RSIG Security at Transformer Packard set

**wolverine** · September-14-10, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by Stosh

I don't really care. I just find it funny as hell that you just HAVE to take pictures when the movie is filming. And I just like to see credit go where it should.

I'll be looking forward to seeing your documentary some day. Hope that you can make the rubble jump, or something original. I can't see wasting my time looking at some kind of rehash of ruin porn.

http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=all&...formers&m=text

5405 from flickr only. I like how in many of the photos security and police are having friendly chats with spectators. Also a ton of people are smiling.

Stosh · September-14-10, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by wolverine

http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=all&...formers&m=text

5405 from flickr only. I like how in many of the photos security and police are having friendly chats with spectators. Also a ton of people are smiling.

You can like all you want. Let's review a bit shall we?

Chicago downtown is a functional city. The Packard plant is a dysfunctional ruin.
In Chicago there were not potential liabilities surrounding the filming. Here.. Well you fill in the blanks.
I obviously can't understand the reasoning behind the behavior of the security other than this :
In Chicago there's not the potential for the scrapping of the set.

**torbusto** · September-15-10, 06:08 AM

Originally Posted by Gsgeorge

Not the classiest act in town. New Image Protection Services offers a much more professional & accommodating security service for Hollywood Films. I was surprised a film of this size went with RSIG, to be honest. They offer some of the lowest rates in town. Probably because they needed so many people. NPS [[New Image) is an amazingly professional outfit, very courteous with people and will only take action of the set is trespassed onto or there is a disturbance. Police are only called if absolutely necessary.

I went by the Transformers set at 6th and Lafayette yesterday after work, not on single RSIG security person in site. Could see into the set perfect as Shia LeBeouf and others jumped on a Decepticon. I was waiting for the hammer to come down on me and others taking pictures but nothing happened.

Here's a bunch of pictures, you can get really close to the filming which is going on this week and next

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/g...9140805&Ref=PH

LodgeDodger · September-15-10, 02:50 PM

I drove by the Packard Plant today as I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Some of the people on this forum should be ashamed of themselves. The security guards were personable and very helpful.

Those of you who have been taunting the security guards should be ashamed of themselves.

LodgeDodger · September-15-10, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by Fnemecek

Oh, man! This is really bad.

We're trying to promote Michigan as a filming location and we've got assholes like RSIG making the entire industry look bad. These guys simply need to be replaced.

No, the RSIG folks are quite nice. It's people like Mauser who need a boot in the ass.

**Jared9903** · September-15-10, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by LodgeDodger

No, the RSIG folks are quite nice. It's people like Mauser who need a boot in the ass.

I don't doubt that there are some nice folks that work there. I did not harass anyone or insist that I take pictures. I was walking back to my car after talking to them and my lens just happened to be facing the building [[the camera was off) when they threatened to hurt me if I didn't leave. I'm sure they have rotated staff since friday, so you probably did not see the gentleman in the red Ford Fusion that has been causing problems.

**Gsgeorge** · September-15-10, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by LodgeDodger

I drove by the Packard Plant today as I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Some of the people on this forum should be ashamed of themselves. The security guards were personable and very helpful.

Those of you who have been taunting the security guards should be ashamed of themselves.

Probably because production had a word in with RSIG yesterday... All the fuss on the internet spread pretty quickly to the production office...

**wolverine** · September-15-10, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by LodgeDodger

No, the RSIG folks are quite nice. It's people like Mauser who need a boot in the ass.

Or certain people get certain reactions.

A new person gets hired at a building's security desk. I walk in with a skateboard and casual clothes around lunch. A businessman in a suit walks in. I get stopped by the new guard and asked if I work in the building, at which the next instant I hover my keycard to sign into the building's system. The man in the suit is waved by. Once in the elevator, turns out he's not an employee nor does he know exactly where he's going. He's also not signed into the guestbook, which is against security protocol.

Two people just walking in, two different reactions right?

**DetroitZack** · September-15-10, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by Gsgeorge

Probably because production had a word in with RSIG yesterday... All the fuss on the internet spread pretty quickly to the production office...

Just wondering, how do you know that production had a word with RSIG?

**torbusto** · September-15-10, 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by wolverine

Or certain people get certain reactions.

A new person gets hired at a building's security desk. I walk in with a skateboard and casual clothes around lunch. A businessman in a suit walks in. I get stopped by the new guard and asked if I work in the building, at which the next instant I hover my keycard to sign into the building's system. The man in the suit is waved by. Once in the elevator, turns out he's not an employee nor does he know exactly where he's going. He's also not signed into the guestbook, which is against security protocol.

Two people just walking in, two different reactions right?

Great example there Wolverine and what you said puts it all in perspective on this RSIG and in most situations. Totally true "two different reactions" all made of appearances and assumptions.

**Django** · September-15-10, 11:15 PM

Better Business Bureau

Easy to file a complaint online and if they are a legit business they will try to make things right.

https://odr.bbb.org/odrweb/public/ge...aspx?siteID=80

LodgeDodger · September-15-10, 11:44 PM

I think Jared and Mauser haven't been completely truthful when they decided to share their experiences at the Packard Plant with us folks at DetroitYes! Let this old girl give you two kiddos some advice:

In the future, when something doesn't go the way you would like it to, don't attempt to force the situation. Pushing people's buttons won't get you the desired result. It never will. Got that? You may win that round, but karma can be a motherfucker.

Since I'm feeling rather generous, I'll give you two kids a little more advice: Going into those buildings is a dangerous situation. It may be an adventure to you, but it really isn't. You're taking risks. Not just the risk of robbery. All sorts of unspeakable things happen in those places. I'm not talking about accidents. Falling into crumbling tunnels or getting hit by falling debris is the least of your worries in "abandoned" buildings.

What I'm talking about are deliberate, incredibly sadistic acts of violence directed at those who think they're on some sort of an adventure. What we consider sadistic or violent, others consider fun or for sport. Jared and Mauser, does the thought of gang rape seem like an adventure to you? How about a beating so severe that permanent physical damage occurs? Believe me, it may not have yet happened, but it will. Everytime you go into one of those places, you're taking that chance. Your luck will one day run out. You can take that to the bank.

Of course this advice is for anyone who seems to think it is fun to go exploring in "abandoned" buildings just for the adventure of it. They're not really abandoned, you just think they are.

**Gsgeorge** · September-16-10, 12:10 AM

Lodger, I think you might be getting a bit jumpy. I too had a bad run-in with RSIG. I was giving a bicycle tour of the city with a group of 6 tourists from France. I had warned them in advance about the short-fuse guards at Packard and also warned them again photo taking in advance. When we arrived, I started talking about the history of the plant, etc. We were on the south side of E Grand, near the middle of the building, so we couldn't really see the T3 set. Inevitably a few of the tourists got out their pocket cams and began taking pictures. Within seconds an RSIG security was up in their grill, telling them to stop taking photos or they would be fined $5000 and arrested. I jumped in, for one thing he's scaring this French tourist for no reason and for another we are on public property [[the streetside/sidewalk) and not taking pictures of set. I told him Frenchie was doing nothing wrong, to stop bothering us, that I was giving a history tour and wasn't interested in his movie. He said he was going to call the police and I asked him to do so right away, please. He marched back to his car, I saw him pick up his phone. I finished up my spiel and continued West down E Grand. A cop car drove by but didn't stop and I just waved at him. Needless to say the Frenchies were not happy and it did not really help make them feel welcome here.

As someone who works in the film industry, I have dealt with my fair share of security guards. All are very nice, and will only step in if there is a curiosity seeker trespassing or causing a disturbance. This guy was very inconsiderate, very unprofessional, and very much lying to us about the fine & arrest. After reading the comments here and on detroitfunk, not to mention having a bad experience myself with the guards firsthand, I did end up letting some key parties know about the problem by pointing them to this thread.

Let me just say that if the guards had been friendly and considerate, and maybe -- just maybe -- politely asked we don't take photos even though it is perfectly within our legal right to do so, it would have been no big deal. And really if that were the case then a thread like this never would have happened in the first place, with so many people corroborating Mauser's story about the bad behavior of the guards.

**Jared9903** · September-16-10, 12:26 AM

Originally Posted by LodgeDodger

I think Jared and Mauser haven't been completely truthful when they decided to share their experiences at the Packard Plant with us folks at DetroitYes! Let this old girl give you two kiddos some advice:

In the future, when something doesn't go the way you would like it to, don't attempt to force the situation. Pushing people's buttons won't get you the desired result. It never will. Got that? You may win that round, but karma can be a motherfucker.

Since I'm feeling rather generous, I'll give you two kids a little more advice: Going into those buildings is a dangerous situation. It may be an adventure to you, but it really isn't. You're taking risks. Not just the risk of robbery. All sorts of unspeakable things happen in those places. I'm not talking about accidents. Falling into crumbling tunnels or getting hit by falling debris is the least of your worries in "abandoned" buildings.

What I'm talking about are deliberate, incredibly sadistic acts of violence directed at those who think they're on some sort of an adventure. What we consider sadistic or violent, others consider fun or for sport. Jared and Mauser, does the thought of gang rape seem like an adventure to you? How about a beating so severe that permanent physical damage occurs? Believe me, it may not have yet happened, but it will. Everytime you go into one of those places, you're taking that chance. Your luck will one day run out. You can take that to the bank.

Of course this advice is for anyone who seems to think it is fun to go exploring in "abandoned" buildings just for the adventure of it. They're not really abandoned, you just think they are.

Forgive me if I am wrong, but I clearly said it was not my intention to go inside. I only wanted to take images from the sidewalk [[Not even the same side of the road that the guards were on). You have just made a sweeping generalization [[Jared is was taking photos and videos, some photographers and videographers go into the packard plant, therefore Jared was going into the packard plant.) Let this student give an old woman some advice:
Fallacies are not good arguments.
I was not planning on going into the building, so your whole "gang rape" argument is irrelevant to my case.
I had a witness with me when it happened. Like I said, while some guards may be extremely nice people, two of the guards that I came across were the opposite.

**mauser** · September-16-10, 04:27 AM

I already got advice from Lodger Dodger on my website, something about my head getting smashed in. This person is an ______redacted_by_author

**mauser** · September-16-10, 04:41 AM

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/michael-whittaker/7/334/b79

This is the owner and CEO of RSIG. He runs some kind of honeymoon travel agency up in Clarkston.

Mike says " I am highly articulate with exceptional interpersonal and decision making skills."

Michael Whittaker’s Interests:

"marketing, investing, scuba diving, travel, photography, golf, God, family & friends".....oh yeah and he forgot the ".457 Magnum in the office"........

Here are some of his other companies - a little softer than the RSIG Blackwater wanna-be company:

http://www.journeysofexcellence.com/
http://www.blisshoneymoons.com/

CLICK HERE to see Google streetview of this place "bliss honeymoons"

Oh - where am I getting that Mike is RSIG CEO and founder ? from his OTHER Linkedn page:

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Mich...r-Detroit-Area

**mauser** · September-16-10, 05:03 AM

Hey Mike - I am still waiting for the $5000 ticket that Khaki Shorts was going to mail to me after he took down my plate number. Do I need to go to RSIG Court to pay that ticket ?

Its been many days since first stopped in front of Packard after seeing a large black plume of smoke from I=94 on my way to Midtown to hang out with a friend - this was 9:30 am on 09.05.10. I saw the smoke and knew it was the Packard/Medbury neighborhood, and suspected there was yet another fire at Packard. I was there to take photos of the fire, not a movie set.

This is when I met the guy in the Khaki Shorts. He "issued" me the $5000.00 RSIG ticket for standing on East Grand Boulevard with my camera looking at the facade of Packard. He and his partner refused my request for identification. I had to tell the person who was with Khaki Pants that I was being threatened enough by him and his lack of any recognizable uniform or identification to consider defending myself. I then informed him that after doing so I would immediately call the Detroit Police to clean him up. This is the only reason that the first person backed away from me after refusing to identify himself. Khaki Shorts ran right up and started screaming right in my face, again, no way of knowing who the fuck these people were, standing in an extremely bad neighborhood with a $2000 camera kit in my hands. No signs, no blocked roads, no "closed set", no trespassing of any kind.

I repeat, I was there originally to photograph and report what I thought was another arson fire. It was the film people blowing off propane for the movie - but how was i supposed to know ? I was doing what EVERYBODY HERE WOULD DO - stop and see if the black smoke was a newly started and hot [[black indicates hot, white is oxygen starved) fire, so you could call the DFD. I would have run right over to the station on Grand Boulevard.

Mike........are YOU Khaki Shorts ?

Can I come to the RSIG office to pick up my ticket directly ? can I just grab it at your Bliss Honeymoon office in Clarkston ? I have business up there this week, so I can pop right in and pick it up from you.

Do I make the check out to 'RSIG' or do I cut it right to "Michael Whittaker" ?

Mike ?

**Gannon** · September-16-10, 07:22 AM

Originally Posted by mauser

I already got advice from Lodger Dodger on my website, something about my head getting smashed in. This person is an ______redacted_by_author

Yeah, I cannot understand her vehemency with this.

I had a lengthy response written last night, but redacted it also. Wasn't worth it.

But it began something like: "I'm sure Mauser and I would BOTH run red lights to get to a decent gang-bang"...and went down from there.

The fear-mongering is simply fucking amazing. I cannot imagine living a life fueled by that sort of negativity. It must be really taxing on the health.

Cheers, Mauser...thanks for the research. That is really funny stuff. I needed that in this morning!

**Gannon** · September-16-10, 07:27 AM

Mauser,

Why didn't you take a picture of these idiots?! Especially once they started the assault.

As a security company, they must certainly have to keep records of all their employees...so I'm sure khaki can be tracked down.

Sounds like he needs a really overdue spanking...or if LD approves, some strategic boot insertion.

Wowser, Mauser.

**mauser** · September-16-10, 07:45 AM

Oh John - you know me better than that pal ! - I have photos of everybody and shared them with the others who were verbally assaulted. Many of us videoed the guards as well - although I havent talked about or published the video I took.

http://www.detroitfunk.com/?p=4714

Scroll down through that thread. The main guy that everyone seems to have met, and the most extreme is the one sitting in the red car, who I call "Khaki Pants". Bears a resemblance to Mike, the CEO, but I cant tell from his Linkedn photo.

I photographed Khaki Pants when they were boarding up the building just as hollywood rolled in. When you make eye contact [[sunglasses contact?) with him, he stares you down like a pitbull, making photographs rather easy to take. I dont know how high up, but he always appears to be in charge and was always the one to escalate everything into some sort of life threatening conflict.

This is over a movie about toys, remember. And I was there to photograph and report a fire originally when they went ape shit in my face.

My new district Rep is the honorable Hansen Clarke ! - and I think I need to contact him about this as well. What if this company is getting government contracts ?

And again, to all the Media and the City of Detroit who appear to have engaged in some cognitive dissnance suddenly after raising a fuss around banksy........

WHO OWNS PACKARD ?

WHY ISNT IT CONDEMNED ?

WHERE IS THE EMERGENCY DEMO ORDER ?

WHO LEASED PACKARD TO HOLLYWOOD ?

**mauser** · September-16-10, 07:54 AM

[[I have also gotten comments from at least one guard, who I did an IP traceroute on and was able to positively identify.)

DAMN....Im looking at my bank book, and i am going to need to go to the credit union to cash in one of my 2 year old daughters IRAs to pay that RSIG fine of $5000.00. Wow.....I might lose my home over this fine, its gonna put us under.

God DAMMIT, I wish I had never stopped to report what I thought was a fire at that abandoned building.....now my daughters life savings is going to be wiped out....dammit..dammit dammit.

Stosh · September-16-10, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by mauser

[[I have also gotten comments from at least one guard, who I did an IP traceroute on and was able to positively identify.)

DAMN....Im looking at my bank book, and i am going to need to go to the credit union to cash in one of my 2 year old daughters IRAs to pay that RSIG fine of $5000.00. Wow.....I might lose my home over this fine, its gonna put us under.

God DAMMIT, I wish I had never stopped to report what I thought was a fire at that abandoned building.....now my daughters life savings is going to be wiped out....dammit..dammit dammit.

Funny that you never mentioned a fire before.

Now why would you traceroute someone just because they disagree with you?
On top of that, you also publish their e-mail addresses too? WTF is that all about?

Sounds to me like a breach of trust. After all, your site clearly states that you will not divulge anyone's e-mail address, as in

Mail [[will not be published) [[required)
Website

**mauser** · September-16-10, 09:01 AM

blah blah blah ?

http://www.detroitfunk.com/2010image...0/DSC_1339.jpg

Say what you mean - if you are accusing me of making up a story about seeing a fire [[see attached photo of fire) then say it, otherwise, shut it.

Stosh · September-16-10, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by mauser

blah blah blah ?

http://www.detroitfunk.com/2010image...0/DSC_1339.jpg

Say what you mean - if you are accusing me of making up a story about seeing a fire [[see attached photo of fire) then say it, otherwise, shut it.

I still don't see any explanation for the breach of trust I mentioned.

I'm just going by your initial complaints. which are, by the way, at the top of the page. Your presence at the site wasn't drawn in by the fire, were you? This isn't your site here. I don't think that you have the authority to tell me to shut it.

**Bigb23** · September-16-10, 11:32 AM

It would probably help if the local news did not report the location of every film shoot in the area as part of their "Showbiz" format that has been used the past couple of years.
Hollywood is mostly new here because of the tax incentives, and they could do without the tourists wandering around the set.
That said, they also have to moniter any goons they have hired for security, and keep the local goodwill intact.