MovieChat Forums > The Machinist (2004) Discussion > National Machining (...)

National Machining (...)

posted 10 years ago by EsmagaSapos
9 replies | jump to latest

(...) have very bad conditions for there workers in this movie.

I searched on Google and I fond that this factory actually exist, somewhere in Denver. Even in my country [Portugal] the factory's can have better conditions. Any blue-collar worker in this section of the message board can give us a opinion? Also this factory seems a little bit dangerous. The only factory's I remember that you can lose a arm, are in the cork factory's [in my country].

Currently I work in a plastic molds factory that produce 98% of the plastic we now see in European cars. So this factory pay above the average and offer good conditions. But before this one, I worked in a metallurgical [just like the one we see in this movie], with 100- employs and they offered better conditions, actually.

Other question I have, is how much does it pays in United States? Because Reznik seems to have lots of money. Pays $300 for sex, $20 for a coffee and pie, pays the rent early.

[–] Mikenaf1234 10 years ago

Tool and Die or "machine shops" can be very dangerous but as Reznik stated if all OSEA (Occupational Safety and Environmental Accuity or something along those lines) guidelines are followed, then it is safe. I know that the machines would not have turned on like in the movie if all procedure's were followed, such as the "lock out tag out" procedure Reznik refers to in the beginning getting him on the $h it list of his supervisor. Usually there are two to three fail safe safety procedures if followed properly during routine maintenance, although someone could have cut corners. If the safety wasn't on, but the guy who got his hand/arm ripped off lied that it was, I guess you could pin it on Reznik for not double checking, but even moreso on the guy with one arm for lying about it and cutting corners. But he was in a union, and if that supervisor had said that to him for reciting OSEA's laws, he would have a pretty good union complaint on his hands. Also when the boss asked for a Urine Analysis (UA), a union steward would have to be present as well. Here in the states, safety is shoved down our throats in manufacturing/industrial jobs, which is a good thing! It's been a long and drawn out union battle to get the workforce safe like that, as back in the days of the industrial revolution up to the 1930's which is when unions got involved, workers had accidents like that all the time and were considered collateral damage for getting orders filled or the job done.

Pay is good in these places, especially if you're union. I would guess pay is on the lower side $20 for unskilled union machine labor and $40 for the arcwelder's and more skilled union positions. The place you looked up is not affiliated with the fabricated place in the movie, as I think the movie took place in L.A. or some spot in Southern California. Also, no real company would allow themselves portrayed in a movie as such.

I live in the midwest, considered the heart of manufacturing here in the U.S. and although not in tool and die, I am in union industry, and my pay is on the higher side of the scale I previously gave you. I hope it's the same for you! Cheers!

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] myfirmvonson 10 years ago

I agree these are horrible conditions. I'm a machinist in Alabama and the plant I work in is very clean and well kept.

[–] myfirmvonson 10 years ago

I agree these are horrible conditions. I'm a machinist in Alabama and the plant I work in is very clean and well kept.

[–] tenantennae 10 years ago

I searched on Google and I fond that this factory actually exist, somewhere in Denver.

The movie was actually filmed in Barcelona, Spain

[–] EsmagaSapos 9 years ago

All the movie or just the factory parts?

[–] daverindone 8 years ago

I've seen both sides of this. I covered a benefit fair in one that was spotless, even though a lot of the guys who worked there reminded me of Trevor's crew.

My father in law worked at one that made National look like a godsend.

[–] KutWrite (1334) 4 years ago

All but some exteriors were shot in Spain. Many in seedy and dangerous (violent) parts of Barcelona.

The city shots were also in those bad areas. I imagine the plant, too. I've lived in LA and couldn't place the city areas or even the topography as being even southern California. I think one shot took place in Arizona.

IMDB is now separate from this chat and has more details under "Trivia."

[–] KingCobra686 9 years ago

Factories can pay pretty well for those jobs. His spending was perfectly realistic considering that those were probably the only things he was really spending his money on at all.