Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
(OP)
htt p://www.ns pe.org/PEm agazine/11 /pe_0811_S creen.html
Auditions anyone? Don't forget your pocket protector, slide rule, and horn rimmed glasses to "look" the part. If this flies, the messaging will be interesting to see.
Auditions anyone? Don't forget your pocket protector, slide rule, and horn rimmed glasses to "look" the part. If this flies, the messaging will be interesting to see.
Pamela K. Quillin, P.E.
Quillin Engineering, LLC





RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
HAZOP at www.curryhydrocarbons.ca
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
We are, indeed, the world's most boring heroes.
Regards,
SNORGY.
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
But this could be tough.
Hollywood will be a tough sell and it isn't just getting engineers represented, it is getting them and their disciplines (I'm sure that will be the first barrier, explaining to Hollywood that there are different types of engineer) represented in a non-clichéd manner.
I guess we ought to look back and list good and bad presentations of engineers in films.
I'll kick off with What's er face in Bullitt and the painful scene of looking up headloss data.
If I can think of a good presentation, I'll add it later.
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
Regards,
SNORGY.
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
You need to write a script featuring an engineer as the main character. The script should feature explosions, car chases, helicopters crashing, large breasted women in tight, skimpy outfits (may or may not be the engineer), and some sort of evil plot by the company's MBAs.
Have I missed anything?
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
That about covers it.
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
You could do the same with other comparable endeavors.
History Channel etc. do these kinds of things sometimes but may go more mainstream.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
I like that best of all! And, sadly, I am not a writer and especially a screen play writer.
SNORGY, I've listened to a lot of colleagues' wives over the years. They didn't mind the "boring hero" they married because they were stable and handy. That stable part is the most prevalent comment I've heard from women as a desirable characteristic in men. Considering my dad's instability, I would have to agree. These are solid, educated women that think engineers make excellent mates for life.
The thing I've heard most often about engineers is that we're a dorky, socially inept lot. But, I have witnessed the social faux pas of non-engineers, too.
Pamela K. Quillin, P.E.
Quillin Engineering, LLC
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
Thank you so much for the encouragement.
Insofar as social ineptitude, to me, a little mix of nobility, character, humility, modesty and integrity goes a long way. I believe that engineers, for the most part, with due consideration of other demographics, consistently show the optimum of that mix. So much so that I can almost (but not quite) tolerate an engineer with an MBA thrown into that mix, other things being equal. If all of that is boring, then I guess I am boring.
To me, the acid test is how animals - not people - perceive you. I spent a peaceful half hour this Sunday morning lying down with our two horses outside the horse shelter; one even put his head back down in my lap for a few (not especially comfortable) minutes. Just glad they didn't roll over...
I'd like to see a lawyer or MBA do *that*. OK, secretly, I might hope one of them actually did roll over...
Not that I am in any way bitter...
Regards,
SNORGY.
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
However, I digress.
My US wife has been told many times that 'I'm not like a normal Engineer' by friends and colleagues - and these are folks that have met their fair share of Engineers since we live in a town dominated by a military research base and many of these ladies had been married to engineers on base or at least had friends whose spouses were engineers on base etc.
Did 'Better off Ted' sort of feature engineer types? Though I have to say the main tech folks were nerdy lab rats from the one or two episodes I saw. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Off_Ted
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
I just think it's really hard to cast engineers as heroes in anything in movies or on TV. It's hard to put a dramatic or entertaining (other than comical) spin on what we do. If that's not bad enough, it is complicated further by the fact that the audience would have to be intelligent enough to truly understand whatever heroism might be present.
When we (my wife and I) go out for dinner with our circle of friends, it is not often that the conversation is centred around "engineering" topics - unless everyone else is making fun of me or the nerdy aspects of it. Unless you're with other engineers, there's not a whole bunch of interest to talk about. We talk about stuff in our "life away from engineering", where there is common ground, and I suspect that most people derive their taste in "entertainment" in a similar way.
To me, engineering isn't what I *do* (because that is boring, so I am told), but it's what I derive money from to pay for what I *do*. My life would be much less complicated if I actually got paid for sleeping with livestock, as alluded to in my previous post. Sadly, that gives rise to a revelation concerning how I could have generated extra income when I was of dating age in high school and university.
Regards,
SNORGY.
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
Regards,
SNORGY.
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
To return to the topic (hopefully taking the focus off SNORGY for a bit:), how about the airplane designer in "Flight of The Phoenix", the orignal, I never saw the re-make. There's a hero engineer / designer for you. OK, I know he designed models, but...
Regards,
Mike
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
Even James Stewart wanted to shoot him at one point.
(But please, why did they remake it?
Why does Hollywood make life difficult by remaking good movies. I can think of none, off hand, that were better than the original. Now if they took some god awful film and remade it then they'd be hard pressed to make a worse remake. Actually, the remake of FothePh wasn't bad. It didn't add anything though.)
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
I've heard a lot of people say engineers are socially inept. In all of my years, I can remember one engineer that I would say is the stereotype that Hollywood produced. Most of the engineers I've worked with are interesting people and usually have something going on they find either pleasurable, challenging, or interesting beyond engineering.
Heck, I dated a guy, not an engineer, that thought engineers were socially inept. He told me that I was numerous times. Sadly, he didn't recognize the taste of his own feet even when dealing with someone else's grief. I kicked him under the table to prevent the grief faux pas but he didn't recognize that signal either. He was another case of Freudian Projection.
I've been told I am not the normal engineer because I talk and don't mind talking about any topic. That always surprises me because most of the engineers I've worked with are like me. Some have a much, much better sense of humor. Mine is too dry.
SNORGY, I don't find those traits boring at all. Often they are attributed to the more interesting people and those with strength of character, which we have too few of today. I guess I've passed the acid test with my neighbors' dogs and cats. I haven't had pets since childhood but their's will lick me all over, rub me all over, and beg for attention.
I don't watch TV so I am clueless about a lot of stuff on it.
Pamela K. Quillin, P.E.
Quillin Engineering, LLC
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
Well that describes an outsiders viewpoint, to the group I work with. Or most of us.
Let's see, one that loves plants, one that is a local food expert, two that play in a rock band, three that play golf, one that farms on the side, all boring people.
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
Since then it's been up and down. Some gregarious teams, some introverted teams. Sadly it's the latter now. I could come and go with nobody noticing most days.
- Steve
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
cranky108: What is wrong with farming?
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
Although I grew up farming, my uncle's cows were for beef not milk. I'd never seen one milked until last night.
Pamela K. Quillin, P.E.
Quillin Engineering, LLC
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
Aww, go ahead, shoot the b****d, sit in the desert:)
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
Does he score any babes?
It is not good enough to make the movie. People have to watch it, and cheer for the engineer. In the 60s version of Flight of the Phoenix, the engineer is German. This was back in the days when Germans were the bad guys, and I vaguely recall that he was sort of a good/bad guy. Try to guess who the Good Guy is in any movie with James Stewart in it.
Did anybody mention No Highway, this time with James Stewart as an engineer?
You can watch The Electric House on You Tube.
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
Yep, google says so though confused as to the film title.... in the UK the same as the book, somewhere else as "No Highway in the Sky".
In the remake he was no longer a German...... Hardy Kruger was good in the original but.... the remake? And what was Bertie (Dr House) doing in that film? Fed up with playing second fiddle to a mouse I guess.
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies to make the best use of these Forums?
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
Remember it was ex-Germans that launched a V2 rocket into Mexico. Sort of made the predicessor to NASA look bad (a little history).
Degrees don't make someone smart. Just ask the press about our former presidents (present one also).
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
The professor who was too stupid to repair the boat?
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies to make the best use of these Forums?
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
PS the second part of my last post, for those who didn't figure it out, referred to Flight of the Phoenix and not No Highway.
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
Hydrology, Drainage Analysis, Flood Studies, and Complex Stormwater Litigation for Atlanta and the South East - http://www.campbellcivil.com
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
Still a great movie.... My wife hates it...
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
Another movie - can't remember the name - but it dealt with the first British passenger jet that kept falling out of the sky. Like three of them if I remember.
The engineer figured it was a fatigue failure and proved it by testing.
It might have been "No Highway in the Sky" as previously mentioned. Just don't remember..
How about "Myth Busters". While I don't believe either is an engineer - they are pretty good at what they do...
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
Also Kaylee from Firefly.
Reed Richards? For a scientist, he sure can cobble together impressive equipment in a hurry.
Buckaroo Banzai comes to mind as well: scientist, test pilot, neurosurgeon, rock star.
Nevil Shute has a book, The Trustee from the Toolroom http
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
Oh well - I love what I do and if I don't do it right I will end up meeting the two people mentioned above.
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
Oh, maybe that was in the reading list thread .....
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
"Good to know you got shoes to wear when you find the floor." - Robert Hunter
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
The show would of course need to be filmed like those build your own home programmes, ie over several years, with the presenter interviewing the residents and the professionals on each visit.
"So...no progress from six months ago...when you hadn't progressed anywhere from the six months before that...Slow process this civil engineering lark, isn't it?"
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
Or a better title "Build a Utility".
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
There actually are some possibilities here. There was the Troubleshooter program on the BBC, although I don't think the guy was an engineer. There is a good parody of the program up on YouTube. His visit to Morgan Motor Company was close to a parody. Buying a Morgan is not a rational decision. Morgan occupies a weird market niche, and it is hard to discuss them rationally.
Would it be professional and ethical to have an engineering program on TV equivalent to Kitchen Nightmares with Gordon Ramsay? Ginia Bellafante is quoted on Wikipedia saying that "the thrill of watching Mr. Ramsay is in witnessing someone so at peace with his own arrogance." Bar Rescue with John Taffer is similar.
Product Design for Manufacture and Assembly by Boothroyd, Dewhurst and Knight provides a lot of design case histories. This might make for interesting TV. I have idea what Boothroyd, Dewhurst and Knight are like in person. Would you be willing to have them call you an idiot on prime time TV?
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
I like the idea of an Engineering Office Nightmares, where the pedantic engineer constantly faces deadlines, his arch nemesis, The Architect, and his constant foil, the contractor. Shop drawing drama, and the true-to-life CAD guy who breaks keyboards and mice from beating them when the principal backchecks the mark-ups from the third iteration of backchecks (a real character from my past.) Or the CAD guy who simply was too dumb or too inept to do the simplest of tasks involving anything but drawing a line on paper.
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
HAZOP at www.curryhydrocarbons.ca
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
Surely the Contractor is the recurring comic relief?
Every time you issue drawings they say "Why I've built more o'these* than you've had hot dinners" (*where 'these' is anything and everything), before calling you three days later asking how you are going to get them out of their mess.
(Ducks and covers
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........
I think that, when they graduate, architecture students should be made to wear top hats instead of mortar boards and given stick-on moustaches to go with the capes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Villainc.svg
RE: Engineers on the Silver Screen and the Little Screen.........