03x17 - Behind the Scenes

[bunniefuu]

Narrator: it takes an army
to produce "gold rush."

Sync.




A genie lift,
and even an airship

To record
thousands of hours of footage.

Man: finish out.
We're coming in.

The show doesn't just happen.

The cameramen have to
catch the action.

Narrator: this season,
the hoffmans have doubled down.

We're gonna hit this one
straight out of the park.

Narrator: they need 10 times
the gold they got last year.

They might be packing up
and going home,

And we might be packing up
and going home.

Narrator:
it's do-or-die for the miners.

I have got to get good drill
holes, or we're screwed.

Narrator: and it's crunch time
for the crew.

How do we sh**t it this season?
'Cause it's so different.

It's bigger
and a harder beast to tame.

Narrator: while the miners
only care about getting gold...

Keep your crap
away from my crap, all right?

Narrator: ...the camera crew
fights to capture the story.

[ g*nsh*t ]

Narrator: this season,
there's expl*sive drama...

[ expl*si*n ]

...heated confrontations...

This is not [bleep]
this is not tv.

Narrator: ...and more gold than
anyone ever thought possible.

You won.

In never-before-seen footage,

Find out what's tougher --
mining for gold...

We're kind of thinking all
we're doing is making gravel.

Narrator:
...or making "gold rush."

Why do you not want
to answer the question, todd?

There's a camera in my face
every day.

Look at this.

-- Captions by vitac --
www.vitac.com

Captions paid for by
discovery communications

Narrator:
april in the klondike.

The start of another season
of "gold rush."

The mainly british
production crew

Makes last-minute preparations.

Bates: it's a whole town,
really, we built.

It's strange to see how massive
this place is growing.

Now, it's like hoffman-ville.

We've got the first two-story
building in all of the land.

The londonites
from the concrete jungle

Need their luxuries.

The hoffmans are coming back
bigger and better,

And we're gonna
have to be prepared for 'em.

Narrator: the first story
for the film crew

Is the last leg of the hoffmans'


From sandy, oregon,
to quartz creek.

A dangerous stretch
of mountain road

Separates the hoffmans
from their claim.

Every step of the way,
cameras cover the journey.

Campbell:
filming any vehicle moving
is really complicated.

Trying to do it
with eight vehicles

Going up a really twisty,
really narrow,

Really dangerous road is
a huge logistical exercise.

They'd like to see it
slide off the road, you know,

Down a ditch,
over into the creek, you know,

But it's not gonna happen.
[ Laughs ]

Narrator: as the winter snow
melts in the klondike,

Road conditions become
increasingly unpredictable.

This road can take your life
if you don't pay attention.

We got mud like crazy, guys.
Keep your momentum up.

We're driving up,
and we're all spinning,

And todd's
at the head of the pack.

Dude, I honestly don't know if
I'm gonna make it through here.

Hang -- hang tight.

We started
sliding off the road.

Holy frick, dude.

Can someone get in front of todd
and tell him to slow down?

We need to get past him.

Llewellyn:
todd, if you don't slow down,
we're gonna lose you, mate.

[ Radio beeps ]

Todd tries to go slow
so they can make sure

They get the shot
and stuff like that.

I don't care. I just go.

Get the frick
out of the way.

Shut up.

We're stopped.

[ Engine revs ]

Todd's in
a very precarious position.

Are you stuck?

Crap.

My wife has 4,000 pounds
of canned food

In my frickin' trailer.

I'm way overweight, okay?
It's not my fault.

Man: you want to hold here,
and I'll pick you up?

You get in with todd.
Yeah.

Thurber:
then the vultures come in.

Oh, excuse me,
then the cameras come in.

Well, that's the terrible
thing -- what's bad for
them is good for us.

So, there's an incident --
we've got something to film.

[ Laughs ]
someone's gonna die.

Todd:
all right, all right.

Try real slow.
[ Horn beeps ]

Man:
h*, h*, h*, h*.

Todd: here comes
all the frickin' camera guys,

And, "hey, what's going on?"

I'm, like, "dude,
what do you think's going on?"

Okay, let's try it.

You're on
skidding wheels.

[ Engine revs ]

Nice and easy,
nice and easy.

[ Engine revs ]

Just go all the way.
Just keep going.

Yeah, my brother.

Welcome to quartz creek, guys.

Narrator: 600 miles south,

A second production team covers
both porcupine creek mines.

As the season begins,

The miners and the film crew
face record snowfall

From the worst alaskan winter
in 50 years.

We can't go anywhere --
you go two feet off the track,

And you're
up to your waist in snow.

It's exactly the same
for the miners.

We can't film. They can't mine.
We're all getting frustrated.

Nobody's getting anything done.
It's a nightmare.

Narrator:
life in porcupine creek

Is a real challenge
from the get-go.

Director of photography
rob llewellyn

Heads out
to sh**t the landscape.

Let's go
get some gold!

But quickly discovers
just how deep the snow is.

Not blaming the vehicle.

We actually got
very good ground clearance.

[ Engine revs ]

We've moved it
a little bit.

The british crew gets
not just one vehicle stuck,

But two.

Rob to dustin. Rob to dustin.
Are you receiving? Over.

Dustin: I gotcha.

Hi, dustin. Just wondering
if you're busy on the mine site.

We are busy.
What you up to?

We're a little bit stuck.
We didn't get very far.

If you want
to cover your back,

You better bring
something big.

Does it snow in england?
I don't know.

I know it rains a lot.

You have to understand,

When the snow
is higher than the wheels,

And then you're just
sitting on the snow,

All four wheels going --
[ imitates spinning tires ]

[ Tires spinning ]

Help, help!

Dustin: you want
to do it all in one shot?

I'll tie to this one,
you tie to the front one

From the front hitch,
and I'll drag you both out.

Roger that.
Thanks for coming, buddy.

You guys are crazy.

I can't believe
you made it this far, honestly.

I might as well go back
to me day job.

Not very good at driving.

If I get stuck,
I'm gonna k*ll y'all.

Gala: stand by, dustin.
Hold on.

No!

Come on. Come on!

Dig, dig.

Nothing to do with me.
I'm just a cameraman.

[ Engine revs ]

All right, we're out,
but that was rough.

That was scary.

Yeah, we're happy
with the results.

Dustin's not too mad.

We owe him
a six-pack of beer or so.

Back to the mine we go.

Narrator: by the end of
the first week in the klondike,

Todd is dead set
on getting gold.

Nicholson: todd said that

He wanted to be running
within seven days.

Well, I'm telling you right now,
we're gonna frickin' do it.

And it looks like the miners
are just about to do it.

They've got everything in place,
so, we're gonna see gold,

Hopefully,
for the first time this year.

Narrator: todd's old wash plant

Has been in sub-zero
temperatures all winter.

That's five months
of minus-40 since then,

So I just can't even imagine
this is going to work at all.

It's just gonna
spew water everywhere.

Narrator:
little blue is fired up.

There it goes.
Here comes some water.

Narrator: but a burst pipe
has the crew and the miners

Running for cover.

Ahh!

Turn off the pump!

Camera guys, they're happy.

We just lost
a six-inch water line.

Instant shower.

Start it up!

Narrator: but before long,

They get little blue
running again,

And doubtful cameramen are
proved wrong.

They're running.
They're doing it.

They're actually doing it.

Narrator: the rookie miners
and camera crew

Get their first glimpse of gold.

Campbell: this is the first gold
of the season,

So, yeah, exciting for them,
exciting for us.

Narrator: but mining is
a very slow process.

Watching thurber pan is like
watching paint dry.

He's real careful,
and he's really slow.

Hey, you guys getting
some good gold?

Thurber:
hell, yeah, awesome.

Gorsuch:
it's looking good, todd.

That's awesome.

We got 140 days left, guys.
We can pull this off.

If there's one thing
you can't ever do,

It's underestimate a hoffman.

Just when you think
they haven't got a chance,

That's where
they're most likely to success.

[ All cheering ]

Narrator: coming up,
the film crew plays

A game of chicken
with parker's 25-ton rock truck.

Come on.
Get out of the way.

Bring it.

And todd hoffman
takes down a producer.

Then I drop these
on your head like this.

I only go for head shots.

Nice miss.

Narrator: in southeast alaska,
the "gold rush" crew

Spends months living
and working

Alongside 17-year-old mine boss
parker schnabel.

Working with parker is
a roller coaster.

It's a lot of fun
most of the time,

And sometimes it's a royal pain
in the a*s, as well, you know.

Oh, parker?

Narrator:
for the 150-day mining season,

Cameras follow
his every waking move.

How you doing?

Would you like some coffee?
Eggy toast?

Ohh.

There's work to be done.

I'm going loopy today.

The word "loopy" is on my list,

Along with "tomato" and "banana"
and "bloke" and "squeaky."

See?

It's all up here.

[ British accent ]
loopy tomato banana squeaky.

[ Parker squealing ]

Dalby: parker brings out
the kid in all of us, I guess.

He's having the time of his life
driving around here

In a huge truck,
throwing mud around.

And the funniest thing is,

He actually
might get rich doing it.

Parker: the mood of the film
crew and the contributors

Is about as temperamental as
the weather in southeast alaska.

Just wait five minutes.
It'll change.

Narrator: on "gold rush,"

Mini-cams are rigged
in the cab of every vehicle

To capture the action
as it happens.

But now parker has
had enough.

There's a camera in my face
every day, okay?

I just want to drive my truck
and hit my head on the ceiling

And just have
some peace and quiet.

That's all I'm asking for.

I think he's
just a little bit frustrated

Where we're mounting
the cameras.

It's like a little game
we're playing here now.

We attach a camera.
Parker throws it off.

We go and attach it somewhere
else, he throws it off again.

It becomes, like,
a battle of wills.

Llewellyn: well, the problem is
that he won't slow down.

He's going flat out.
He's bouncing the cab around.

He's bouncing his truck around.

And while he's doing that,

He's smashing our cameras about
inside.

So, instead of stopping
and saying to us,

"The camera's come off,
can you stick it back on,"

He just
throws them out the cab.

Miller: people that
watch the show, you know,

They don't actually get to see
parker being a little rascal.

What's the problem?

Well, I'm sitting low,
and it's in my way,

And it's not
going in there. No.

You've been filming this [bleep]
for, like, four days.

What you keep doing is
throwing our cameras out,

And that's not fair,
is it?

You can't keep
throwing them out.

Parker: we've been moving
overburn for, like, two weeks,

And they film
every little bit of it,

And...

I didn't want a camera right
in the middle of the windshield

While I was driving a truck.

It just...bugs me.

So, I was just -- I don't know.

Started being
a little [bleep].

Narrator:
despite parker's outburst,

The tv crew refuses
to give up.

So, parker, I'm gonna have
to ask chauncey to stop loading

While I attach this
to the outside of the truck.

You're doing this --
[ laughs ]

I'll just run you over
on my way back.

Don't worry,
it's no big deal.

You can't win, parker.

I'm going to threaten you
right now

And say that you will regret
stopping me.

You need to let me
put this camera

Inside the cab of the truck
so I don't have to step in.

No.

I'm gonna beat your a*s
over there.

Come on.
Get out of the way.

Narrator: suddenly,
parker speeds

Right through the camera crew
in a 25-ton rock truck.

What started as a game
has become very dangerous.

Long: let me make something
abundantly clear.

If at any point in time,

I feel that there is any threat
to their safety out here,

This entire film crew
will be moved off site.

Do you understand?

You guys don't need
to sit here and lecture to me

About safety and about
these issues because --

No, I do need to do it.
That's the job --

I feel like I'm
a pretty responsible operator,

And I don't really appreciate
being treated this way.

We have to make sure
that our film crew

Is able to operate in
a safe environment at all times.

And if that means
we have to stop everything

To get everybody
back on the same page,

It's all in a day's work.

[Bleep] [bleep]

In jest or not,
you don't threaten

To run somebody over
with a 25-ton truck.

I owe rob and toby
an apology,

And I will
apologize to 'em.

Parker?

Are we cool?
We're cool. It's fine.

Sorry.

Perfect.

Narrator: two weeks
into the season at indian river,

The film crew covers the results
of a critical drill test.

Fingers crossed,
this hole better be good,

Otherwise, they might be
packing up and going home,

And we might be packing up
and going home.

Narrator: for todd to hit
his 1,000-ounce gold

And to cover
his massive investment,

The hoffmans' new claim
must contain serious gold.

If gold mining was easy,
everybody would do it.

You need to have enormous ba*ls
to take gambles,

And with millions of dollars
in some cases.

You're gambling it all

On there being this
little metal in the ground.

And sometimes,
it's just not there.

Narrator: the future
of indian river and the tv show

Hang in the balance.

Nicholson:
we want them to do well,

So, our highs and lows
almost follow theirs.

Thurber:
come on, henry.

This is
the moment of truth.

You can do this.

Look at that!

Narrator: the results are
much better than the miners

Or the film crew expected.

Todd: now we're
frickin' getting somewhere.

There were
some nervous moments up there

Because they weren't sure.

Henry wasn't giving much away.
He was remaining fairly --

And the mood's changed.

Matty, how do you feel
about that bear?

Never look
in the lens.

Don't look at the lens.
Look right here.

[ Laughs ]

What isn't right?
We're way off.

Narrator: the next day,

Claim owner greg mcneil
drops a bombshell...

Turin: really?

I wish I was kidding.

I thought we were done
looking like idiots, but nope.

Narrator: ...leaving the film
crew scrambling to catch up

With angry
and embarrassed miners.

Turns out, um,
it's not their claim.

Their claim's about a mile away,

And, uh, they're a little upset.

I didn't think they wanted us
to film it too much,

But that's the story
we have to tell.

You're making us
look like fools,

So, yeah,
there is gonna be conflict.

I ask you a question,

And you just ignore me
every single time.

I said yes, you can go
in front of me. Where are you?

This is, by far,
the most difficult season

As far as crew
and miner relationships.

If I don't stand there,
you're off down the road.

I know what you're like. You've
done it five times already.

Dude, it's coming --
it's gonna get worse.

Dude, you want
to get up front of us?

Dude, if you want to make it
a competition,

We can make it
a competition, all right?

Dave,
I'm gonna k*ll somebody.

Narrator:
todd refuses to be filmed

While he meets
with "gold rush" producers.

Todd: let me ask you a question.
Gorsuch: yeah.

Who do you want me
to punch in the face?

Why are we punching people
in the face?

They've made another mistake,
and, you know, that --

To confess that to millions
is not easy.

Campbell: and, you know,
it's really funny

How, whenever they screw up,

We become the worst film crew
in the world.

My guys aren't hitting it,
and neither is the camera crew.

Just being honest.
Bishop: yeah, absolutely.

Why don't you shine it right at
these three guys right here?

I got one guy that can't even
sh**t and walk backwards.

I know bear grylls doesn't
have to deal with this.

You want to know what it is?

Hey, be quiet.
Let me say something.

Go on, go for it.

I freakin' drilled
$5,000 worth of stuff up here

On somebody else's
frickin' claim, okay?

And that's audio
and camera's fault?

Because
of our skill levels.

If they're
getting offended,

And they want
to take a run at me,

I'm standing right here.

Otherwise, bring it.

[ Laughter ]

This right here.

Get you right here,

Then I drop these
on your head like this.

I tell you,
he just realizes that --

Probably not a good move.

Joe's --
joe's just kidding.

I got a wet a*s now.

[ Laughter ]

Bishop: that man can wrestle.

Narrator: coming up,
klondike weather conditions

Are too much for the latest
in camera technology.

It's flying off
into the distance,

And they look like
they're losing control of it.

And "dakota" fred's frustration
with the film crew

Reaches the boiling point.

Look at this.

Narrator: behind the scenes
of "gold rush,"

Over 100 production people
with an arsenal of equipment

Are on patrol 24/7

To capture life on the mines
of the wild north.

For series three,
we always are looking

For new kind of visual angles,

New interesting, exciting ways
of showing the viewer

How gold mining works.

Narrator: throughout
the 150-day mining season,

From the first convoy,
until the last clean-up,

The tv crew uses
thousands of shots

Captured on high-definition
mini cameras.

This year,
in search of the perfect shot,

The "gold rush" team
is testing a new technology.

Stand it right over.

This will give us
a brand new insight,

A whole new set of tools to use
to show people what's happening.

Narrator: it arrives
with specialist operators

From oregon.

Steve: we do airships.

I love the show,
and I really think that

The ship can be
exactly what you guys need

To get the best possible shot.

As a matter of fact,
we designed,

Built, and patented
the entire system.

Narrator: the airship crew
readies their invention

For her maiden voyage
in the yukon.

You don't mind if I come down
or micah comes down

And messes with you
a little bit?

I don't care,
as long as it works.

You're not gonna reach out there
and kind of --

Okay.

No, I won't sh**t it down
or anything.

[ Laughs ]

We don't want
a "hindenburg" going on here.

It's gonna work just fine.

It'll be fantastic.

Making history right here.

Future of all
air transportation --

Surveillance, cameras,
sensors, you name it.

Narrator: but within minutes,
the airship is in trouble.

It's -- it's a little bit
too windy for it.

It's blowing all over the place.

To be honest,
if you look at the tree tops,

It's not really
that windy at all,

And it's about as calm a day
as we get here.

Steve: we're getting a lot
of ground swirl going on here.

We've got two ravines
working this area,

And both of these ravines
are trying

To work against us right now
with the turbulence coming in.

Narrator: with wind outside
safe operating limits,

The tv crew is left
with no aerial coverage

For the rest of the day.

But here's my problem.

The wash plant is running
over here,

Possibly for the last time.

And I got a blimp
in its blimp house over here.

And I'm just trying
to get the two to meet.

Just try to get them out
at the same time.

That's all I want.
That's all I want!

I can tell you right now,

This is not a good sign.

Micah,
what is that thing?

That's a makeshift wind sock.
Yeah?

A couple garbage cans
full of helium.

What does that tell you?

That tells us that the wind
is blowing way too hard

For us to put anything
up in the air.

It's just
not gonna happen.

All right.
So there's my answer?

Yes, sir.
All right.

[ Laughs ] okay.

[ Wind gusting ]

Narrator:
down at porcupine creek,

The "gold rush" crew is filming

Yet another
mechanical breakdown.

[ Machinery squealing ]

Ugh!

Oh, crap!

Work it, break it, fix it,
get back to work.

The problem is,
it can't get back to work.

Narrator: as fred and dustin
battle to save their season,

The cameras move in
to get a reaction from fred.

We go get a little lunch
and think about it.

I just need to have
an idea of your feeling, though.

That's my feeling!

[ Laughs ] come on.

I have a plan of action
right now.

Yeah, but that's not
how you feel.

I mean, are you kind of
frustrated, basically,

I guess I'm asking, fred.
Is it --

Tough guys don't talk about
their damn feelings, okay?

[ Engine turns over ]

Let's go eat lunch.

Oh, that's fine.
Go ahead, be frustrated.

Doesn't frustrate me,
it's just --

No.

I'm just --

Sometimes the camera guys
antagonize the issue.

If you're already pissed off,

You don't want to talk about
how pissed off you are.

These aren't actors in a drama.

These are real people working
in a dangerous gold mine.

Sometimes,
you're just not gonna be

The kind of person
they want around.

Sometimes you just
want to strangle 'em,

And I know they're just trying
to do their job, but so are we.

They ask questions
that are just inappropriate,

At least for me.

You want to ask melody
how she feels --

How is she feeling
and all that, fine.

If you want to know
what I'm feeling,

Look at my face.

Look at this!

Narrator: up at quartz creek...

...the airship crew
is back in action

With its flying machine.

Weather's good.

We've got the sunshine with us,

So I'm hoping for goodness.

Narrator:
after a series of failed tests,

This is their final chance
to prove they can get the shot.

I've got my big boss here today
to check it out

And see if it's been
a worthwhile investment

In our time and money.

And I think
if it doesn't work well today,

We could be in serious trouble.

I could be
sending the blimp home.

We're hoping the airship is
going to have the ability

To show us what we can't get
any other way.

This is really the big test.

Narrator: crew and miners gather
for the moment of truth.

You know, if they could
get a camera attached to it

That actually caught some good
shots, it'd be a great deal.

Otherwise, right now,
it's just a cool blimp.

So, there's two shots
that I need today.

Okay.

One is to track back
from calder creek

The whole line
of the trench.

I'm looking
for a top shot.

I'm looking for almost
a satellite image.

That'll be a hell of an asset
to us in the editing.

Gorsuch:
godspeed, gentlemen.

Come on, guys.

I don't want
to [bleep] this thing up

By us being in the shot,
so let's make it happen, yeah?

You can make this.

All: watch the trees!

I'm thinking where I am, steve,
not where you are.

Where I am is a good part
to start the shot.

Man: take your time.

This, my friend, ideally,
is this to this.

Micah: and I'll work
right up there, then.

And all the way down.

I need to know
that this is a river here.

Watch your point --
your tail.

You've caught the tail rotor
in the tree.

Action.

It's all right.

The moments that are fantastic,
and then it decides

To get caught by the wind,
and it's sort of screwed.

Narrator: mid-flight,
the wind picks up,

Carrying the airship
out of range.

Okay,
I lost the signal now.

We need a bigger blimp.

It's flying off
into the distance,

And they look like
they're losing control of it.

It appears
that our blimp gentlemen

Are slightly in trouble.

It's currently horizontal,

And they're about to be
lifted off their feet

By this gentle breeze.

So, I think the blimp idea
might be dead.

But I don't think the blimp
is the solu--

Oh, my [bleep]

Narrator: coming up,

The cameras capture a meltdown
at the big nugget mine.

Right now I'm wondering
why you're still here.

And todd reams out
a clumsy camera crew.

Who cares
about a good shot

If you break
my friggin' conveyor?

Narrator:
at the big nugget mine,

Parker and his newest employee,
glen,

Get off to a bad start.

[ Crash ]

Glen: parker.
Ow, ouch, that hurt.

I'm [bleep]
under here, glen.

Dalby: glen might get the boot.
We don't know yet.

His abilities have been
in the balance all along.

Narrator: the cameras
only make the situation worse.

You know,
every time we've talked,

There's a camera in our face,
so just hang back, all right?

There was some question
of some missing gold

That still
hasn't been cleared up.

There's this big question is,
where it is.

Oh, there was just confusion
about a couple pans of gold.

Dalby: we don't know
what's gonna happen,

And we're just guessing.

You kind of look
at people's faces,

Look how they're behaving.

Glen looks stressed
at the moment.

What's that,
the trommel?

He's being scrutinized,
not only by a film crew,

But by his 17-year-old boss
up there,

And all the guys that
he's got to prove himself to.

I don't know
what's gonna happen.

I guess it's not
going to end happily.

Narrator:
parker discusses his concerns

With a "gold rush" producer.

Parker: I'm just pissed off
at glen in general.

I'm trying to figure out
how the transition's gonna work

To not having him here.

I've got an idiot.

Like, right now,
he's filming me.

You want to stop?

I can't not fire someone

Because I'm scared
of how it'll look on tv.

No, no.

I have a pretty [bleep]
good reason.

He's just
not a part of the team.

I need team players.

And we're spending
a little more

Than a quarter ounce
a day there.

Boss man.

Go ahead, interview him,

Talk about me behind my back,
get the hell off me.

It looks like we might have
one of those charming situations

Where we're thrown
right into the middle of...

Well, potentially a firing
situation, unfortunately.

Narrator: things quickly
go from bad to worse

Over a disputed time card.

You know, I'm not
trying to take advantage of you

Or, you know, anything.

I just wanted to -- I just
wanted to get the job done.

Okay, so when --

Actually, I've got it
in my pocket right here.

What's that?
Holiday hours.

Why would
you fill this out

When I was very clear
about working on monday?

Because
monday was a holiday,

And you didn't want me working
because it was a holiday.

And you said you didn't want
to pay the overtime.

I didn't know.
Parker, I told you --

This is alaska, and the gold --
little gold mine.

I told you.
We don't have paid holidays.

That's fine.
I told you that.

When I tell you
to work a half a day,

And you turn in eight hours
on a time card,

That is not acceptable.

Those are
serious issues for me.

I-i got your point.

It's, uh --
it's extremely frustrating

With parker right now.

I don't understand where
all of this anger's coming from.

I think parker's got
an issue with glen that's deeper

Than anything that's going on
with what glen's doing.

I don't know.

It's just a clash of
personalities sometimes
with people, you know.

I don't know how old glen is.

He's older than me,
so he's probably mid-50s.

And seeing a 17-year-old kid

Treat a mid-50-year-old
like that --

I don't know.
It's difficult.

We're doing
an observational documentary,

And that's part
of the observation, so --

And the other thing is,
there's no excuse

For not talking to me
about the hours you work today.

And right now I'm wondering
why you're still here.

I'm -- I live here.

I just want the whole operation
to be successful,

And I'm --
I'm committed to that.

And part of that is showing me
the respect that, um...

You know, maybe I haven't earned
it, but I think I deserve it.

I don't feel
like I'm getting any respect

For the work that I've done
and for the --

For the service
that I've provided.

I don't want to hide things
from the show.

I mean, they're here to,
you know, tell a story

And tell, you know,
the story of our mine,

And that's a part of it,
you know, there's conflict.

If there's an issue
with the time again,

I'll pack up my stuff
and leave.

Okay, good.

There's no question
that having you guys around

Has an effect
on relationships around here.

There's
a lot of pressure on him,

With the show
and with the production

And producing the gold
and running the mine operation.

Get the [bleep] camera
off my face.

Narrator: 35 days in,
at indian river,

The turin crew got the worst
news of the season so far.

Man:
not even an ounce, guys.

Their first cut
produced the smallest clean-up

This film crew
has ever seen.

God, that is little.

.87, todd.

On devastating days
like this,

The miners don't
want the cameras around.

Just be aware that
all the miners are very on edge.

You know, just be careful.

We have to get the story,
but stay out of their way.

Narrator:
the camera crew decides

To keep their distance
from the miners

By using the genie lift
to film from above.

[ Crash ]

He's shutting the plant down.
What's going on?

Why are they running around?

What the [bleep]?

Are you [bleep]
kidding me?

Look where
their [bleep] thing is.

Narrator: the film crew's crane

Has crashed into dave's third
of a million dollar wash plant.

Hey! Are you freakin'
kidding me?

Dave, are the belts shot
or they okay?

We're already having a hard day
without you guys

Causing a bunch of crap
to our operation.

Why are they so close?

Hey, you got a zoom
on that freakin' camera?

Hey!
We got a zoom, yeah.

Why don't you --
what are you laughing about?

I'm not laughing.

You think that's funny?
This ain't funny.

You understand?

It's not funny
being stuck up the top here.

Are you laughing?
I'm not laughing at all, sir.

It looks like it to me.

No, I'm nervous.

Why in the hell are
you driving that so close?

Now, look
what dave's got to do.

Who is that guy?
What's that guy's name?

Man: I don't know.
Bob?

You tell that guy
I'm not kidding.

This is brand new equipment,

And then to have it thumped
by a genie lift

Is kind of a bummer.

More, more.
Okay, now boom out.

You're not on anything.
It should come out.

Swing that corner that way.
Now, see if you can swing.

You were doing good.
Go more, more, you're fine.

Now swing it.

Man:
is there any damage?

I don't think so.
I think it's all right.

Todd: probably not a good time
to sit here

And ask me a bunch
of stupid questions, okay?

It's already hard enough
being on freakin' television.

Probably out of a 10,

I think you guys this year
are about five -- camera crew.

I'm being honest.
Let's keep it real.

Narrator: todd switches off
the cherry picker,

Leaving the cameramen
stranded 25 feet up.

Todd: I got my blood, sweat,
and tears in this machine.

Keep your crap
away from my crap, all right?

Hey, I'm just gonna leave
you guys up there a little bit.

I want you to think about
what you just did, okay?

I want you
to look at that pulley.

Is that funny?

It's not funny, is it?

I want you
to think about it.

Who cares
about a good shot

If you break
my friggin' conveyor?

Ed! We're having
a meeting.

Guys,
it's [bleep] private.

Todd: we have
got to figure this out.

Yeah.

Otherwise, we can't
do this anymore, me and you.

Either we got to figure it out,

Or find some other fat guy
with a beard to do "gold rush"

'Cause I don't want
to do it any more.

Doumitt: I'm telling you,
it's a bad day.

You know, if he would've hit it
on a good day,

It may not have had
such a bad effect,

But we got some really bad news
this afternoon,

And everybody's
kind of bummed out.

We're kind of thinking all
we're doing is making gravel.

This is probably

One of the biggest blowouts
we've had so far.

I don't think
it'll be the last.

Narrator: coming up,
the cameramen take cover

When the schnabels
get out the dynamite.

[ expl*si*n ]

And the hoffmans' investor
blames the tv show

For todd's
poor gold totals.

We need our money
out of this deal.

Do we need to pull the plug
on these guys?

Narrator: at porcupine creek,
the miners and the camera crew

Are no longer
top of the food chain.

There's a bear up there,

So we're just gonna
go get the safety guy, aaron,

So we can
get rid of it.

Aaron?

Aaron: really, I mean,

It's best to scare them off
as soon as possible.

Otherwise, they'll
turn into a garbage bear.

He's not afraid of people.
That's what the problem is.

[ Air horn blows ]

Aaron:
a single swipe to a human,
it's gonna break your leg,

And then you're incapacitated --
you can't run,

And they can do whatever
they want to you, you know?

I shot a .357 10 times
next to him.

He never moved.

So, you wouldn't mind if I blast
a round in the air, though?

I don't care.

[ g*n c*ck ]

Fire in the hole.

[ g*nsh*t ]

He took off running,
didn't he?

I don't think
he'll be a problem long.

Too many people got bear hunting
licenses around here.

Narrator:
at the big nugget mine,

The schnabel family
is using dynamite

To move a mountain.

One more.

On "gold rush,"
we deal with hazards every day.

I mean, a mine site is
a hazardous environment.

Narrator: director
of photography dan etheridge

Scouts the blast area
for the best camera angles.

[ Long laughing ]

That's one way
to do it. [ Laughs ]

We're gonna
go for a tree's eye view shot

With one of the cameras.

And we're gonna have it
right out on the branch,

And hopefully,
if the expl*si*n is big enough,

Then this tree --
this tree here --

Is gonna go over.

And if it goes over, you just
get a nice, big, swinging

Tree falling shot
as it goes down.

Tv does like danger.
I personally don't like danger.

And that's probably
why they hired me.

Tree cam.
[ Beeps ]

Is turning.

Narrator:
in the alaskan wilderness,

The cameramen have to use
whatever they can find

To get the shot.

Gaffer tape holds everything
together, including this show.

Actually, tilt it down
a little bit.

Uh-huh.

You beauty. Right.

This is, honestly,

The weirdest mini cam mount
that I've ever been part of.

That's in, mate.

Parker: well, today,
the film crew's more excited

Than a 10-ounce gold day.

I don't know, a bunch of brits
that sit in the office

From in the middle of some city
all their life, you know.

They want to see
some explosions.

Long: all crew
in a happy position.

[ Air horn blows ]

Fire in the hole!

Fire in the hole!

Fire in the hole!

[ expl*si*n ]

Boom.

[ Laughing ] yeah.
[ Laughs ]

[ Creaking ]

[ Crashes ]

Well, now we got to figure out
how to get that camera down.

Narrator: midway through
the mining season,

Todd's investor threatens
to shut him down.

Where -- you're out --
you're where?

Unless one of you
frickin' camera guys

Has seven ounces in your pocket,
I'm in trouble.

Back up, I got to go.

[ Engine turns over ]

Narrator:
todd needs 100 ounces.

He only has 93,

And quartz creek is
producing nothing.

I know it's a lot of work.
I got to get that seven ounces.

Narrator:
the investor is on his way,

And behind the scenes,
everyone is on edge.

Todd's not happy 'cause
that thing's not working at all.

I don't know what he's gonna do.

But he's got his investor
breathing down his neck.

It's a problem.
It's a real problem for him.

If I was the investor,
I'd come up to quartz,

And I wouldn't know
whether to laugh or cry.

It isn't a gold mine. It's just
a big pile of mud in the trees.

Narrator:
the investor, jason otteson,

Arrives to a dead quiet
quartz creek.

Where is everybody?
Just like last time.

Narrator: while the miners are
in a mad scramble

To find
another seven ounces of gold,

The tv crew's
just getting in their way.

We're gonna
have to move the table

'Cause they couldn't quite get
the shot that they wanted,

So, most important weigh-in
in our gold mine history,

And they got me
moving our table around.

Chaos.

Narrator:
jason takes todd aside,

Leaving jack
to deal with the camera crew.

He's a big dude,
and he doesn't take it kindly

When somebody's up in his face,
you know.

Uh, you guys
got to back off a little bit

And give him
a little room, you know.

My concern is that
this camera crew is in your way.

Yeah.

You know, we need our money
out of this deal.

Do we need to pull the plug
on these guys?

Well, you knew about this
coming in.

This guys are
gonna be in tow.

Does it slow me down?

Yeah, it slows me down
sometimes.

We're gonna get the gold.
We're all gonna get our money.

Don't give up on me.
Keep the faith.

I haven't.

And -- we'll see
how she turns out.

Otteson: so, everyone
passes the buck around here.

It's almost like a new sport.

We just need to see the gold,
and I don't want

My investment being hindered
by anybody's excuses.

Jack: moment of truth, todd.

Narrator: somehow,
despite the film crew,

The miners
pull off a miracle.

Thanks for
your hard work, guys.

Narrator:
but halfway through the season,

Both hoffman crews have produced
only 115 ounces of gold,

Worth just $184,000.

Good news.
You got it.

Neither the miners
nor the film crew

Know if it's still possible
to hit 1,000 ounces.

We've got two very difficult
months ahead of us,

And they'll tell us --
those two months will tell us

Whether these guys
are really miners

Or just a bunch of kids
playing with expensive toys.

Whoa!

[ Laughs ]

Jack: we're halfway
through the season,

And 1,000 ounces is
gonna be a struggle.

But you know what?

I love people,
and I love doing what I'm doing,

And so that's
why I stick with "gold rush."

[ g*nsh*t ]

See how steady
that walk-up to you was.

I like the camera crew guys.
They're always fun.

They're a little hard
to understand,

But they're always fun guys.

Man: new guy!

[ Laughs ]

That's a wrap, fellas.
Let's go do lunch.

Oh, h*, 1,000 ounces.

We have no idea what
the rest of the season holds,

Except for the fact that
you will be with us, filming.

Todd: my dad had a dream
when I was a kid.

I never forgot it.

We were able to take that,

And we're starting
to turn this into a reality.

This is the american dream,
what you see in this jar.

It doesn't represent
just wealth.

It also represents hope.