My first Star Wars Movie

Posted on 2007-06-30

 

There are two new Star Wars movies on the horizon: Not sequels or prequels to the existing Star Wars franchise, but films about the Star Wars franchise - and its effect on a few passionate individuals whose lives George Lucas forever impacted (for better or worse).

Even the most jaded Star Wars fans (including me) still must admit that the first time we encountered the galaxy far away, something changed, and a whole new world of imagination and possibility opened before us. This fact alone unites most Star Wars - the realization that our wacky techno-fantasy dreams of a better world were shared by other people, and we could all unite around the cultural touchstone of a great kick-butt science-fantasy movie.

For some people, the release of Star Wars was a life-changing event. Such is the basis of 5-25-77, as previewed above. A small-town Midwestern dreamer finds hope, validation, and inspiration from the film that would eventually be called A New Hope, with bittersweet Freaks & Geeks-style dreamed (starring members of the Freaks & Geeks cast) setting the tone.

We now segue with a quote from ubergeek comedian Patton Oswalt: "The [Star Wars] prequels are like offering someone ice cream, then giving them a bag of rock salt and saying, ‘Eventually, you can turn this into ice cream.' Star Wars is ice cream. Don't give us rock salt."

Now, none of us knew that before Episode I The Phantom Menace (1999) came out, and thus it was the most anticipated movie in history. This anticipation, in turn, was the first movie I worked on with G.W.Lucas Jr, and I worked on the next two. Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) General Grievous's breathing problems in this film, as well as his exposed gut-sack (later exploited by Obi Wan) are caused by his brief encounter with Mace Windu in "Star Wars: Clone Wars" (2003). Mace Windu "force-gripped" Grievous as the General was making off with Palpatine, crushing the cyborg's chest panel.

At the time it was filmed, the prop representing Bail Organa's speeder was built from the windshield to the rear. It wasn't until post-production that the front of the vehicle's design was chosen. Lucas based the hood and front of the speeder on the design of the Tucker automobile. Unlike the Tucker, Bail's speeder only has the 'cyclop's eye' headlamp, and not the outer two headlamps.Total number of screen wipes: 40

Which now I look back on it was a group of geeks that was into cinematographer we all determined the best from every one. You can see this in the work put out by the film crew in Episode I even  before the movie opens to the public - by stealing a print from Skywalker Ranch. It's a goofball road trip comedy with light saber-dorks bumbling cross-country, scoring chicks, and warring with Trekkies along the way. The preview makes me grin every time I watch it.

At this time a met a young girl that came from Jericho, Long Island NY. Her name was Nat Herslag and she was an undergrad at Harvard taking psychology. That was then but now Natalie Portman as gone on to grater things!!

My last two film with her was V for Vendetta and the The Other Boleyn Girl now what next? You will never know.

 

 

• Dollies:

Posted on 2007-06-26

  • Chapman Hybrid III Two steering modes crab-conventional

 

  • Western Dolly or the High Speed Pneumatic Wheels, (low rider)

Grip Truck Equipment

Posted on 2007-06-25

  • Grip Truck Equipment

 

  • Dollies:
  • Chapman Hybrid III Two steering modes crab-conventional

 

  • Hybrid Accessories Trolley
  • 1x Low Shot Bracket 1x Set Track Wheels
  • 1x Rotating Offset 1x Satchler Head adapter
  • 2x High boards 2x Low boards
  • 1x Cat (walk around deck) 1x 24" Ubangi
  • 12" Moy Riser 2x Seats
  • 2x Lifting Bars 1x Charger Pack
  • 1x Set Studio Wheels 1x Power Cord
  • weight: 180 kg lift capacity: 227kg
  • 5 lifts per charge rain tent scaff starter
  • width: 680mm to 812mm length: 1370mm
  • maximum elevation (w/o riser) 1600mm
  • minimum elevation (low level head) 140mm

 

 

  • Elmech Dolly Two steering modes crab-conventional
  • Electric Rising Column 2x Batteries & Battery Bag
  • 1x Hand Controller 1x Charger
  • 12" x Riser 6" Riser
  • 2 x Seats and Extension Arms 1x Seat adapter
  • 4 x Battery Boards 1/2 x Snake Arm
  • 1x Set Combo Studio/ Track Wheels

 

 

  • Western Dolly

 

  • High Speed Pneumatic Wheels, (low rider)

 

  • Pipe Dolly
  • Pipe or Track, Double Boggy Wheels, Flat Base

 

  • Ubangy
  • § Movietech sliding Ubangy
  • § Movietech Gas Riser

 

  • Highspeed Dolly Wheels

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Track:
  • 100 foot Black Track including
  • 50' extendable to 1m for Crane
  • in 8' lengths plus
  • 5', 3' 1' lengths
  • 3x Black Track Curves = 900
  • Tracking Boards and covers always available in the Truck

 

 

  • Cranes:
  • Filmair Giraffe Crane
  • Maximums, 2 pax to 20ft, 1 pax to 24ft, Hot Head to 31ft
  • Highly versatile and studio crane
  • Can easily be transported to various s and assembled
  • Mini Jib
  • Mini Jib Crane. Mounts on to Euro Boss on a Dolly
  • and also to Heavy Duty Tripod legs
  • allows the operator to Crane on a 5' reach

 

  • Camera Attachments

 

  • Head Weaver Steadman F7 Low Shot Head (available on request)
  • 2 Axis Hot Head Electronic Tango Dutch Head

 

  • Accessories
  • 1 x Bazooka Base 1 x Tilt Plate, Offset rigs, Ladder Rig, Hi Hat
  • 1 x Ladder Cam and Spud 1 x Sachtler Half Bowl
  • 1 x Double Paddle mounts 1 x Triangle Flat Plate with Spud
  • 3 x Spud 1 x Short Ubangy (offset with Spud)
  • 1 x Rocking Plate 2 x small cushions
  • 2 x large cushions 1 x Adjustable Tilt Plate
  • 1 x Shaker Head 1 x 6x2 Meat axe
  • 1 x Adjustable Offset 1 x Trophy Bowl and Offset
  • 5 x Magic Arms 1 x Paddle mount
  • 1 x 6" Riser 1 x 3 Way Leveler

 

  • Safety Lexan Safety Sheets, Various sizes 6mm 4x4, 4x2, 2x2, 2x1

 

  • Black outs
  • Large quantity of Blacks including Wool/ Moleskins and Velvet

 

  • 2x 20x 20 Moleskin 1x 20x 12 Moleskin
  • 3x 20x12 Wool 1x 10x 10 Moleskin
  • 3x 15x 15 Moleskin 1x 15x 10 Moleskin
  • 1x 6'x2' Meat Axe 2x 4'x4' Floppy's
  • 1x 12x 12 Deep Shooting Velveteen

 

 

 

  • Access and Rigging
  • Scaffold Towers
  • 1x 6m (20') Tower (1.8 x 1.8m base)
  • or 2x 3m (10') Tower (1.8 x 1.8m base)
  • 1x 4m (12') Tower (1.8 x 1.2m base)
  • with Outriggers, on Wheels or Screw Jacks
  • 23x Blue Braces 9x Yellow Horizontal
  • 2x Blk Cross Brace (20' Tower) 1x Blk Brace (12' Tower)
  • 5x Tower Platforms 1x 14' Tower Ladder
  • 4x Blue Outriggers 8x AD7 Outrigger

 

 

  • Scaffolding
  • Large quantity of pipe and fittings for light rigs, car rigs,
  • Blackouts etc.
  • 6x Tri Truss Frames units
  • 28x Swivels 76x 900 joiners
  • 17x Minge Clamps 8x Straight Joiners
  • 3x Big Bens 2x Scaff C stand Head
  • 2x 800mm Screw Jacks 4x 300mm Screw Jacks
  • 5x Stand Off Brackets 3x Large Tee's

 

  • Tube 4x 20' 2x 15' 6x 10' 8x 8'
  • 8x 6' 8x 5' 8x 4' 8x 3'
  • 8x 2' 8x 1'4" 8x 1' 4x 10"

 

  • Megadeck 2 x 8'x 4' Megadeck
  • 2 x Leg Doublers (joins 2 megadecks together to form a stage)
  • full range of height options available from our selection
  • of scaffold tube lengths

 

  • Planks 2 x 6m Aluminum Planks 4 x 3.6m Aluminum Planks
  • 2 x Tommy Tucker Supports 2 x Pair 4"x 2" wall busters

 

  • Shot Bags
  • 35x 12kg Blue/ White Shot Bags 6x 8kg Sand Bags
  • 35x 12kg White/Black Shot Bags 6x Marker Bags

 

  • Weather Protection
  • Canopies 2 x 3.0m x 3.0m Quikshade (Black) 4x Canopy Sides
  • 1 x 4.5m x 3.0m Quikshade (Camouflage) 3x Shade Sides
  • 4 x 1.5mØ Umbrellas 2 x 1.0mØ Umbrellas
  • Variety of Tarpaulins
  • Our Grip crews wear Gore-Tex for personal wet weather gear

 

 

  • Basic Grip Equipment

 

  • Apple boxes pancakes ladders
  • G Clamps bullhorn safety harnesses
  • Planks wedges, blocks, packers Ratchet Straps
  • C stands Magic arms 6mm, 12mm Ropes
  • Pole cats Lexan Welders Clamps
  • Hi Boys First Aid Kit Chain Vises
  • Shot bags F Clamps Extension Ladder
  • Sushi Boards Tri Hats Rescue Army Stretcher
  • Timber Fire Extinguisher Tools

 

  • Tools
  • 1 x 9" Grinder 1 x Battery Drill
  • 1 x Battery Charger 1 x Wheel Jack
  • 1 x Power Saw 1 x Flat Jack
  • 1 x Jigsaw 1 x Pipe cutter
  • 1 x Tool Box and Contents 2 x Go Jacks (Car Movers)

 

  • Other
  • 1 x Bazooka and Base 4 x Stacks Sushi's 1 x Ext. Ladder
  • 2 x Waco Ladders 2 x Polecats 9 x G Clamps
  • 4 x Umbrellas Shot bags 2x Stacks Tri Hats
  • 4 x Camera Shot Bags 4 x Hi Boys 2x Med Hi Boys
  • 2 x 4x4 Floppy 1 x 6 x 4 Meat Axe
  • 1 x Skateboard Dolly 12 x Chain Grips 3 x Century Stands

 

 

 

*make* movies*

Posted on 2007-06-23

 

A Director arrives below and is met by Satan who shows him around. Turns out that Hell is a gigantic movie studio with the latest and best equipment, stages, great actors, etc. Director thinks its great and asks Satan what heaven is like if hell is this good. Satan says heaven is exactly like this, a movie studio. The Director is confused. "Then what's the difference," he asks.

 

Satan smiles. "Well, in heaven they actually *make* movies."


After a difficult day a struggling actor returns to his neighborhood and is shocked to find a cadre of police and fire trucks surrounding the smoldering remains of his house. Explaining who he was he asks "What happened?"

"Well," one of the officer's says, "It seems that your agent came by your house earlier today and while he was here he attacked your wife, assaulted your children, beat your dog and burned your house to the ground." The actor is struck speechless, his jaw hanging open in disbelief... "My agent came to my house?"


The Devil tells a Hollywood Agent, "Look, I can make you richer, more famous, and more successful than any agent alive. In fact, I can make you the greatest agent that ever lived."

"Well," says the agent, "what do I have to do in return?"

The Devil smiles, "Well, of course you have to give me your soul," he says, "but you also have to give me the souls of your children, the souls of your children's children and, as a matter of fact, you have to give me the souls of all your descendants throughout eternity."

"Wait a minute," the agent says cautiously, "What's the catch?"

 


After a venerable career of endless, stellar successes the greatest director who ever lived is in his prime and preparing for his most ambitious project ever when he unexpectedly dies and is called home to heaven. St. Peter meets him at the gate.

"So sorry about your untimely death," he tells the director. "But God himself has called you home. You see, God wants you to direct a movie for Him." The great man is humbled, "God wants ME to direct a film?"

"Yes," St. Peter tells him. "And we've arranged to have the best of everything made available to you. For example, the script is by William Shakespeare." The director is stunned, "An original screenplay by William Shakespeare?" "Yes," St. Peter assures him, "And it's his greatest work ever." "Wow!" says the Director, awe struck.

"Your Production Designer will be Michaelangelo. We've got Leonardo Da Vinci doing the sets, your musical score will be an original work by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and your cast includes a young Laurence Olivier and the greatest actors of all time in supporting roles."

The Director can't believe it. "This is incredible," he says. "This will be the greatest movie ever?" St. Peter kind of shuffles his feet. "Well," he says, "we do have one tiny little problem." "Problem?" says the director. "What kind of a problem?" St. Peter puts his arm around the director's shoulder, "Ya see," he whispers, "God's got this girlfriend..."


sex

Posted on 2007-06-19

 

  • All beds have a special L-shaped top sheet, which reaches up to armpit level on women but only to waist level on men.
  • No-one ever needs a kleenex after sex.
  • If you're a woman in a film and have just finished a steamy lovemaking session, make sure to lay back and pull the sheets up to your neck, just like in real life.
  • All women moan during sex, but none sweat.
  • Women (and men less often) either make love with their underclothes on or have put them back on in the immediate aftermath.
• Two total strangers, upon falling into bed together, will always reach an incredibly intense, mutual, and simultaneous orgasm on the first try.

 

"You must be a Producer."

Posted on 2007-06-17

A man in a hot air balloon realized he was lost. He reduced altitude and spotted a woman below. He descended a bit more and shouted, "Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."

The woman below replied, "You are in a hot air balloon hovering approximately 30 feet above the ground. You are between 40 and 41 degrees north latitude and between 59 and 60 degrees west longitude."

"You must be an Production Manager," said the balloonist. "I am," replied the woman, "How did you know?" "Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information, and the fact is I am still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help so far."

The woman below responded, "You must be a Producer." "I am," replied the balloonist, "but how did you know?" "Well," said the woman, "you don't know where you are or where you are going. You have risen to where you are, due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. The fact is you are in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but now, somehow, it's
my fault."

A man in a hot air balloon realized he was lost. He reduced altitude and spotted a woman below. He descended a bit more and shouted, "Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."

The woman below replied, "You are in a hot air balloon hovering approximately 30 feet above the ground. You are between 40 and 41 degrees north latitude and between 59 and 60 degrees west longitude."

"You must be an Production Manager," said the balloonist. "I am," replied the woman, "How did you know?" "Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information, and the fact is I am still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help so far."

The woman below responded, "You must be a Producer." "I am," replied the balloonist, "but how did you know?" "Well," said the woman, "you don't know where you are or where you are going. You have risen to where you are, due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. The fact is you are in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but now, somehow, it's
my fault."

"Silence, going for a take - Roll sound!"

Posted on 2007-06-07

In the beginning God created the DP.

Posted on 2007-06-07

In the beginning God created the DP.
God saw the DP and said he was good.
The DP saw God and said: "Turn your head, I´d rather have it back-lit."
God said:"But I am God!"
The DP said:"I don’t care who you are. Front-lighting is no good."
And God turned his head.

Canal Street in New York

Posted on 2007-06-07

 

  

Once, we were shooting on Canal Street in New York, a crowded, noisy, industrial part of town that specializes in hardware and electronic shops. A Production Assistant was sitting on the tailgate of our van, while we were setting up a shot across the street.  The grip yelled to him: "Get me a sheet of Foam Core!"

The kid gave us a thumbs up, then took off down the street.  We looked at each other in confusion, then the grip walked across the street and extracted the piece of 4ft square reflector board from the van and commenced to setting it up on a century stand.

Ten minutes later, the kid returned, all sweaty and out of breath, yet proudly holding out a paper bag.

In it, along with a receipt, was a sheath of phone cord.

We didn't have the heart to tell him. 

In the beginning was the Idea.

Posted on 2007-06-07

 

  

In the beginning was the Idea.
And then came the Story Outlines.
And the Story Outlines were without form.
And the Idea was without substance.
And darkness was upon the face of the Writers.
And they spoke among themselves, saying, "It is a crock of shit, and it stinks."
And the Writers went unto the Directors and said, "It is a pail of dung, and we can't live with the smell."
And the Directors went unto their Producers, saying, "It is a container of excrement, and it is very strong, such that none may abide by it."
And the Producers went unto their Studio Heads, saying, "It is a vessel of fertilizer, and none may abide its strength."
And the Studio Heads spoke among themselves, saying to one another, "It contains that which aids plant growth, and it is very strong."
And the Studio Heads went to the Vice Presidents, saying unto them, "It promotes growth, and it is very powerful."
And the Vice Presidents went to the President, saying unto him, "This new idea will actively promote the growth and vigour of the studio with very powerful effects."
And the President looked upon the Idea and saw that it was good.
And the Idea became a Movie.
And this is how shit happens.

 

 

 

The Film Crew

Posted on 2007-06-02

1, 2, 3

Posted on 2007-06-02

focuspuller

Posted on 2007-06-02

 From: Domini to Focuspuller Hi folks... well I was warned that I might get myself flamed into doing this. My is Drew I have worked with Jean for over three years, That’s me in the photo I am on the left, Jean as also been very appreciative and encouraged me shown my work to ODP editor who recommended my work over the years. He phoned me one morning the guy, his so funny. We spent two hours going through is data base on his laptop through dinner it was so funny every one in the Restaurant would come over and say I, and that was all through the evening. If you what to see! Jean and your in New York you can always get me, well that until September 06 2007 at:-

Va Tutto! 23 Cleveland Pl., New York, NY 10012
between Kenmare and Spring Sts.
212-941-0286

This is an unofficial, personal opinion not necessarily now it will work out in the end. I have got Jean to go through his work load. That’s the work he what’s to do and the work he can give out to other people.You would not believe it, he has work for the next three years the work that he as to do, will go onto 2009. He is going to build that house that he was always going on about on Long Island. He is starting on a new film with Nat, in November this year for 6 months on . Also I did not know that Jean as been in the film industry for over 35 years he has worked on over 2,250 films to date; 16 of which he facilitated within the last 3 years 6 months, and over 250 major commercials.  “wow”……….. This just to thank you for two weeks in Cannes 2007 from all off us!!!   

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