Sunday, April 19, 2009

Don Schisler- Rest In Peace

A really good and talented man passed away recently. Don Schisler was an engineer, designer, and insert car driver that I, and the whole Atlanta community, worked with for years. The guy was brilliant and truly one of the nicest men you could ever meet. I spent many hours talking with him over the years and he was kind of a mad scientist in a trucker hat. He was always thinking of ways to adapt everyday things to the film business and I remember at one point had modified fire trucks to be used as lighting platforms. The last thing I remember him talking about (around 1995) was an "All titanium dolly," honest. I didn't realize how long it had been since I'd seen him until I got an email last week informing me of his passing. I remember he was once late to work with an insert car because he saw a lady stranded on the interstate. A truly good man. We'll miss him. So long, Don. See you on the other side.

3 comments:

Nathan said...

Don was known to a lot more people than just the Atlanta community. I worked with him in the early 90's on a movie in Ohio. He was a class act and supremely confident in his knowledge and abilities (with good reason).

I'm only realizing now while writing this that he must have made one hell of an impression on me since I'd be hard pressed to name many other insert car drivers I worked with almost 20 years ago.

Sad news indeed.

D said...

Of course, you're right Nathan. I tend to think of him as Atlanta's alone because he was based there, but he was well known to people all over the country. I've thought of him often over the years and I'm sorry I lost touch with him

D said...

Oh yeah, forums seem to be back up (at least on my computer).