THE AVIATOR

[Greg Gross]

A&E is presently airing a behind the scenes production of the filming of

The Aviator. Some very good scenes of "Marty" directing the production.

One very good shot of a Panavision camera tracking backwards as the

actors walk forward, towards the camera. Unique shot as you get a good

close-up of the camera operator working. One scene shows "Marty" in

front of monitors looking at some scenes. Monitor appears to be in aspect

ratio of 2.40.1(I don,t know if I'm right about that) as I've never seen mon-

itors like this before. Maybe someone more experienced will care to comment.

Also some scenes showing "Marty" talking to the actors and also to crew on

the set. They are claiming no special effects used,aircraft have painstakenly

been re-created, cockpits etc.. If the film is true to the story,from the footage

shown along with the behind the scenes stuff,it may well be the film of the year.

The film has a beautiful look to it,extraordinary use of color. I missed the name

of the set designer but his sets are awesome! The commentator praised the set

designer for his work. I can't wait to see it! Is it true that Panavision makes the

world's films?

 

Greg

[Max Jacoby]

Is it true that Panavision makes the

world's films?                                   

 

Who said that and what is it supposed to mean?

[Greg Gross]

Hello audiris,

Yes, I said it. I like Panavision cameras,lenses. Presently in a class of 3

students for cinematography and our mentor is using Panavision camera.

Statement was not made to ruffle "Arri" feathers as I like Arri cameras

also. In the A&E behind the scenes(The Aviator) production the only cameras

shown were Panavision. Do you remember when Nikon used the motto?:

"We take the world's pictures" Well I jokingly stated, is it true that Panavision

makes the world's films? As a pat on the back for Panavision. As a kid growing

up I used to visit movie sets with a famous movie star who was a cousin to my

grandmother . All I can remember ever seeing was Panavision cameras in and

out of their cases. The first one I ever saw was on the set of "Rawhide". At the

present time I'm 56 yrs. old,have been a professional photographer for over 20

years and am now learning cinematography from my mentor.

 

 

Greg

[Wendell_Greene]

You saw Panavision cameras and lenses on the set of "The Aviator" because Robert Richardson, A.S.C. the DP, is a "Panavision man" .

[Annie Wengenroth]

I attended a Panavision workshop during the film festival here in GA and they had a Panastar II and a G2. And damn those are some beautiful cameras. The only thing I found a little unnerving was that the button to release the handle on the Panastar II is right near the handle itself so if you push it with your thumb while picking up the camera, you'll drop the camera.... :blink:

[Nate Downes]

good to know. (I've never worked with a Panny, nor even an Arri, so tidbits like the handle-release are very good to know)

[Max Jacoby]

You saw Panavision cameras and lenses on the set of "The Aviator" because Robert Richardson, A.S.C.  the DP, is a "Panavision man" .

 

Or more precisely an E-Series Man.

[Phil Rhodes]

Hi,

 

> All I can remember ever seeing was Panavision cameras

 

That's probably because you were in the US. Many other parts of the world don't suffer from the same sorts of union regulations which mean there's a lot of hands who all need something to do. I think Panavision's idea may be to give everyone on the crew a case each to play with or something.

 

Phil

[Wendell_Greene]

Touche', Max :)

[David Mullen ASC]

Panavision does come in more cases but I've never seen any crew members added by a producer to handle that aspect. It's still the standard two people, 1st and 2nd AC, per camera package.

[Greg Gross]

Thanks Guys,

For the posts and info on Panavision cameras!

 

Greg

[Phil Rhodes]

Hi,

 

You could just as easily say I've never worked on a Panavision shoot (Actually I have, but not in a senior position) and I've never had more than one AC!

 

Anyway, I always like to think of that shot at the end of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" where they show the guy putting one of the camera cases back into storage.

 

Phil