Director Mike Figgis detained: 'Shoot a Pilot' taken literally (TSA at LAX)

Monsters & Critics ^ | 5/30/07 | By Stone Martindale

[Cuttnhorse]

or better; Thousands Standing Around

[Nervous Tick]

>> These are the people in charge of security? We’re all going to die, aren’t we?

Just wait until their boss Mr. Chertoff applies his full incompetence to what’s going to pass for “border security” after the amnesty bill passes.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Protecting you from the threat of terrorism, we are the T.S.A.

T.S.A.

Terminally

Stupid

Arseholes

[BJClinton]

That’s 5 hours of not searching grandmas!

[coloradan]

Trouble is, it’s not a joke. Movie people “shoot” film, and a “pilot” is the first episode of a new series. Shooting a pilot is exactly what he was going to do, all joking aside.

[HereInTheHeartland]

It’s a good thing he didn’t tell them what the pilot would be called if no one watched it.

[discostu]

Figgis is British, pretty standard when you’re going through customs in any direction for them to ask why you’re making the trip. Not really sure why, I guess they’re hoping to catch nervous criminals freaking out.

[HangnJudge]

Trouble is, it’s not a joke. Movie people “shoot” film, and a “pilot” is the first episode of a new series. Shooting a pilot is exactly what he was going to do, all joking aside.

Grammatically correct, but contextually wrong
He was not on set, he was in an airport security cue

[Gideon Reader]

BELIEVE IT! (The caps on was not an accident)

[Names Ash Housewares]

Pilots shoot approaches.

Poor little approaches.

[Salvey]

I cling to the belief that the TSA screeners are simply window dressing, placed there to placate the traveling public and that the real work is being done behind the scenes; i.e., surveilling suspects, tapping their phones, inserting spies into their networks, cataloging sleeper cells, and perhaps even “disappearing” a few especially bad actors. (I can dream, can’t I?)

[Thumper1960]

My government is run by nimrods.

God help us all.

[Riptides]

I agree with your skepticism. I’m sure he knew exactly what he was saying and thought it was funny. He deserves to be detained for five hours for being an idiot.

[BenLurkin]

“Have your people call my people. We’ll do lunch.”

[SUSSA]

I can’t believe TSA is that stupid.

I can. They don't even need a H.S. diploma to work in the TSA deciding who gets on planes and who doesn’t.

[paul51]

I agree with your skepticism. I’m sure he knew exactly what he was saying and thought it was funny. He deserves to be detained for five hours for being an idiot

Not to be outdone, I suspect the TSA didn't really need 5 hours to figure it out. He wanted to be a smart ass. They wanted to teach him a lesson.

[dighton]

If this allegedly true incident occurred, and the man’s exact words were “I’m here to shoot a pilot,” count me among those who believe he knew what he was saying. As he allegedly discovered and should have known, wrong place for comedy.

[donna]

Haven’t you ever seen those airport customs scenes in the old black and white 1950’s movies?

America used to enforce the borders - now they just want to confiscate any bundles of cash.

[Atlas Sneezed]

How about the TSA moron who asked recently my wife about her purse: “you got a shotgun in there?” (the issue was a small quantity of acceptable cosmetics).

I guess joking is only for the lords, and not for the peons.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

You would be the first idiot to complain if they simply let him go on his word alone. Don’t be such a D.B.