 
Someone actually asked to see more of the crane. I don't get it, but they
say there's one in every crowd.
The camera, you can see in the first photo, is high above us when the shot
in the churchyard ends. I'm 6'4" and was not able to touch it with my hand. To get
that kind of elevation is usually the reason for using a crane.
The camera's attitude--on the other hand--is adjusted by Phil, using the two rotors we see in the second photo, as he
watches the through-the-lens video feed on the monitor right behind them.
In addition to its ability to raise the camera higher than it might
otherwise get, a crane can also facilitate sweeping, swooping camera moves. Depending, of
course, on how ambitious your crane operator (in Cherry's case, Aaron)
and director of photography are. But whether the aim is grand or intimate, in almost every
instance a crane shot is quite graceful.
Think of the last shot of every episode of "Mod Squad," if you
dare, and you may get what I mean.
Fetishistic crane request notwithstanding, this was an ugly day for me. I
was distracted by a whole lot of promotional duties and was stuck by the phone,
unable to get away from the house and across the water to the location.
There should be some stories coming out in magazines and newspapers about
"Making Cherry" in the next week or two. I'm not going to jinx 'em by saying
where, just yet, but if these things come off this day will have been worth it.
At this moment, however, I'm not so sure.
Insert Here my biweekly request for comments about the
site. I'm having a great time hanging out with a whole lot of funny and creative and
talented people, trying to interpret what the heck it is they're doing. If there is
anything special or specific you'd like to hear more about and/or see more of, let me
know. I'm game.
And if you're wondering where Aaron stands when he's working the crane,
here is the wide shot we ran yesterday.
Aaron is the silhouette in the middle-left of the frame. He guides the
counterweighted beam with great delicacy, fro the back end.
My favorite story of the week, thus far, comes from Janna, though the joke is Shalom's.
Seems that Janna got a haircut over the weekend, and at some point on Monday Shalom
noticed.
"Did you get your haircut?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Continuity!" Shalom called out, very cutely, Janna said.
So, that's it for today. A short one. But hold on. The coming week
promises to bring a cavalcade of stars. The only place with more, I suspect, may be the
sky.
Or is that MGM? Later.
Peter Kreutzer |
