Helicopter day
Today was the first and only day of aerial photography for The Movie. We rented a helicopter, a Wescam mount, a pilot, an operator, a camera and burned two thousand feet of film. Minute for minute, it was the most expensive part of the entire production.
How was it, you ask?
Pretty effin’ cool.
I’d been in helicopters before — once in Hawaii, once in Estonia. But there’s something amazing about flying over a city you’ve lived in for decade. Look! There’s my old apartment. There’s my agent’s office. There’s Aaron Spelling’s mansion. (It’s the big white W.)
These shots are from my Treo. I could kick myself for not bringing my little videocamera along for the ride, but I guess I’ll be seeing the 35mm version soon enough.
The shots we needed for the movie were pretty specific, and took a fair amount of planning to get right. Google Earth was a huge help. We could literally fly through the shots before we did them, showing the pilot what we were going for. (In fact, for the screenings so far, we’ve simply been using footage captured from the screen.)
(Click on the photos to see larger versions. More after the jump.)
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August 29th, 2006 at 4:25 pm
Awesome, John. Are those photos excerpts from the film footage or snapshots you’ve taken separately? ‘Cos if they’re from the movie, than the movie looks damn cool.
August 29th, 2006 at 6:33 pm
Maybe it’s helicopter shoots like these that find it appropriate to zoom over while we’re in the middle of watching HOUSE, every week. I also thought it was the LAPD.
August 29th, 2006 at 7:25 pm
A while ago I decided that anything shot from the air is automatically way cooler. It’s a thrill both shooting and reviewing what you’ve shot.
And you’re right, you kick yourself if you don’t get a few for personal satisfaction.
August 29th, 2006 at 9:07 pm
Wescams and Spacecam mounts are they way to go if you’ve got the $. We’re doing aerial for a pilto next month and our camera operator is harnessed and hanging out of the window of a bell ranger!
August 30th, 2006 at 12:48 pm
Love those piltos
August 30th, 2006 at 12:56 pm
I was on a helicopter shoot about 5 years ago. The pilot was laying down his ground rules for being in his copter. He said, “No one say the word ’shit’ if a camera breaks down, or someone drop a screwdriver out the side.”
We all laughed.
He didn’t. He went on to tell us that most often last words on the black box/tower tapes from crashing pilots…? Yep. Shit!
I always wondered if that was for dramatic effect. Did your pilot mention anything similar?
August 30th, 2006 at 1:29 pm
There was the standard warning about not walking into the rear blade. No special superstitions that I was aware of.
August 30th, 2006 at 2:20 pm
Thanks Paul. I meant pilot….
August 31st, 2006 at 10:35 am
I have a theory that helicopters are only scary when you’re on them for no particular reason, such as sightseeing in Kauai. For transportation, waging war, paparazzi use during celebrity weddings, and checking out the Spelling digs. they’re perfectly safe.
August 31st, 2006 at 3:06 pm
I visit your site often & today I felt I should leave a message, since you do leave one for us. Its great to see a screenwriter become such a success no matter what the publications & ‘experts’ say about how gritty the business is. Reading books like “Doing it For Money” & knowing first hand that the reality of becoming a highly sought after screenwriter is not as delightful as the dream may seem. I just felt I should tell you that I think of you & this website as an inspiration for me and for everyone else who dreams of writing for Hollywood; that yes, people can & do make it. Thank you for a great site that I can rely on for information & anecdotes in the life of a real screenwriter. Thanks.
September 2nd, 2006 at 2:54 pm
supercool! We have the offer of a helicopter, not using it for our forthcoming shoot cos it isn’t appropriate, but having seen these pics I’m damn sure we’re going to have some helicopter shots in our next film!
September 4th, 2006 at 4:14 pm
God bless Google Earth…
September 12th, 2006 at 7:11 pm
SNAKES ON A PLANE … I’m looking for the shooting script or one close to the June ‘05 start date.