Jeff Mart Passed Away

[Neil Toussaint]

I remember the first time I met Jeff and saw him in action. I was a 23 year old new 2nd AC doing music videos to get my 100 days in the union. I was working for a DP named Robert Brinkmann who did a lot of music videos. Because of my big size, my first suggested I do the steadicam,then I saw Jeff come on this metal music video (1989.) He was the mad professor. He brought his steadicam and his bike with the one handlebar sawed-off. I couldn't believe my eyes. He was weaving around speaker columns and band members with great skill doing his steadicam on the bike. I thought he was insane...probably scared and indimidated me from doing steadicam for years to come. Here's to Jeff and his vision of what could be! My condolensces to his family and friends.

-Neil Toussaint

[Janice Arthur]

Hi all;

 

I've been gone and didn't get a chance to reply until now and it seems good to let the news soak in.

 

I'm still in disbelief. Not to long ago I was thinking 'Boy I wonder what Jeff will look like in old age and how long he'll operate.' I thought with a smile.

 

I do believe Jeff really loved impressing us with his operating skills that no one else would dare but he did it out of an admiration for the device and those who surrounded him.

 

I remember one picture that involved him shimmying out on a spit of rock and while seated aimed the rig straight down and shooting whatever was below. It a 20-30 foot bit of rock that he just inched his way out on while wearing the rig. We were all amazed, processing the picture and all he said was, 'ya that really trashed a pair of jeans'. Delores Claiborne I think.

 

He had to step out of a helicopter, while it was on the ground, while wearing the rig and fall down so that the Music video guys would then huddle around the camera. He replaced someone else who didn't want to do the shot. He said "I knew I could fall down."

 

Jeff also took his attitude and massive energy to the rest of his life.

Jeff had a house that was somewhere inaccessible to the fire trucks in event of of wild fires so he came up with a plan divert water from a small spring nearby into a huge holding tank he dug and lined with cement to be able to fight the fires himself. Again I was amazed.

 

Finally, the a story that came to mind as I thought of him this week. Fifteen-twenty years ago he learned that there had been gold on the "hill/mountain" around his house. He said, I'm going to see what I can find. He was planning on digging into the hillside to find it. I never heard if he did. At the time I had all kinds of visions of bad things happening.

 

Boy if I ever felt mortal it was in hearing of Jeff's passing.

 

I hope his family is coping in any way they can and that the Memorial helped them. I know I'll think of him a lot and miss his presence.

 

Warm regards,

 

Janice

[David Luckenbach]

The Steadicam duo of Jeff Mart & Paul Taylor were one of the 1st camera crews that I had the good fortune of meeting during the mid 80’s when I was trying to break into the film business. I met Paul in a ‘Assistant Camermans’ class offered by General Camera in Hollywood. At the time Paul was Jeff Marts 1st AC and together they made up one of Hollywoods most skilled Steadicam teams.

 

As a ‘new-be’, Jeff and Paul invited me to many of their shoots so I could began to learn the inner workings of the camera crew and gain valuable on-set experience. Their generosity, knowledge, enthusiasm, sense of humor and professionalism rooted in me the basic skills and attitude needed to become a successful camera technician. More importantly this early exposure to a true ‘Steadicam Master’ propelled me towards a craft of which I now throughly enjoy as a career.

 

To Jeff, I am eternally grateful for his benevolences and try to carry forward the spirit and enthusiasm he showed on every set. I’m sure he had no idea of the influence he cast on me during my fledgling years.

 

To all those who have passed before us, thank you for propelling the art of steadicam to such a esteemed and respected profession. Your spirit lives in every shot we do.

For those of us who remain, let’s not forget to pass that spirit on, Jeff’s spirit, to the new kid on the set, that “new-be”... Unknowingly, our influence may set their course.

 

Eternally Grateful, Rest In Peace.

David Luckenbach, SOC

[Gustavo Penna]

Im shocked at Jeff's passing. i knew he was going to operate until his last days on this planet, either because he was going to get caught in an unfortunate accident thanks to his crazy stunts or because he was going to fall asleep on his 100th birthday.

I always admired how strong, fearless and positive he was. I've known him for many years and worked along side him on an IMAX feature called sea monsters in Kansas, the last time i saw him. i still can't believe he would operate all day long in those huge, dusty, beat up cowboy boots.

 

He was not only the first steadicam owner, he was the strongest steadicam master ever and the only one that ran the MK-V and AR thru the roughest quality control that that system could ever go thru.

 

Hopefully, we will operate as long and as healthy as he did.

 

GP