On 5/10/2017 11:52 PM, Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
I wasn't there and so I do not know what was said between IA and the film people. However, the film people posted on FB just now: "The cast and crew would like to express our gratitude to the The InfoAge Science History Learning Center and Museum and Fred Carl for allowing us into their facility to film several poignant scenes. Thank you for allowing us free reign in our set decorations and touching the buttons (the highlight of the cast's day!)"
"Touching the buttons" concerns me. Those buttons are not IA's to allow anyone to touch. And what of the photo posted by the film people of their own people leaning on the Univac, including one photo of their people with a FOOT on the Univac? What of their photo showing a film prop abutting our analog computers? There is no such permission allowed in our lease. IA is allowed to open the room, turn on the lights, and let people walk around inside. That's it.
I feel comfortable saying all that here because our lease is a matter of public record with Wall Township.
I feel the real issue here isn't the fact that they let them touch things and possibly damage our machines, which I feel is everyone's concerns from the current discussion... The REAL BIG ISSUE here is that what if them leaning on the Univac caused it to come tumbling down and injure or even, god forbid, KILL someone. Liability is the huge issue here... If someone was hurt who's fault would it be?? IA's fault for letting them touch everything, or our fault for possibly having an "un-safe" exhibit? I'd personally like to be thankful that no-one got hurt, that no damage appeared to have been shown to the artifacts. But this is a serious misjudgement on someone's part. While I feel whoever made the decision had the best intentions with the whole ordeal, I feel a LOT more thought should have been gone into this instead of just "Ah they probably won't break anything." Its not JUST the artifacts that could get broken! I don't feel any finger pointing needs to be done, but someone needs to think in the future about possible liabilities... I bet if that film crew asked if they could climb the satellite out front of camp Evan's they would say "No that's too dangerous and too much liability for us." But leaning on an old computer? "Ah its just a computer what could go wrong?"... A computer that weighs probably close to a TON. Trust me, I know what it feels like to move a big heavy computer around, its not safe or fun if something goes wrong! My 2cents, -Connor K