Interesting Tid-Bits

[Phil Bates]

I thought it might be fun to share some interesting tid-bits of experiences while shooting. Here are just a few of mine.

When shooting our ReelFire effects footage, we hung bags of gasoline 50ft in the air, inserted an electronically controlled charge. Put me with a camera directly underneath. We put our kids at the road with walkie talkies to warn us if cars were coming before detonating them (rural area).

We spent 13 days in a helicopter flying from LA to Miami shooting cities and scenery along the way.

A film crew we sent to Israel was followed by the secret police after entering into Pallistinian territory. They were detained at the airport before allowing to board a plane to fly home. The camera was put into a hardened container for 24 hours in case it was a bomb.

In order to create the "damaged film" look for Film Clutter 2, we dragged a 50ft length of 35mm film behind a van for several miles.

I would be interested to hear some other stories. Please share!

Phil

 

[Shawn Nelson]

Nice! So you have new Red-originated aerial footage?

My best story involves me correctly reading tide charts from the wrong year, then getting stuck in an alcove and wading out, salt water to my waist with my Red package in a backpack held above my head

Recently I got stranded in the middle of the Alvord desert in a mud bog, digging out by hand with the aid of a hi-hat because we were 200miles away from the nearest tow truck.

 

[Jeremy Torrie]

I had to bribe my way out of Iraq several years ago even though we had valid permits to be in the country to begin with...my director and I were so relieved to be getting on the plane (with gear and tapes intact) on our trans-Atlantic flight back home that we drank them out of cognac.

But don't get me started about our last trip to New Zealand...it's a feature length film in itself! Kind of an outer body experience metaphor really, and too crazy to be true.

 

[Phil Bates]

Nice! So you have new Red-originated aerial footage?

Unfortunately, no. Our recent aerials are all F950. As soon as they get a Red Cam installed in the Gyron, I will be the first to sign up. (they're working on it)

Recently I got stranded in the middle of the Alvord desert in a mud bog, digging out by hand with the aid of a hi-hat because we were 200miles away from the nearest tow truck.

Definitely not fun. I have an Alvord desert story too. After filming there, we exited on the gravel road and promptly got a flat tire. It was a "run flat" which was good, because it got us the 100 miles to Burns. Unfortunately, no one in Burns fixes "run flats" and is so remote we were stuck there for three days waiting for a new tire delivery. We sold that vehicle, no more run flats for us.

P