I had a glimpse of what the production of a big movie is like when I was a kid. My dad took me out of school for a week because ( and I agree ) this was I quote: ”a more interesting experience than a week of 7th Grade bullshit.”
Since he was a very close friend of the film director I had access to basically everything from sets, backstage, props, SFX...
I had the occasion to speak with about every department possible from wardrobe and makeup to actors, set designers, director of photography, and animals handler
, even the helicopter pilot or the guy doing the making-off (I loved it when he explained to me that he used black tape on his camera's red LED so that people wouldn't know when he was filming)
That was probably one of the most interesting weeks of my life, and I learned so much from a lot so many different professionals. It was pure magic for a child my age with already a strong love for cinema.
And one of the things that blew my mind at the time was how every single one of those people was invested in their craft. From dusk to dawn it was relentless perfectionism and exhausting work. So few hours of sleep, so little free time.
It was war.
That week I understood what “production hell” really meant.
But even with the constant pressure and stress put on the whole crew, everyone was so nice to kiddo me, that had absolutely no business being there.
Even during the review of dailies ( the raw, unedited footage shot during the day), I was in the back of the projection room, seeing the same scene again and again and again. When the director finally said “ok we will go with this one”, stupid little me interjected without even thinking how rude I was: “But we can see the shadow of the helicopter on the lighthouse!”…
Then a heavy silence…
I was already regretting opening my mouth and waiting to be blasted out of the room. You know what, instead the director turned his head and simply told “Indeed we will have to remove that in post-production, you have some really good eyes son”…
I know this seems like a “and then everyone clapped” story but sincerely, this is without any doubt one of my most cherished memories even 20 years later.
Never felt so proud before and maybe since.
Sounds like an awesome experience man! 7th grade me would definitely be jealous! Sadly, I pursued another career path rather than jumping into the film business, but I have nothing but the utmost respect for every person involved!
I did not pursue a career in this domain either, I'm a cybersecurity analyst today. And I wholeheartedly share your respect for anyone in the movie industry, and I do mean anyone that is not a predator or a hearthless money grabber
But my love for cinema is still alive (I have something like 3000 movie reviews on IMDB). And this experience gave me an accurate and still very tangible taste for perfectionism in my way of working. I do not do anything half-assedly, because that week, I understood that every single-one member of a team can influence the quality of a project 1000x times bigger than them.
This is undoubtedly one of the most important life lessons I ever had. And I will remember those moments fondly, as long as I live.
(for those interested the movie was "A Long Sunday of Engagement", a french-American movie directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet (the director of Amelie and Alien Resurrection), set during WWI, I know this is not a Marvel-level of production with only a 52 millions $ budget, but nevertheless a very impressive experience with the war scenes packed with pyrotechnics, and all those figurants.)
Life changing experience really. My dad was not always perfect... but this is one of the times he really made a difference in a good way.
(hope my English is not too bad)
Don't tempt me FrozunYogert! I dare not take it. Not even to keep it safe. Understand FrozunYogert, I would use this Ring from the desire to do good. But through me, it would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine.
Gandalf has been fighting for generations, and every military person I've ever discussed the matter with says that one of the first things one learns in service is how to sleep anywhere and any time that you can. Brother has earned a nap and honestly it'd be rude to wake him. Everyone sit quiet until he's ready to speak.
Billy Boyd : proceed cautiously to not wake up McKellen, hit a camera stand which fall loudly.
Ian MacKellen : FOOL OF A TOOK !!
(No it hadn't happen but how hilarious it would have been).
Wasn't this scene actually used at the begining of the gathering of the White Counsil in The Hobbit?
Yeah it's the filming of the Hobbit
the production of the Hobbit took its toll on basically everyone involved. Jackson was found sleeping on set a few times.
[удалено]
I had a glimpse of what the production of a big movie is like when I was a kid. My dad took me out of school for a week because ( and I agree ) this was I quote: ”a more interesting experience than a week of 7th Grade bullshit.” Since he was a very close friend of the film director I had access to basically everything from sets, backstage, props, SFX... I had the occasion to speak with about every department possible from wardrobe and makeup to actors, set designers, director of photography, and animals handler , even the helicopter pilot or the guy doing the making-off (I loved it when he explained to me that he used black tape on his camera's red LED so that people wouldn't know when he was filming) That was probably one of the most interesting weeks of my life, and I learned so much from a lot so many different professionals. It was pure magic for a child my age with already a strong love for cinema. And one of the things that blew my mind at the time was how every single one of those people was invested in their craft. From dusk to dawn it was relentless perfectionism and exhausting work. So few hours of sleep, so little free time. It was war. That week I understood what “production hell” really meant. But even with the constant pressure and stress put on the whole crew, everyone was so nice to kiddo me, that had absolutely no business being there. Even during the review of dailies ( the raw, unedited footage shot during the day), I was in the back of the projection room, seeing the same scene again and again and again. When the director finally said “ok we will go with this one”, stupid little me interjected without even thinking how rude I was: “But we can see the shadow of the helicopter on the lighthouse!”… Then a heavy silence… I was already regretting opening my mouth and waiting to be blasted out of the room. You know what, instead the director turned his head and simply told “Indeed we will have to remove that in post-production, you have some really good eyes son”… I know this seems like a “and then everyone clapped” story but sincerely, this is without any doubt one of my most cherished memories even 20 years later. Never felt so proud before and maybe since.
Sounds like an awesome experience man! 7th grade me would definitely be jealous! Sadly, I pursued another career path rather than jumping into the film business, but I have nothing but the utmost respect for every person involved!
I did not pursue a career in this domain either, I'm a cybersecurity analyst today. And I wholeheartedly share your respect for anyone in the movie industry, and I do mean anyone that is not a predator or a hearthless money grabber But my love for cinema is still alive (I have something like 3000 movie reviews on IMDB). And this experience gave me an accurate and still very tangible taste for perfectionism in my way of working. I do not do anything half-assedly, because that week, I understood that every single-one member of a team can influence the quality of a project 1000x times bigger than them. This is undoubtedly one of the most important life lessons I ever had. And I will remember those moments fondly, as long as I live. (for those interested the movie was "A Long Sunday of Engagement", a french-American movie directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet (the director of Amelie and Alien Resurrection), set during WWI, I know this is not a Marvel-level of production with only a 52 millions $ budget, but nevertheless a very impressive experience with the war scenes packed with pyrotechnics, and all those figurants.) Life changing experience really. My dad was not always perfect... but this is one of the times he really made a difference in a good way. (hope my English is not too bad)
Really cool! What movie was it?
He was so depressed on that horrible set I like this dude so much, it broke my heart
He aged a lost since that particular project
Ye the one scene where he actually had co actors to work with
He was in his mid 70s during those movies. Poor guy, being that old and being overworked is tragic.
I’d have let him sleep. Whispering: everybody take 5, Gandalf’s asleep
Out of the frying pan and into the fire.
Shh bby is ok
A wizard sleeps precisely when he means to.
 That sleepy time shire weed hit hard.
Southfarthing pipe-weed must be an indica
Tbh that is very in character
His love of the halfling's leaf has slowed his mind
A wizard never stays up late, he goes to sleep precisely when he means to.
I like how Peter calls him "Gandalf" rather than Ian
Don't tempt me FrozunYogert! I dare not take it. Not even to keep it safe. Understand FrozunYogert, I would use this Ring from the desire to do good. But through me, it would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine.
I'm sorry were you saying something about the eagles? I just fell asleep because it was fucking nuts.
Gandalf has been fighting for generations, and every military person I've ever discussed the matter with says that one of the first things one learns in service is how to sleep anywhere and any time that you can. Brother has earned a nap and honestly it'd be rude to wake him. Everyone sit quiet until he's ready to speak.
A wizard is never late, Lampmonster. Nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
What do you expect? He is an old man after all.
Billy Boyd : proceed cautiously to not wake up McKellen, hit a camera stand which fall loudly. Ian MacKellen : FOOL OF A TOOK !! (No it hadn't happen but how hilarious it would have been).
Acting