Anna Kendrick Music Video Steadicam Op

[Emre Tufekci]

Hi Everyone,

 

Does anybody know who the op is for the Anna Kendrick music video?

 

 

First off, congrats to the op for a job well done.

 

Second a question;

 

At 03:10 there is a walk on to a jib/dolly or something. From the behind the scenes video I saw this is not a sound-stage with removable walls. From what I can tell it is a practical location. However looking at the lay out and timing I cannot figure out how they manages to get a JL fisher or Jib or something in place to do the walk-on and dolly back.

 

Any insights or maybe the OP can chime in?

 

Once again great work.

 

Cheers,

Emre Tufekci

www.productionpit.com

[Brian Freesh]

I believe it's far more low tech than that. Seems like the operator steps onto the booth seat, apple boxes or steps would make it very doable.

 

EDIT: Steps visible at 3:25

[Emre Tufekci]

That makes sense, thanks Brian.

[Emre Tufekci]

Actually at 2:45 I see the apple-boxes now. Simple but very nice.

[JobScholtze]

Very nice vid, love it

[ChrisCunningham]

Hi Emre,

Thanks for your kind words regarding my work in this music video. Funny thing is, after setting the apple boxes I took a look from camera through the tables and chairs where you can see them for only a brief moment and I distinctly remember thinking "the only person in the world who will possibly notice this is a steadicam op".... and so some 80 million views later your astute attention and Brian's keen eye have done just that.

The original plan to create this rise was to remove a booth and put in its place a 4x8 ramp for me. This of course would have required a wipe and separate takes but during rehearsals It was seen how close I could get to what was needed with my boom range....and tiptoes! Only trouble with that is I created an obstacle course of sorts for myself as I had to step over those apple boxes twice before ascending them (there was no time to sneak them in), all the while keeping the camera as low as possible.

Part of the original plan was also to follow Anna back into the kitchen and with the apple box solution we could then have done a true one take without a wipe, but it was decided, and I agreed, that it would be better to lead her back into the kitchen. Sure it was the better thing to do but I was also a bit terrified at the Idea....the spaces where extremely tight including one spot with no more than an inch of forgiveness upon my monitor and batteries and the second shot demanded that I got through it backwards. I had to place so much attention to my navigation that I didn't get enough takes to refine the framing (head room especially) before they where already happy with a take.

I think Jason Moore, the director, did a great job editing the jump cuts (also shot on steadi ) and audio in the opening of the video and Sean Kim, the DP, made it a very steadicam friendly scene to shoot.

 

Incidentally the very following week I did shoot a true oner music video. Here's a link if your interested: ▶ Herb Alpert - Puttin' On The Ritz - YouTube Only two hours where scheduled for shooting at the end of the day to my surprise! The choreographers and dancers did an amazing job and I wish we had more time and manpower to deal with some more obvious shadows. Some compromises had to be made for sure to pull off the door gag at the end with such a wide lens... believe me I didn't want to be that close but we succeeded in pushing a door in behind me and then hiding all the dancers behind it even with a mirrored wall on one side. Honestly I probably would not have posted this one before Dave created a stage (thanks Dave!) where people could more safely share work, even if it's not technically perfect.....but wait a minute, was that a Movi Cam shadow? Happy Thanksgiving!

 

- Chris Cunningham

[Emre Tufekci]

Very nice work on the other video as well Chris. It's never easy keeping up with dancers while balancing a 70lbs ping pong ball on a wet noodle :) . I am doing a Steadicam workshop in a few weeks and with your permission I will show your two videos as well any other ops projects as examples of great operating combined design and various operating techniques.

 

Cheers,

[ChrisCunningham]

Sure, I'd be honored if you find these to be useful examples for your workshop Emre.

 

- Chris Cunningham

[Osvaldo Silvera SOC]

Great job Chris.!

[Mark Schlicher]

Really inspiring move. The whole video was a well-realized vision, including the soundscape. Kudos to you, the director, the DP, and whoever edited the sound..

[Joe Lawry]

Both great videos, that kitchen looks tight! Well done Chris.

[ChrisCunningham]

Thanks Osvaldo, Job, Joe and Mark for your comments, and Emre for pulling me out from under the radar where I tend to dwell. I certainly agree with you Mark about the soundscape which is not expected at this level in a music video. Osvaldo, I'm not sure if you recognized my name but I purchased a used PRO vest from you back in 2006! I have subjected it to much abuse but it has stayed with me to this day, including the day it carried the weight of this video. After talking to you back in 2006 I tried to emulate your operating from a bicycle. I thought that I who practically lived on bikes in my earlier years, racing both road and mountain bikes, surviving as a messenger who loved flying down stairs, crossing the US, Western Europe, and parts of southern India.... I was sure I could pull it off. My conclusion was... not brave enough, and that my imagination of the sound my rig would suddenly make upon the ground was slightly sharper than average.

 

-Chris

[Osvaldo Silvera SOC]

Hi there Chris,

 

Yes! So happy the vest is still doing well. That vest belonged to

Charles Papert before if memory serves me right

I miss the vest so much I bought another one early this year.

I still have the single sided bike which I bought from Rusty Geller before he'd left down under

who I believe got it from Jeff Mart before that. Good times on that bike.

Congrats again in the video, Great to see many of us doing main stream stuff.

be well!!

Ozzie

[Keith Coblentz]

Wow, Chris, that is amazing work on both the videos! I especially loved the exit out of the bus on the "Puttin' On The Ritz" video. You kept it level with the actor's height so it didn't even look like you stepped down, a skill that I remember from Garrett's workshop! Great job.

[Steve Rausch]

That's great work. Awesome examples for us to mirror. Thank you.