Nacho Minguez Posted May 27, 2004 Report Share Posted May 27, 2004 Hello, somebody has seen the 90min one only un-interrupted Steadicam shoot Russian Ark film? In my opinion 90´ is much time to get a good shoot mainly because the pain in the back. Regards Nacho Minguez Steadicam Op. SPAIN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members David Allen Grove Posted May 27, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 27, 2004 I would say at least 50 or maybe even 60 Steadicam operators saw Russian Ark at one of our Steadicam Guild gatherings last year in Burbank, California! Tillman did a fantastic job operating! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarloTomic Posted May 27, 2004 Report Share Posted May 27, 2004 No question about it, that was some solid flying, but I don't think Nacho was critiquing Tillmans oping, just wondering how he could it. While I was watching I noticed some parts where he would glide into darker areas and it would go into complete black for a bit and the tiny cynic in me would think "well there's a chance for an edit point!" But if you check out the extras (making of) on the dvd you'll see that they had a small doorway dolly set-up with a seat that he used to help take the load off once in awhile during some of the transitions from room to room, the other great thing is the interview with Tillman himself and when he reveals how near the final moments of the shoot he thought he wasn't going to be able finish because he was just beyond exhaustion, but he did it. That's balls out baby, no doubt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nacho Minguez Posted May 27, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2004 Hello again, I had the oportunity to see this film last weekend and I´m wondering about the one shoot. For me has only one word. PERFECT. David, I don´t critiquing nothing about the operating. Like Karlo says I was wondering. Best Nacho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members David Allen Grove Posted May 27, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 27, 2004 Nacho, I didn't think you were critiquing I just thought I'd mention it because it was amazing work. :) Tilman used a back mounted vest and if I remember correctly he said his back was fine it was the front that became numb and very sore. It would be interesting to see the behind the scenes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guillermo nespolo Posted May 27, 2004 Report Share Posted May 27, 2004 i thing that for a shoot like that u can be very brabe to do it (as mr tilman) or stupid in my case .... cause u must be more than shure to work out the job ok ....that is brabe or in my case with so limited experience to do a job like that one u must be stupid ps i dont like the movie ...it have some moments that are great ...but other that are to forgett... as the desing of the hold movie ...its incredible...but for me that i like to see movies from the tegnical part ..as a normal spectator ..i will hate the dum movie my opinion ....(i like elephant in fact i think that the stedicam shoot have more to do with the plot of the movie ) david ...im in south america ...wich branch of the gild is that? joking :D :D :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members David Allen Grove Posted May 27, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 27, 2004 Well, gnespolo, you would be in the South American Branch of the Steadicam Guild of course! :P We do have an opening for the "militant wing" of the Steadicam Guild... all nations should apply. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarloTomic Posted May 28, 2004 Report Share Posted May 28, 2004 I have to agree with Guillermo the movie itself is a tad on the boring side but I think we all can appreciate it simply for the work that went into it, as for the gear he used you're right Dave it was a DSD vest he used along with a Baer-Bel sled and a Master series arm. It really is worth the rental price for the dvd just to see the behind the scenes stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Marc Abernathy Posted May 28, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 28, 2004 thanks guys for posting that there is a DVD for it. i am not interested in the plot probably, but i sure would love to see the Operating and the extras... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members David Allen Grove Posted May 28, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 28, 2004 Russian Ark Behind the scenes link and a photo can be found in Journals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Marc Abernathy Posted May 28, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 28, 2004 THANKS DAVE! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Jeremy Benning Posted May 31, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 31, 2004 I heard that Tilman went sky diving right after the shoot was over to purge himself the stresses that he accumulated from the project.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guillermo nespolo Posted May 31, 2004 Report Share Posted May 31, 2004 yea i after a hard day of shooting to cool down i play rusian rulet .....yea its relaxing .... :D :D :D give a try if u want Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Erwin Landau Posted June 1, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 1, 2004 Russian Ark. Firstly don't take me wrong I must say that this film is technically and cinematically a great accomplishment... 87 minutes in one take... wow. And with the possibility that Tillman will knock me out the next time I meet him... But it was also one of the most boring pieces I have seen in years. I grew up watching features with subtitles, but another actor could have brought some changes into the voice... the monotone voice that even the interesting and colorful Russian language made sound dull and made me sleepy and let me walk out to get a brake of it... I tried it twice. I'm sure that the behind the sense footage makes the DVD a great buy, but also the Fast Forward button makes it more bearable to watch. The Film was screaming for cuts left and right. Only the fact that it was shoot on a Steadicam and as a one-er... made out the hype to let the momentum going as far as it did, if not it would have been just another artsy film showing at the art house in Santa Monica. I did an opening scene for a Project, 22 takes of 3,5 minute a take, took almost the entire day to shoot, at the end I was tired but not dead, the footage looked okay. I did a Ford launch DVD the other day. 10 to 15 Minute takes, had to be one-ers. 8 minutes into the take the talent screws up, from the top right away... no putting down the rig... "lucky" for me the tapes where only 33 minutes. The Lock offs started to look horrible. I did a reality show, transmitting Microwave to the trailer and tape as back up. 2 1/2 hours a take. The footage sucked... The production was happy as it was good enough for TV... I was in need of a spin transplant... Maybe it's only me, but I suck on takes longer then 10 minutes, and even 10 Minutes takes I try to avoid like a Vampire the Sun. It works for Video and TV but for Feature work... I don't think so. Trying to keep the shot interesting for so long, very challanging and most of the time unsuccessful. It's very easy to get boring when people start checking there watches... you are in trouble. In December I got a call for a 90 minutes feature called "The Circle" shooting in Burbank. A one take steadicam feature mystery/thriller. Video, $300.- a day total for 3 weeks. One week actor rehearsal, one week camera rehearsal, one week shooting, estimated 2 full 90 minutes takes a day... stairs, full coverage of all aspects including close ups, complicates moves etc. I think they called every single Operator in the LA area... They did find an operator and did the shot, they had to simplify it a lot and they had to utilize the "dolly push rest sections" a couple of times and replace some of the stairs with elevators... etc.... they did only one take a day... go figure. Why?.... it was done once, you did it, you proved it, it was possible... now move on. No now you have to extend the lengths... I'm not a fan of the doors that got opened... Erwin" Just my opinion... start the stone throwing" Landau, SOC www.landaucamera.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Daniel Stilling DFF Posted June 1, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 1, 2004 Hi Erwin, I can only say I completelly agree with you. It was done, technically amazing and now let's move on... The thing is that Steadicam is suposed to be a tool to enhance the story, and not the other way around. I think I got a call for that feature, and I graciously declined... I have done a bunch of long things, but the shorter takes work better. There's nothing like a well cut movie... Just my .02 Daniel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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