Remind me not to rent anything to this guy :-)

[David M]

http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20090902/CURR04/309029977

Mr Neveldine claims RED moved the power button after his experiences running through pyrotechnics with a RED on his shoulder. Is that true?

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Mr Neveldine claims RED moved the power button after his experiences running through pyrotechnics with a RED on his shoulder. Is that true?

It's possible. He was one of the early testers of the camera... There's a picture somewhere of him hand-holding a minimal RED configuration in one hand, low to the ground, while the other hand holds onto a car dragging him along (he's wearing inline skates) at about 50mph. :)

[Brook Willard]

RED redesigned the shape of their power button back around this time [from a small, concave button to a larger, convex button], but did not change its location since sometime before early 2006 [when my folder of RED imagery begins]. They also changed the side record button from convex to flat, added the impact protectors around the joystick, reshaped the PL mount ears and added the access panels on the bottom of the camera for the now defunct "winter strips".

The redesigned button is larger and protrudes out from the camera. It was a step backwards in my personal opinion... but that's just me. I always pop the button [cap] out on any job I'm on, leaving just the small, white plunger on the inside. It's more difficult to accidentally power down the camera without the power button [cap] in place.

He may be referring to an earlier redesign, of course.

[Casey Green]

Also, he may be referring to the ability RED added to disable the side-record button via menu settings... which quite a few projects I've been on have done.

[Curran Giddens]

It's possible. He was one of the early testers of the camera... There's a picture somewhere of him hand-holding a minimal RED configuration in one hand, low to the ground, while the other hand holds onto a car dragging him along (he's wearing inline skates) at about 50mph. :)

you mean this one:

[Brent J. Craig]

I suspect he is referring to the ability to disable the button as well.

What do RedUsers think of someone who unnecessarily puts themselves in danger on shoots? The rollerskating shot above is just plain stupid and could have easily been a simple door mount. Having actors run through explosions? Right.

[Gavin Greenwalt]

Having literally split a helmet before and not being in a coma as a result I think going without a helmet at any time is completely senseless. I imagine it would be a lot harder to raise the camera up while driving with a car mount.

I think someone who is willing to take that kind of risk though is the sort of person who has an easier time making it as a director.

[Brent J. Craig]

I think someone who is willing to take that kind of risk though is the sort of person who has an easier time making it as a director.

If a director tried to pull a stunt like that on a job where I was a crewmember, I would quietly go to the producer and say that the director wishes to do something which may be dangerous to himself, the gear, and possibly the crew. Does your insurance cover the director roller-skating while hanging onto the camera with one hand and a car with the other? Will someone be available to take over if he is hospitalized?

We all have a responsibility for maintaining a safe workplace. There is no shot worth dying for. Sometimes a director or cameraman will be overcome with passion or power and forget that.

[KETCH ROSSi]

I'm handicap and still I always pull off stunts that are just stupid to some, but a necessity to achieve my shot and give my creative filmmaking a unique look, many shots performed with fixed, yet safe car mounts and such, will not ever give you the effects achieved by motion,movement of the camera while filming, and to do so hand held such as in the shot above, it is far simpler then creating a very complex Car mount set up, never mind if you want camera movement, then a motorized jib must be also put in to place controlled by computers, and the rig gets very expensive and very complicated very fast.


One must be very careful as to say, I'll go to the producer and bitch about what the director is about to do, and that will be the last job you will have in the business.. possibly.

Good think for me is that I'm the Director, and the Producer, and no matter what I'm the one in absolute charge of what is going on on my set, so what ever any one would have to say against my doing, it will matter very little.

BTW: as to regards the dangerous shots as above, or walking thru explosions of fire while holding the camera, then I suggest not to watch the insane shots for "GAMER"!

[Zakaree Sandberg]

dude! Ill do the craziest shit for a shot.
who cares if its dangerous. if someone is willing to do it, thats their problem. How would rollerskating by tow of car going 5 mph endanger anyone except for a replaceable camera or a possible broken leg director. its all good

[Curran Giddens]

How would rollerskating by tow of car going 5 mph endanger anyone except for a replaceable camera or a possible broken leg director. its all good

yeah, but he was going 50!

[Curran Giddens]

another pic. of course these shots don't show him going 50, but I remember the thread said he did at one point.

[KETCH ROSSi]

You guys, if you didn't already have to check this out, all three of them. Behind the scene from GAMER.

http://www.clipupload.com/clip/showphoto.php/photo/18542/limit/all

[Gavin Greenwalt]

We all have a responsibility for maintaining a safe workplace. There is no shot worth dying for. Sometimes a director or cameraman will be overcome with passion or power and forget that.

You could say the same thing about people racking up $60k in credit card debt to make their feature film.

It's not sensible. It's not something I would do--I'm far to pragmatic on likely ROI to go hugely in debt if I can't afford it. But those who are willing have a leg up on those who aren't. It might kill/bankrupt them. But if the gamble pays off then they're often more likely to win than those who never gamble at all.

At some point to succeed you have to take some risks. The psychology of risky behavior can be very advantageous in entrepreneurship/career path... for those who don't lose the bet.

[Peter Mosiman]

You guys, if you didn't already have to check this out, all three of them. Behind the scene from GAMER.

http://www.clipupload.com/clip/showphoto.php/photo/18542/limit/all

One of the coolest BTS I have ever seen!! hah. looked fun as hell to be on that set.

[KETCH ROSSi]

One of the coolest BTS I have ever seen!! hah. looked fun as hell to be on that set.

Its fun to play hard with the good toys :)

[Sean R.]

After watching him run through explosions 6 feet behind a stunt double, flying through the air on a pulley system high above pyro techs and gun fire only after taking all the necessary precautions that they could, I can tell you that I personally didn't think he was reckless and stupid. I wanted to be in his shoes. I gained [an additional] huge amount of respect for him, his crew and the way they worked. You should have seen the no-nonsense method they worked in anytime there was a risk of anyone getting so much as a splinter. But then again I used to throw myself off of cliffs for fun just because I happened to have a snowboard strapped to my feet.

Some like roller blading camera shots, some like stationary dolly shots, some people like jumping the grand canyon on a motor cycle with a camera strapped to their helmet. To each their own.

[KETCH ROSSi]

I love what I do and how I do it! The reason is because I'm an independent and will always be, no matter the budget and or size of the MOvie and crew, or what ever studio could be behind me, if I can't do what I want how I want, I wouldn't do it!!

Neveldine, reminds me of why I do what I do, is just great to watch him work, even if I pain for him, knowing the BS He has to go thru with Studio finances, but sure do love the style.

[Gavin Greenwalt]

But then again I used to throw myself off of cliffs for fun just because I happened to have a snowboard strapped to my feet.


Yeah that's never made sense to me either. It's like strap skis to my feet and suddenly the world is a safe and harmless place. :D

Magic Talismans.

[Jeff Kilgroe]

another pic. of course these shots don't show him going 50, but I remember the thread said he did at one point.

Yeah, that's the whole reason I remembered the thread, the speed. Jim said he was going 50, so I'll believe it. 5mph? shrugs, big deal..

[ian dart]

hi all,
as a professional grip if i was on his set i would do everything in my power to talk him out of that type of filmmaking.
if he still decided to go ahead i would quit and walk on the spot.

no film is worth a persons life.

cheers,
ian

[KETCH ROSSi]

I believe also that this is in deed the art of creativity and one can achieve only what one limits himself to, speaking of which I'm putting together a handheld system for the RPZ 18-85, basically just a top handle form Optitek original support, pretty cool, and the no don't do it are many, but I care for the shots I can get, so I ignore them I brake it, I get an other one or not :(, but I will get the shots!

[KETCH ROSSi]

hi all,
as a professional grip if i was on his set i would do everything in my power to talk him out of that type of filmmaking.
if he still decided to go ahead i would quit and walk on the spot.

no film is worth a persons life.

cheers,
ian

Sorry but on my set you would do what I say, and I don't like to heaar sorry I can't do that, it just does not work for me!

If instead you are on Neveldine's set, then I know for fact that you will do what He says and you will not walk out of his set, just wait for his next gigs to understand fully why, after He will enjoy the absurd success of "GAMER" then will talk.

[ian dart]

hi all,

i spend half my life on set making sure things i do wont harm or kill people.

after things go horribly wrong i dont want to spend months or years in court being cross examined why i never spoke up and tried to stop it.
feel free to kill or maim yourself any way you like,
but i will NOT be there to pick up the pieces.

there are plenty of ways to hurt yourself accidently in this business without doing it on purpose.

cheers
ian
ps ketch, on my set if i decide something is unsafe then its not done.

if my advice is ignored then i walk.

god himself cant overide that rule.........

[Adil Lahoulou]

Sorry but on my set you would do what I say, and I don't like to heaar sorry I can't do that, it just does not work for me!

If instead you are on Neveldine's set, then I know for fact that you will do what He says and you will not walk out of his set, just wait for his next gigs to understand fully why, after He will enjoy the absurd success of "GAMER" then will talk.

I don't think the director is nearly as powerful as you intimate. Directors, tend to have to negotiate, like everyone else. Sure they may have clout but in the end the the special interests (ie. department heads along with the union reps) tend to drive the conversation. Some will argue risking life and limb for a shot is actually lazy filmmaking. It simply demonstrates the lack of creativity to find a sensible/workable solution. Let's not forget this business is about the illusion of risk.

[Graeme Nattress]

I remember the day they where there, skating around the parking-lot, with the prototype cameras and having loadsa fun. They certainly did go fast. Really looking forwards to seeing Gamera asap. Anyone up for some baby-sitting?

Graeme

[Zakaree Sandberg]

who is marks 1st ac???
that would be so nutty to 1st for him...

is he just sitting at a monitor somewhere sweating bullets?

[KETCH ROSSi]

I don't think the director is nearly as powerful as you intimate. Directors, tend to have to negotiate, like everyone else. Sure they may have clout but in the end the the special interests (ie. department heads along with the union reps) tend to drive the conversation. Some will argue risking life and limb for a shot is actually lazy filmmaking. It simply demonstrates the lack of creativity to find a sensible/workable solution. Let's not forget this business is about the illusion of risk.

It sure depends on the director, I know several Directors which do have all the power and for good reasons, I have the power because I chose to stay independent no mater what.

It is absolutely underlined that no risk to any one's life should ever be taken, not on set or elsewhere, PERIOD!!

You missed understood my points, or I miss explained my self, and creativity, it is absolutely at the top of my list, as it is for many of us with no STUDIO budget, and just because you spend minutes instead of hours in taking a solution for a shot, it does not mean you are lazy, it means you have good creativity and will to get the shot done, off course a grip guy will want to grip everything, that is is job.

[Zakaree Sandberg]

im with ketch on this.. ketch if you ever need a crazy operator.. ill do it.

Im not a vag when it comes to crazy shit.

douse me in gasoline light me and the camera on fire, i dont care.. just have an extinguisher near by

[KETCH ROSSi]

im with ketch on this.. ketch if you ever need a crazy operator.. ill do it.

Im not a vag when it comes to crazy shit.

douse me in gasoline light me and the camera on fire, i dont care.. just have an extinguisher near by

Got to love your attitude Zakaree, and as I'll start shooting soon, will might need just an operator with your attitude :)


BTW: Respect among the set is a necessity, and I never or would I ever disrespect any one working with me or for me, no matter what position they occupy, every one that has worked or will work with me, they know from the very beginning what they are getting in to working with a crazy Italian like me :) so if they stay they got to be on the program.

[Roberto Lequeux]

another pic. of course these shots don't show him going 50, but I remember the thread said he did at one point.

Been there done that. Unfortunately not with a Red.

50mph with hockey skates is pretty much bullshit though, unless he flipped the rockers to make all wheels flat against the ground which I believe 90% of hockey skates don't have (not sure though).

[Jeff Kilgroe]

The wheels look pretty flat, so they don't look like typical inline hockey skates. Or at least they have nowhere near the rocker effect that my skates do. Rockering of inlines for hockey is usually done with a combination of an arched rocker system and using larger wheels in the middle to create the amount of rocker effect you want.

[Andy Jarosz]

If we don't take risks, how can we possibly advance our art? Our job as filmmakers is to push the boundaries, to try new and exciting things that keep audiences coming back time and time again. I know it's only rollerblades, but it's that kind of clever thinking that will spur on more things later down the line.

If the good lord had intended for us to walk, he would not have invented roller skates.

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Everyone has their own comfort limit in terms of risk taking. I can say that I'm nowhere near the daredevil I used to be now that I have kids. One reason is I feel that I need to set a good example now that they're getting old enough to notice what I do and also because I want to be there for them as long as I can rather than being dead or a vegetable.

I appreciate anyone willing to take risks for the sake of their art, passion or creative spirit. But on any of my sets, the risk factor stops just short of that line that my insurance coverage won't cross. I also have a keen eye when it comes to spotting human stupidity about to go wrong. I've been around heavy construction and demolition all my life, I can usually smell it in the air when someone is about to f**k up. ...Oh, the stories I can tell.

[ian dart]

hi all,

a professional filmmaker respects himself and those around him.

if you are too lazy and cheap to do it the right way then you should be in another business.

hey zakaree, let me know when your funeral is and i will write something nice in your memory on your blogsite.

cheers
ian

[Jaime Vallés]

hi all,

i spend half my life on set making sure things i do wont harm or kill people.

after things go horribly wrong i dont want to spend months or years in court being cross examined why i never spoke up and tried to stop it.
feel free to kill or maim yourself any way you like,
but i will NOT be there to pick up the pieces.

there are plenty of ways to hurt yourself accidently in this business without doing it on purpose.

cheers
ian
ps ketch, on my set if i decide something is unsafe then its not done.

if my advice is ignored then i walk.

god himself cant overide that rule.........
Ian, if I'm ever shooting a movie in Melbourne, I want you on my set. Really. :beer:

[ian dart]

hi jaime,

if you ever come to melbourne i would consider it a privelege
to work with you.

i would also give you a good price on my grip services.........

kind regards,
ian

seriously guys be careful out there. a film is NOT worth your life.
things can turn to shit really fast if you are doing the wrong thing.
I HAVE RULES BECAUSE.....
i dont want the police calling on my family and telling them i was just killed because i was to lazy to safety a 5k hmi.
IAN

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Ian, if I'm ever shooting a movie in Melbourne, I want you on my set. Really. :beer:

I feel the same way.

Always take the time to do it right and keep everyone safe.

[David M]

If we don't take risks, how can we possibly advance our art? Our job as filmmakers is to push the boundaries, to try new and exciting things that keep audiences coming back time and time again. I know it's only rollerblades, but it's that kind of clever thinking that will spur on more things later down the line.
.
Yeah, but there's a slippery slope involved here that doesn't just apply to film making, it applies to pretty much any sort of industry.
It's fine if you want to cut the corners on your own safety, the problem is when people in charge think it's also fine to compromize their workers safety on their behalf.

Take Mr Rossi's position: Basically "If you don't like what I tell you to do, there is no place for you on one of my productions."

You don't get out of it that easy.

First of all that person may have passed on other, safer, jobs to be on your set. If he then finds that you are expecting him to behave dangerously, (or illegally or immorally) for your sole benefit, and he wants no part of that, he will then be out of pocket, and have grounds for complaint.

It's really no different from not telling an actress that she has to appear nude in your production until she is on the set.

The same thing can happen with lighting guys who try to go out of their way to be seen to be efficient and "seamless" as far as the producer/director is concerned. They are the ones who make their assistants change lightbulbs while the power is still on and wind up electrocuting them.

We have labor unions because 19th century cola mine owners thought it was just fine to send children down into the pits with no safety equipment, because there was no shortage of replacements.:emote_hippie:

[David M]

im with ketch on this.. ketch if you ever need a crazy operator.. ill do it.

Im not a vag when it comes to crazy shit.

douse me in gasoline light me and the camera on fire, i dont care.. just have an extinguisher near by

Remind me not to rent anything to you either:nono::tongue_smilie:

[Jaime Vallés]

We have labor unions because 19th century cola mine owners thought it was just fine to send children down into the pits with no safety equipment...

This had me laughing out loud for some reason! :tongue_smilie: :yesnod::emote_popcorn:

[Andrew Kimery]

i dont want the police calling on my family and telling them i was just killed because i was to lazy to safety a 5k hmi.
IAN
Dangerous and reckless aren't the same thing.


-Andrew

[ian dart]

hi andrew,

roy kinnear
brandon lee
vic morrow
just three actors who died "accidently" on set because no one said
stop lets think about this..........

ask john landis how he feels about the years of court cases and media scrutiny he went thru after vic morrow and two children were killed on set while the cameras were running.
roy kinnear riding a horse with horseshoes on cobblestones which
fell over and killed him on camera.

brandon lee killed with a "prop" gun....

dangerous or recklesss you tell me...........


dead is dead no matter how it happened.

ian

[Lewis-M Soucy]

There are 2 kind of people on sets: the safe players, professionals and careful, and the daredevils, the crazy guys, pros but nuts. It's human nature. I think those rollerblade shots are gay. Everyone with a bit of blade experience, wheter it's hockey or wheels, can do that fingers in the nose... 50? well I use to cling to cars or trucks on my skateboard when I was 16 to go places, and trust me, they go really fast! I've also done many rollerblades camera jobs and never got hurt. There's daredevil, and there's stupid. But it's true, some shots can't be made without some crazy stunts. And please don't compare the horse falling on the cameraman to that! One is a little guts doing something a bit edgy, the other is a flat accident. There's a difference between being eccentric and being unlucky. I worked with Besson and if you can't pull a shot, you're in trouble. But still, security is the main concern on any set, for all. Accidents happen no matter what. We can just limit them. Doing crazy shots is an art and a state of mind, or even a way of life for some (basejumpers...)... That's a 2 sided coin. No one here will reconciliates the views expressed. One just has to do what he's comfortable with. And no one is strong enough on a film set to order something dangerous to anyone. But you have the freedom to work with people that might be better persons or personalities to fit your style. There's always someone crazy enough to fill the needs. And thanks to them, they pull up great stuff.

Watch this, it's the short that inspired "Riders":
http://eccentrica.free.fr/argent_content.mov

[Zakaree Sandberg]

Remind me not to rent anything to you either:nono::tongue_smilie:

dont worry, i dont rent my own gear out:)
but to clear my good name.. i havent yet lit my camera a blaze

[ian dart]

hi lewis,

what i was trying to stress was that even on high budget productions where one would assume that safety was of prime
concern people are still killed.

roy kinnear was a british actor whose horse fell on him during a scene, he broke his pelvis and bled to death on set.
the horse wrangler should have known steel horse shoes and cobblestones do not mix..........he does now.

i guess you cant argue with evolution weeding out the idiots from the human race.

an accident is what happens when an edgy stunt turns to shit.

cheers
ian

[Brent J. Craig]

One must be very careful as to say, I'll go to the producer and bitch about what the director is about to do, and that will be the last job you will have in the business.. possibly.

Actually you'd be surprised. There are ways to be discrete and tactful, and people are usually very concerned about the safety of their employees. All a producer needs is for their film to be tied up in litigation for a year because of an accident.

I have pointed out dangerous situations before and I will do it again. Professionals respect that. If someone would not hire me because of it than then are probably not the people I want to be working with anyway.


BTW: as to regards the dangerous shots as above, or walking thru explosions of fire while holding the camera, then I suggest not to watch the insane shots for "GAMER"!

I just watched the Gamer footage you linked to. What I see are professionals executing well-planned, well-rehearsed stunts quite safely. Crewmembers are wearing eye protection were necessary, the AD and stunt coordinator have total control of the set, unnecessary personnel are cleared well back, camera operators have spotters. There is even one shot where the camera operator appears to be wearing body armor. Running or skating with the camera are not a big deal.

[Lewis-M Soucy]

I think this thread is actually more flaming than the actual risks taken there... :chillpill:

:laugh:

[Brent J. Craig]

who is marks 1st ac???
that would be so nutty to 1st for him...

is he just sitting at a monitor somewhere sweating bullets?

He's the guy in many of the shots near the camera but not too near, turning the knob on a Preston. (It's a wireless lens control system.)

See how he stays out of the way and keep well back in the more dangerous situations? That is a case where a $250 a day rental (wireless focus) can make the set safer. Heck, I bring mine out for free when I feel it allows me to work from a safer spot.

And yes, I once shut down a commercial shoot for 30 minutes when the black panther we were shooting became difficult to control. With the camera locked off, I was the only one who had to be in the room with it to pull focus. I told the producer the situation was too dangerous and I needed wireless focus. They agreed, the trainer agreed, we sent a runner to the rental house and everybody went home that night with all their limbs. That producer respects me as a professional and continues to call me for jobs regularly.

[Andrew Kimery]

dead is dead no matter how it happened.

Dead is dead, but like I said there is a difference between dangerous and reckless. Driving a car is inherently dangerous but millions of people do it everyday w/o being reckless. Stunts are inherently dangerous but that doesn't mean all stunt people are inherently reckless. Many times journalists and documentarians, such as the recently deceased Christian Poveda, put themselves in harms way to tell stories they feel need to be told. Dangerous? Yes. Inherently reckless? Not IMO.


-Andrew

[Lewis-M Soucy]

hi lewis,

what i was trying to stress was that even on high budget productions where one would assume that safety was of prime
concern people are still killed.

roy kinnear was a british actor whose horse fell on him during a scene, he broke his pelvis and bled to death on set.
the horse wrangler should have known steel horse shoes and cobblestones do not mix..........he does now.

i guess you cant argue with evolution weeding out the idiots from the human race.

an accident is what happens when an edgy stunt turns to shit.

cheers
ian

I agree, and like everyone else here, just trying to pitch in my sensed/nonsensed opinion and reaction. This is a very touchy question and I doubt all will have the sam POV on film safety when it comes to creativity or chance... But globally, I'm pretty sure we all agree on safe is better...

[Lewis-M Soucy]

On one of Besson's shoot, regardless of safety efforts, a cameraman ended up dead too, hit by a car. On the same film, a dear friend stuntgirl of mine had a car crash in a chase, trying to catch up the other cars as she was too slow, and broke her spine. She was 2 years without her legs... They were all pros and safety was there. Shit happens, sadly enough, no matter what. I did a lot of crazy shots in my DV era, high up, pulled, rollerblading, jumping, etc... They were never very safe, but they were fun although I could have broken my neck. There's always risks in that industry, but they're sometimes no more dangerous than waterskiing or playing ass on some holiday trip, or just renovating your house like roof work... :) I'd say doing pyrotechnics without the fire department is insane, but being pulled by a car on rollerblades is no big deal, even at 50, especially if the rider is good on blades, which I think he was in this case. Just look at these guys in the Olympic going over a 100 on ski slopes or bobsleighs... I agree a helmet could have made more sense though... :) I think also americans here will have different approach on this subject, as suing is a bit of a national sport in the US... No judgement intended, but in EU people would just take their own responsibility if they broke their leg, knowing they probably wanted to do the shot their own way, despite warnings or opposed advices... Sometimes you just want to pull the shot efficiently and quickly, without the hassle of a helmet or a cable... Or because you just are convinced it's not required... Like being a bit courageous or daring as men can be when they want to impress others and get the man of the day congrats... It's a very exciting business that can go up your head quickly, even mine sometimes! :D

[Lewis-M Soucy]

Another view on this: Jackie Chan was famous for breaking every single bones of his body on every film he made, because he wanted to achieve stunts and shots nobody ever did or saw. To a point where no insurance companies would work with him. He and his crew would work without any insurance, knowingly, but were motivated and devoted, regardless their own safety and their consequences. It has built Jackie's reputation as being one of the most amazing action actor and film maker and brought him international notoriety. But in his case, I see his way of life as a "character", a personality mixed with eccentricity and guts. That was him, who he was, and the people around him that respected that and followed, like samurais... I'm pretty sure that now he's famous and rich, and has proper budgets, he wouldn't work that way ever again (and he's not 25 anymore). But that established him. This attitude was rewarding professionally. So is being some crazy Evil Knivel stupid? Or can it also be honorable? Pioneers in any field were always huge risk takers, thus bringing us huge sensations and pleasure. Film making is of course an industry and a set should be considered a safe workplace. But nowadays, safety is so well managed, I'm sure there's a lot more grips that kill their hands, feet and fingers on a set than there are stuntmen getting bruised... :D

[KETCH ROSSi]

It is more then obvious that words can and do get taken in context in a complete different way by those that read them, so let me try an say this a bit more clear.

My set is just that, "MY SET", I'm not for hire, and for this I have not worked on the industry even so I have been in it for over twenty years, filmmaking for me, is an art that I must perform absolutely free of restrictions, and for this I made my leaving by working in the Restaurant business, and later Photography business.

I never bring any one to work for me/with me, before explaining to the last detail what I want to do and how I wanted to do, so if they leave other opportunities to come and work for me/with me, then they already knew what they were doing, no regrets there.

When on set I will go to the absolute limits in order to get my shots, but I never did say that I would put any one in danger, but neither would I allow any one to forbid me not to put my self in danger, as it has been and will always be my choice to do as I please with my life, off course I will listen very carefully to what the pros working for my safety and that of my crew will have to say, and listen carefully I will, but just so that I know what I'll be going against to, not to not do it, because they said is too dangerous, as if I think I can do it, well.. I will do IT!!

I have an immense respect for others well been, as I know too well what it means to be in physical pain, believe me I really do know that, having spent great part of my life in hospitals, so again I'm not ever about to make some one do something stupid dangerous just to get the shot, and neither would I, but if it is considered stupid to others but no to me, well then I'll do it.

As far as talk about being lazy, and not want to do things the right way, well let me say this, there is never one right way to do things, not ever! There is always different ways to skin the CAT, and there are always different ways to do things right, and I will not spend stupid amount of money and or time, and or man power just to rig a car and or any location to do a shot that can be simply get done with less time, less man power, and less money, and most of the time even achieving a better shot, and a more original look to the particular scene, giving me a far greater creative freedom to tell my story.

But here, again, I never said that when I considered a necessity I would not rig or put what money time and man power to work if truly needed.

Lastly on my set, and I can say this very loud, as it will always be my set, I will, no matter what share my opinions and listen very careful to those of the ones working for me /with me but they must remember that they are in deed working for me, and it is their job and responsibility to give their very best to accommodate my needs in order to tell my story the way I need to tell my story, and take what they do to the very limit of their possibilities, and surely no one will ever walk away from my set, of this I'm sure, as once again I do make my self extremely clear as to what I expect, and what my goals are, and what I'm willing to do in order to achieve them, and believe me, that the last thing I' m willing to do is injure any one or my self in the name of a shot, but you can be sure that I will stop at the very edge of such fine lines.

So as everything else in life, we each make our own decisions and are free to share our opinions and ways of doing things, but we also must respect the opinions and ways of doing things of others, I do, and always will, but rest assure that I will not allow the opinions and ways of others to come in between me and my artistic view and way of achieving IT!

[David M]

"We have labor unions because 19th century cola mine owners thought it was just fine to send children down into the pits with no safety equipment..."


This had me laughing out loud for some reason! :tongue_smilie: :yesnod::emote_popcorn:

It was only the cocaine dust in the air that allowed them to pull 18-hour shifts all the time. Stuff doesn't grow on trees ya know....

[Zakaree Sandberg]

He's the guy in many of the shots near the camera but not too near, turning the knob on a Preston. (It's a wireless lens control system.)

haha thanks.. i know what a preston is.. and i know that he was using one..

I was talking about the many many many different focus points and action of the camera, and just stating that it takes an excellent 1st to hit those marks with that kind of chaos going on