Helicopters, Steadicams, and Musicians oh my...

T

The Sarlacc

Well-known member
Just a few pics from a show I worked on today. I came on to help some friends out as a DIT. So, knowing the nature of the particular show it was a good day to dust off the ol D100.

Simple premise...low/no budget music video made by a huge stunt coordinator ( Think Troy, Tomb raider, etc) by pulling in a ton of favors. Tiny crew, no lights, and a helicopter :D

It was a fun shoot, and the star was a HVX with a Mini35 all courtesy of Clairmont Camera. My good friend with his Steadicam rig, and a helicopter piloted by the director himself.

DSC_0135.jpg


DSC_0228.jpg


DSC_0240.jpg


DSC_0257.jpg


DSC_0272.jpg
 
Hey, I know Ian. (AC in the last shot with the lens) I went to Brooks with him and his girlfriend. We just worked together last month. I played DIT for Dektor.
 
evinsky said:
Hey, I know Ian. (AC in the last shot with the lens) I went to Brooks with him and his girlfriend. We just worked together last month. I played DIT for Dektor.
Click to expand...

Stuart is the name I've known him by for the last year. But Dektor is the right name so he must have started using Stuart recently. ;) I think he's getting married at the end of the month...he had his EOS 1D mark II on set...drool.
 
Yes he is getting married, and I think Ian is his middle name, but he used it in school and when we worked together. I think he mentioned something about using Stuart more, either that or I'm going mental. That's known to happen:)
 
evinsky said:
Yes he is getting married, and I think Ian is his middle name, but he used it in school and when we worked together. I think he mentioned something about using Stuart more, either that or I'm going mental. That's known to happen:)
Click to expand...

People are always going by different names when they finally know how they want to see their name read in the credits :D Cool that you guys have known eachother for quite awhile.
 
Awesome stills!

Last pic with the pilot was humorous - is he wearing the largest helmet you've ever seen?

I guess we shooters are expendable as he didn't get one...
 
Is it me or is that the dinkiest little piloted helicopter ever? It looks like one of those remote control copters that some DVXUSER lunatic modified to carry real people.
 
It's not small, just "quaint".
I've shot from those many times, but the Bell Jet ranger is much more stable to shoot from.

My first Helecopter shoot I didn't even have a harness when standing out on the skids. After almost having to decide on saving myself or the camera, I went out and purchased a harness!
Thanks for the picts.
 
Helicopters = Dangerous.
Definatly have to know what you are dooing with those things.

Very cool pictures though. :)

- Mikko ... doesn't 'know', so won't shoot with one.
 
mikkowilson said:
Helicopters = Dangerous.
Definatly have to know what you are dooing with those things.

Very cool pictures though. :)

- Mikko ... doesn't 'know', so won't shoot with one.
Click to expand...

I agree...and even though I turned down a quick joyride in the thing I trust the pilot very much. He was so anal about pre-flight checks and safety. Not to mention he is also the director who, as mentioned before, is a very big stunt coordinator for very big movies. Look him up on imdb Wade Eastwood. He is liscened to fly much more complicated and powerful choppers that little one in the photos, and he trained in New Zealand where I've been told is considered one of the best places to learn.

The guy definately knew how to pilot that thing...if you only you could have seen him handle it in person. Amazing.
 
Yeah, sounds like a lot of fun.

My concern isnt' either the pilots or the crew, but that shootign atmosphear that can esiliy lead to distractions and mistakes from the best of us.

- Mikko
 
The Sarlacc said:
...and he trained in New Zealand where I've been told is considered one of the best places to learn.
Click to expand...

Indeed true; partly due to the extensive use of helicopters in deer hunting, logging, top dressing, etc. Partly due to the fact that they're pretty much fearless...;-)
 
vidled said:
Indeed true; partly due to the extensive use of helicopters in deer hunting, logging, top dressing, etc. Partly due to the fact that they're pretty much fearless...;-)
Click to expand...

Cool. I heard it had something to do with all the mountains which causes lot of changes in air currents, etc. Which makes for a good training ground. Of course they extensive chppoer use I'm sure makes a difference :D
 
mikkowilson said:
Yeah, sounds like a lot of fun.

My concern isnt' either the pilots or the crew, but that shootign atmosphear that can esiliy lead to distractions and mistakes from the best of us.

- Mikko
Click to expand...

Agreed. Luckily this ranch is owned by a good friend of the director. So, has flown the chopper around the land many times before and knows the terrian. I'm always more worried about the technical side of things.
 
The Sarlacc said:
Cool. I heard it had something to do with all the mountains which causes lot of changes in air currents, etc. Which makes for a good training ground. Of course they extensive chppoer use I'm sure makes a difference :D
Click to expand...

It used to be the case that we had more helicopters per capita than any other country in the world. The Robbies are very popular. Ive shot from a few of them. I helped a friend a last week who was preparing a short piece for his fathers reunion dinner. Lots of old deer capturing footage on Super 16 shot from a helicopter. These guys were chasing stags flat out across open hill country at an altitude of about 15 ft! The footage was shot by my friends father who was lying on his belly in the back with his upper body out the door. Insane. It was amazing footage, real poor quality but stilll spectacular. Bringing down a deer with net guns and then jumping out to wrestle it into submission was a hard way to make a buck. But great TV.
 
Richard Sutcliffe said:
It used to be the case that we had more helicopters per capita than any other country in the world. The Robbies are very popular. Ive shot from a few of them. I helped a friend a last week who was preparing a short piece for his fathers reunion dinner. Lots of old deer capturing footage on Super 16 shot from a helicopter. These guys were chasing stags flat out across open hill country at an altitude of about 15 ft! The footage was shot by my friends father who was lying on his belly in the back with his upper body out the door. Insane. It was amazing footage, real poor quality but stilll spectacular. Bringing down a deer with net guns and then jumping out to wrestle it into submission was a hard way to make a buck. But great TV.
Click to expand...

Awesome!!!
 
I gotta get me one of those helicopters. Can you buy them at B&H? I really want an Apache but with cameras mounted in place of the gun turrets.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top