Showing posts with label Behind the scenes. Show all posts

The Establishing Shot: Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol Tom Cruise does his own stunts aka Tom Cruise Balls Of Steel

Mission Impossible Ghost ProtocolI have been rather slack of late with regards to quality blogging as I am still basking in the after glow of a phenomenal dive trip to the Maldives as well as spending any free time sorting through pictures and videos from 4 cameras used on the trip.

While on my trip I liberated a copy of  the Red Bulletin from The BA Lounge and was interested by an article about Tom Cruise being invited along by Red Bull to test dive their Formula 1 car. I was particularly impressed in the comments in the article - when when of the guys said something to the effect of "if Cruise wanted he probably could race F1". After watching the video below I may have remembered the quote of context - if it was indeed David Coulthard who said it.

Red Bull invited Tom Cruise to take a spin in a Red Bull F1 tutored by David Coulthard

The Establishing Shot: Behind the scenes on the set of Batman

Batman on setWith the UK leg of The Dark Knight Rises shoot kicking off this week The Establishing Shot brings you another rare and exceptional set of photos from Stefan Lange. This time from his work on the set of Tim Burton's Batman.

Batman was shot on locations all over the UK including Pinewood Studios where Gotham City was recreated - as you can see in the photos below.

Visit the Ministry of Magic Entrance from Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 Film Location - FILM LOCATION

Visit the Ministry of Magic Entrance from Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 Film LocationHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final adventure in the Harry Potter film series, is a motion picture event, told in two full-length parts. Part 1 begins as Harry, Ron and Hermione set out on their perilous mission to track down and destroy the secret to Voldemort’s immortality and destruction—the Horcruxes. On their own, without the guidance of their professors or the protection of Professor Dumbledore, the three friends must now rely on one another more than ever. But there are Dark Forces in their midst that threaten to tear them apart.

The End Begins

The Establishing Shot: Exclusive - On the set of Aliens

Exclusive: On the set of Aliens photographyDespite being warned by well meaning associates James Cameron was determined to create a follow up to Ridley Scott's masterpiece Alien.

He started working on ideas for his sequel as early as 1983 whilst he was kicking off production on Terminator. Cameron faced many obstacles but was eventually promised that if Terminator was successful he would have a crack at it.

In 1986 and for a budget $18 million Aliens was filmed at Pinewood Studios, production lasted ten months. Some scenes of the Alien nest were shot in a decommissioned power plant in Acton, London. This was used as the Axis Chemical Plant in Batman.


In the audio clip below James Cameron talks to Francine Stock at BAFTA about his desire to make Aliens. The clip starts just after he has spoken about friends warning him that making a sequel to Ridley Scott's Alien would be a no win scenario. As there would always be comparisons between the two and Alien is considered a Sci-Fi masterpiece.

James Cameron talks about his Life in Pictures by The Establishing Shot


Aliens clouds
One more photo I found of the miniature clouds shoot for the drop ship sequence of Aliens. Done at Peerless in Covent Garden with Mark roberts first motion control rig. This was a set up for the take-off/escape with eplosion lighting from underneath the planets atmosphere, hence the colour difference.


Aliens clouds, originally uploaded by Stefan the Cameraman.
Mr Stephen Begg set dressing the The Weyland Yutani Atmosphere Processor (A.P.) from Aliens.



Aliens Cloud Shoot for Drop Ship Sequence
Early test using Mark Roberts Motion Contriol rig and periscope lens with either a supafrost or a pro mist filter taped to front.



Aliens Cloud test., originally uploaded by Stefan the Cameraman.

Background plate about to be filmed for drop ship re-entry sequence. Clouds made of Fibrefill.

Aliens Cloud Shoot, originally uploaded by Stefan the Cameraman.
Marines Drop Ship
For the design of the Aliens Drop Ship, Concept artists were asked to incorporate subliminal acknowledgments to the Vietnam War, which included designing the Aliens Drop Ship as a combination of a F-4 Phantom II and AH-1 Cobra.

Drop Ship miniature for re-entry sequence in front of Motion Control Rig. I think this is a smaller model for wider shots, there was a larger one which had opening wings etc. We are looking up, it is hanging upside down so that the wires are on the blind side of the lens. Apparently Derek Meddings sometimes used to shoot upside down in the Gerry Anderson days because the audience wouldn't be looking for the wires underneath. (Obviously Derek himself wasn't actually upside down)


Aliens Drop Ship, originally uploaded by Stefan the Cameraman.

From http://www.alienexperience.com Syd Mead talking about the Aliens Drop Ship design,
“On to the drop ship. I did a very complete design job for the DROP SHIP design; longitudinal section fitting the assault tractor into the hold, the articulation of the armament pods and the landing posture; tracks at the rear and skids at the front. I liked it and I guess Cameroon liked it too, but my design was a casualty of the movie’s fast paced production. The drop ship was first built as a camera angle prop in the drop bay set, and then a model was made to link visually with the partial drop ship set piece. The assault tractor became a dressed 747 plane tow truck, ‘de-leaded’ and covered with appliqués.

The whole production went to Pinewood soon after I’d submitted my designs for the SULACO, and the other transport items. The rest of the props and vehicles, etc. were all done there. I had no further involvement. ”

Aliens Drop Ship, originally uploaded by Stefan the Cameraman.
More stills of the smaller drop ship miniature being filmed at Peerless Camera Co. in Covent Garden. The backlit Blue Screen behind was originally built for John Dykstra and Space Vampires.

Aliens Drop Ship, originally uploaded by Stefan the Cameraman.

The Establishing Shot: EXCLUSIVE ON THE SET OF ALIENS PHOTOGRAPHY
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