadel Because the world needs less morons, Fri 21 Dec 2007, 16:33, 2 replies)

What dedication!
Surely you looked authentic,then?
(TDub Nunc id vides, nunc ne vides on, Fri 21 Dec 2007, 20:05, closed)

Good Point!
I think so!

I mean, I had that 'something just blowed up real close ta me' kind of look which I am sure was relatively common during the period. :D
( Citadel Because the world needs less morons, Fri 21 Dec 2007, 21:14, closed)