These creations are innovative in their specific stunt
design, but when such action is also combined with a team of film makers who clearly share
the same passion for high speed cinematography and it’s exciting potential
– there will always be moments of magic.
So it was that both stunt and camera teams and indeed, the
entire crew would crowd the monitor in eager anticipation of that which had been
created. But unlike normal cinematography, the high end photosonics will; always
reveal something unknown; something that we created and yet something that we
did not create.
We created it, through careful planning; through a
Director’s vision and with a visionary team of film makers; but that which we
did not create; (in the sense that the revelation of such creation will always
yield surprise) that which would always reveal excitement and something of the
unknown is the very nature of high speed cinematography. The childlike
anticipation at the monitor on the First Assistant Director’s word: ‘CUT’
is an excitement that can only be born from breaking new ground.
We are not Astronauts; we are not saving peoples lives at
the high end of medicine and our job titles appears shoddy at such comparisons:
We are merely entertainers; but this is our chance to educate through the
entertainment, to not try to be clever or glib; but to give the utmost respect
to a fascinating art format and to try to take it to a new plain. Like any true
creator; we try to absorb what others have done and then to add our little lot.
Enough of philosophy in respect to
our creativity.
Imagine how excited those first film makers would have
been to see FRED OTT’S SNEEZE on January 7th 1894; to see the prize
fighters (Corbett and Courtenay) actually moving in the ring on film.
Thomas Edison and the Lumiere brothers began a journey
into what remains as one of the most diversely created artistic formats of our
time. Film.
The potential of movie making and its combination of such
diverse and artistic formats is awe inspiring. It can change people's lives. It
can inspire people to inspire people.
When I watched the first movie I wrote, Clockwork
Mice screened to audiences around the world; my attention moved from
that which I had been a small part in creating (as screenwriter) to my audience.
After attending numerous screenings, I became bored with my own creation; (even
dissatisfied with it – as should be the process of any real artist) and so I
would sit in the projection room and soak up romantic thoughts of Cinema
Paradiso.
The projection room has always fascinated me: See: My
Uncle Brian: The Real Cinema Paradiso.
Eventually; I turned to the audience themselves and
studied them. In one breath laughter; in the next tears. The potential was
almost too much…. Once upon a time I had, had a blank piece of paper and
suddenly here were these emotions; unveiling across the world to strangers of my
life.
After twenty five years of film making, I still have so
much to learn and always will have; such is the beauty of film; but the four
pieces of film footage herein created over a period of three days will always
serve to remind me of a wonderful sense of anticipation and excitement; perhaps
because this was ‘brave’ cinematography – for want of a better word. There
were also great elements of fear in its creation… but without fear; bravery
has no meaning.
I remember once talking to a Director Of Photography in
Switzerland; whilst waiting to jump from the roof of a bus to a car roof coming
in the opposite direction and then planning to bounce off this car roof into the
river. The conversation with the DOP was considerably more interesting than my
action; as I ended up in hospital with a surgeon trying to rotate my arm back
into the socket and me kicking him backwards across the room; but that’s
another story. The DOP had shot at 750 frames per second on a humming bird and
the cinematography had revealed that there were wings that oscillated in an
adjacent manner to the main wings in a membrane that had hitherto never been
revealed prior to this cinematography. I then went on to learn as much as I
could about photosonics and that bomb casings has been shot on by the military
at over 20,000 fps. I was fascinated.
I hope you are too. Enjoy the clips.
Rod Woodruff
- For those of you inspired to further research, a good starting base is
to type 'Millisecond Cinematography' into your Engine Search. Have fun.
