Hi all.

So recently I've picked up an automotive client that saw some of my FPV work and wanted to hire me to shoot some social stuff for them. Cool, I thought. I'm a licensed pilot and I've really been wanting to do more of that.

Did a (paid) test shoot, and it went well. They liked it a lot. Did it out in the middle of the desert where we could basically do whatever we wanted.

Now we're talking about organizing the next shoot. This client pitched doing a tunnel flythrough chasing their car on one of the busier freeway interchanges literally a few hundred feet from LAX, and when I told them I didn't feel comfortable A) flying so close to a major airport, even with LAANC authorization and B) on a busy freeway with other cars extremely likely, they seemed a bit off-put but basically said OK.

Now they've pitched a similar shoot wanting me to fly chase with their car on surface streets (still not closed off or anything to control access). I told them I could fly a cine drone for that, but that I thought FPV was again a bit of a safety concern depending on location, since there could easily be pedestrians and other vehicles in the area that would be a hazard.

I asked where they were proposing to shoot this, and the client came back with a message as follows:

"John, you're a super talented guy and we admire your creative eye. If we're going to continue to work with each other we need someone to make it easy for us.

We're looking for a rockstar to take a car and produce, shoot, and edit three different social pieces. 30s to a little under a minute each.

That is taking a concept, producing a 2-hour shoot, and executing an edit.

Once you get the groove down it should be a two hour shoot and a 4 hour edit max. It's fun, exciting, and easy money for you.

You're a good dude and I know you have what it takes. As we go I'll certainly give direction when needed.

If you don't think this is something you want to do then that's fine too. We can hire you just for your FPV shots and you turn over the footage when you're finished. Whatever works for you, man.

We loved your last video by the way, and would like more of that. This time, just not on dirt."

To which I responded:

"I understand your concerns, I'm just trying to ensure that things are done safely, since as the pilot I am ultimately responsible for the safety of myself and all other people in the operating area, and it's my pilot's license on the line if something goes wrong. I'm not writing off the idea, there are just more factors that go into safety planning when you aren't out in the middle of nowhere. That's why the first question I asked about the tunnel shot was concerning the location and why I was so quick to say no, because flying anywhere near LAX without prior authorization is a very bad idea from a safety and legality standpoint."

The client has since acknowledged that I'm correct, and sent over a couple of concepts to get my input on. These are much easier to execute and I have the equipment to do so, which I've told them. They have not responded since.

Does this feel off to anyone else? Am I just being paranoid? Like, I have confidence in my skills as a pilot and everything, but it seems like this client just doesn't understand or doesn't care that this is a very different thing from some teenager screwing around with a drone in a park. Like, I literally have a federal license and had to take a test, and I now answer to the FAA and the NTSB.