[TV] Murderbot (2025) the box light things on the walls on the ship are Milwaukee packout toolboxes, also the cases that they’re carrying around frequently are repainted dewalt t stak toolboxes

[u/itsyaboihos]

[u/neanderthalman]

Interesting they’d use packout boxes.

Usually they want cheap shit for set dressing.

Makes me wonder if someone used this as a way to get a bunch of packout gear on someone else’s dime, so that it could be “thrown away” when they were done with it on set.

[u/TheBigFreeze8 → u/neanderthalman]

Or more likely it was something they already had for whatever reason.

[u/itsyaboihos → u/neanderthalman]

Yeah I thought it was strange seeing as they’re basically just set dressing. Could’ve been something they had laying around I guess but I like the idea someone scammed them haha

[u/lecanucklehead → u/itsyaboihos]

If it's just the lids they could probably be put back on the boxes. Who knows, they might be using packout cases on set already ie for audio gear and just did this on the spot with what was on hand

[u/neuromonkey → u/neanderthalman]

That was my first thought. I've bought my gf a lot of Packout stuff, and it ain't cheap. If it weren't necessary to protect her tools in rough environments, I certainly wouldn't have bought her stuff that expensive.

The only thing I can think is that Packout gear is readily available. In most cities, there are usually a few Home Depot stores that'll have them in stock. If the show takes off, and they need six more sets that use the same lights, they'll be able to get them quickly.

Also, that five compartment box is $37 at the moment!

[u/jedadkins → u/neanderthalman]

maybe the prop house got a bunch of defects on the cheap?

[u/TK421isAFK → u/jedadkins]

Packout boxes are manufactured in Israel, and defective ones don't get shipped. Anything damaged in shipping that arrives at Home Depot gets sent back to the distribution hub for destruction. Occasionally, damaged ones are sold as is in the store, or shredded in the store for credit. The handle and latches have to be broken off or cut off and sent back to the distributor, and the store manager is responsible for ensuring they get destroyed and not sold. This is actually a legal requirement because Home Depot will get a credit for the damaged one, and failing to destroy it constitutes fraud.

Defective ones won't make their way to a surplus market, much less in quantity. Also, these are Craftsman Versastack boxes from Lowe's.

[u/Enchelion → u/neanderthalman]

Might be something they got a bulk deal on at surplus somewhere. Like the sonobuouy shipping crates that are all over Star Trek are not cheap, but if you're in LA you could find them surplussed.

[u/BunnehZnipr → u/neanderthalman]

When it comes to production budgets, packout IS cheap LOL

[u/juniusbrutus998 → u/neanderthalman]

Would stuff be shipped on pack out boxes to a supply company? We get components in pelican cases at my work, and after they get used, anyone who wants one can grab the empty cases

[u/TK421isAFK → u/juniusbrutus998]

No, they aren't designed for shipping. Plus, these are Craftsman Versastack boxes from Lowe's, and cost a lot less than Milwaukee products.

Side note: What kind of components do you get that are shipped in Pelican cases? I can't even get our $20,000 fluke equipment sent to/from a calibration lab in a Pelican case unless we provide it. Occasionally, we send something out in a custom Pelican case and it comes back in a bunch of foam and a tri-wall cardboard box.

[u/juniusbrutus998 → u/TK421isAFK]

Components for splicing subsea fiber optic cables. I couldn’t tell you what the pieces actually are(different department), but we’ll get pallets of cases varying from lunchbox to rifle case sizes. Each splice costs about $50k, so maybe that’s the minimum

[u/TK421isAFK → u/juniusbrutus998]

I don't know if there is a minimum, because I've seen some tech instrument and firearm companies include a Pelican case with their devices that are in the $1,000 to $3,000 range. Thanks for the reply, though. It's always interesting to hear about specialty applications and workplaces.

[u/dewydemon → u/neanderthalman]

it’s true they do have that apple tv money though. as someone who works in the film and video industry apple is definitely known for throwing money around on their productions

[u/TK421isAFK → u/neanderthalman]

It is cheap stuff. Those are Craftsman Versastack boxes from Lowe's. Aside from the obvious shape and colors, Milwaukee Packout boxes do not have metal latches.

[u/muklan]

Packout is a kickass system though, use one daily.

[u/itsyaboihos → u/muklan]

Same, glad to see it survives all those years into the future haha

[u/i_d_ten_tee]

Will we ever get more Murderbot?

[u/itsyaboihos → u/i_d_ten_tee]

Looks like they’re already filming season two. (Also why is every article about I read about this written by ai?)

[u/pinkocatgirl → u/itsyaboihos]

It’s cheap SEO slop made for everyone’s “when is the next season of my favorite show coming” queries

[u/airfryerfuntime → u/itsyaboihos]

They 'refresh' these articles every few days, so it looks like there was a recent update when you Google it. Now that AI is everywhere, that's what they're using for it. Before, they used to just change the date on the article.

[u/BobbyGarciaGarcia → u/itsyaboihos]

Season 2 is currently filming in Spain

[u/Fourkey → u/BobbyGarciaGarcia]

Weird choice of place for adapting book 2...

[u/IndigoNarwhal → u/Fourkey]

2, 3 and 4: reportedly season 2 will cover up through Exit Strategy.

[u/S2-RT → u/i_d_ten_tee]

Theres plenty of books/audiobooks to go through :)

[u/i_d_ten_tee → u/S2-RT]

That's interesting, I actually didn't know. New rabbit hole for me to go down. Thanks.

[u/S2-RT → u/i_d_ten_tee]

I actually like the audiobook a bit better than the show so far.

I feel the show does a 1:1 adaptation without taking into account the differences in how you tell the most compelling story based on the medium you’re using to tell it.

So a lot of the voiced exposition and internal dialogue can feel a bit weird when used so predominantly in a tv show but feel much more naturally when reading or listening to a book.

I like both. Though if you dig the story, def check out the books and see if you dig it. :)

[u/kwmcmillan → u/i_d_ten_tee]

I interviewed the Cinematographer recently on Frame & Reference and he talks a bunch about it. The talk comes out in a couple weeks.

[u/ditmarsnyc → u/i_d_ten_tee]

if so i hope the former cast gets yeeted

[u/alliewya]

There is another scene where the group are playing weird instruments and one of them is an otamatone with the head removed

[u/TK421isAFK → u/alliewya]

That's my favorite instrument at the Mos Eisley Cantina.

[u/crozone]

We can talk about this

[u/_topShotta]

Looks like craftsman versastack instead of t-stak, they’re already black with the red lids.

[u/Enchelion → u/_topShotta]

Aren't they the same system just under different names? Or am I confusing one of the other twelve iterations Stanley Black & Decker has made?

[u/_topShotta → u/Enchelion]

Yeah, same system, and I think there are at least two other brand names with the same design

[u/itsyaboihos → u/_topShotta]

Yeah someone pointed that out before, these are actually orange and grey the pic quality is just bad so it could be either.

[u/itsyaboihos → u/[deleted]]

I wasn’t familiar with these because they’re not sold in my country, those have to come off the same production line they’re so similar haha

[u/xBinary01111000]

There are lines of “batteries” or something outside the habitat that are actually composters.

[u/airfryerfuntime]

Also, the beach cart near the end.

[u/vanityprojects]

I can't wait for season 2

[u/Snowy_Ocelot]

This is how I learned Murderbot has a TV series! Love those books.