Minute 105: 7700

What this episode covers

Guest Host: Rob Draper With more than 35 years experience in Film and Television, Rob Draper has worked on everything from Regional TV News to Hollywood Feature Films. Known as a technical innovator and creative risk taker in the industry he has pioneered many new techniques and worked on development of motion picture products for SONY, Panasonic, Fuji Film, Arri and Zeiss. Rob was also the first to run a full scale Hi Definition shoot in Hollywood on the then “new gen” camera’s. Rob set the style for what has become known as Reality TV in a groundbreaking series he shot for Universal called “The Street”…after which the New York Times declared “the show practically creates a new visual language”. Rob also worked on some of the first Music Videos used to promote feature Films and developed a visual style for using promotional music videos for retailing in a 5 minute Hollywood extravaganza for Coca Cola. Rob’s photography on the Sundance Audience award winner, The Spitfire Grill, drew accolades worldwide. Rob’s website: http://www.robdraperacs.com/ Summary In the aftermath of the explosion, Stewardess Joan is tending to the Tourist passengers. Vern, in the aft entryway, puts an oxygen mask on the unconscious Gwen, who’s sprawled on the floor of the cabin. Meanwhile, Stewardess Joan removes Ada’s hat, and helps her with her mask. Marcus Rathbone, not wearing a mask, is turning blue while facing backwards in his seat. Joan seats him back down and straps an oxygen mask on Rathbone. Vern makes his way from the back of the aircraft, taking breaths from spare masks hanging from the overhead compartments. Meanwhile in the cockpit, the stars are wheeling across the windscreen as Harris struggles with the ship. “Trans Global Two,” he says into his mask’s microphone, “Decompression – – making emergency descent.” Harris reaches for the aircraft’s transponder code. Harris changes the IDENT to 7700, the emergency squawk code. On the ATC radar screen, a double target bloom appears, signaling the location of an aircraft in trouble. The scene dissolves into an image of the 707 making a sharp descent in the night sky. Mel, Bert, Tanya, and Harry listen intently to the radio in Mel’s office. “Request One Zero Thousand,” says Harris. “Roger,” says Toronto Center, “Descend and maintain one zero thousand. Report your intentions when ready.” Vern struggles to get to the front of the aircraft, while checking on the status of the passengers. He takes a deep breath off Guerrero’s now-available, unused oxygen mask. Gwen re