Peter Allen: Heavy vehicle driver and mechanic
Driving...Action!
Peter Allen
Age: 47
Company: Macs Action Vehicles
Industry: Automotive
Peter Allen works as a mechanic and driver in the film and television industry. He has parked cars on the steps of the Opera House and driven a Porsche through the desert of South Australia. He never thought his childhood dream to drive trucks would lead him here.
Peter Allen works for Macs Action Vehicles where his role involves looking after all the transport, on-set support, mechanics and detailing for cars used in TV commercials.
"I mainly work on the ads for new car models, making sure they get to the location, driving them, and carrying out any work that needs to be done for the shoot — be it taking off a door for a camera to be installed to putting bike racks on the roof."
"People can't believe I actually get to do this full-time. I drive around and get to see unbelievable parts of the country and get paid for it!"
Lucky break
After 15 years driving fuel tankers and one of his ambitions achieved, Peter saw an ad in the local paper for a detailer and mechanic in the film industry. And it was that simple.
"The other day I was at the Woomera rocket launch facility in the middle of South Australia with a Porsche and just shook my head thinking, ‘Wow, there aren't many people who get to do this!"
Peter knew nothing about the process of making TV before stepping into his job with Macs, and said he is amazed at how much preparation and planning is involved.
"Time is money on a film set, and so I need to do my part safely and yet with speed.
Peter's job also requires him to be adaptable: "I turn up in the heart of Brisbane's CBD in a semi-trailer, armed with a map and a call sheet with the names of the crew I'll be working with on a three-day-shoot."
"I do get a buzz when I see the shots I've worked on in a brochure or an ad."
Chasing a dream
Peter always wanted to drive trucks. His father drove fuel tankers for Shell and advised Peter to get a trade as a mechanic.
"He told me the best way to learn how to drive them, is to learn how to fix them."
Peter first completed an apprenticeship as a diesel mechanic with Benders buses in Geelong, and during his training did the morning and afternoon school bus runs, but as he recalls, "I was itching to get into truck driving."
After a stint ‘hot testing' new engines for Ford he moved into the Transport division, driving all the vehicle parts from Geelong to the Ford assembly plant in Broadmeadows.
From there he started driving fuel tankers for BP before landing his dream job as a driver for Shell. His motivation was to follow in his father's footsteps.
"It's what I always wanted to do, and I got there," he tells me. "I absolutely loved it with a passion. I would bounce out of bed at 3am and no one could believe it."
Peter's zest for life is infectious. On his days off, he can often be found trawling second hand stores for a piece of antique furniture to restore.
"Someone has to look after them. I like bringing them back to life."
Best part of your job?
It changes all the time and you get to see the countryside. And of course you get to play with all the new cars!
Hardest part?
You never know what they are going to ask for next, so you need to be adaptable.
What personal qualities are important?
You need to have a lot of patience and the right attitude. You just have to accept that sometimes it will take all day to get two shots.
Advice?
Whetever you choose do it, and do it well. Be proud of what you do.