Return | Newsletter Back Issues | Previous | Next
Blast from the past....
Photo credit- John Monte 1969 circa
Remember the 1969 movie epic, Marooned, starring Gregory
Peck, Gene Hackman, Richard Crenna, David Janssen, and James Franciscus... The IRONMAN ONE
(pictured above) was the space ship the astronauts were marooned in. Circling the earth,
with a diminishing oxygen supply and after many attempts to get back to earth, the
stranded astronauts are finally rescued. A total of as many as 4 Zeus Stage
Cranes were used to capture the action of this Columbia film. The movie
takes place almost entirely in outer space, thus, a majority of the motion picture was
shot on stage against a blue screen. Marooned was
directed by John Sturges and produced by M. J. Frankovich. This action packed space
adventure is truly suspenseful and very well done. If you have an old production
shot or piece of trivia, we encourage you to send it in so that we can include it in our
newsletter. Please mail the information to:
Christine C. Huenergardt or Steve Galluzzo
12950 Raymer Street
North Hollywood
CA
91605
Orlando Studio & Production Center Update
ATB II's SPORT PACKAGE PERFECT CHOICE FOR CBS
FOOTBALL COVERAGE
Syracuse, NY--Field Technical Manager, Bob Brown, along with Camera
Operator, Mike Marks, chose Chapman's new ATB II using the all-terrain base with its
sports package. The game was held at the Carrier Dome where Syracuse played against
Virginia Tech, with Syracuse coming out victorious. David Bullard, Technical
Director and General Manager of Chapman's Orlando Production Center, supervised the ATB
II's debut and observed several appealing features of the ATB II were that the camera
achieved a greater height than that of the Olympian, yet got down to the ground enabling
the camera to capture the players at face level from the sidelines. The total
vertical travel of the ATB II is 12 feet with a maximum lens height of 16'. Another
attractive feature of the ATB II is its ability for its arm to run on both electronic and
hydraulic actuation. "During the Syracuse game the unit was used exclusively in
the hydraulic mode, yet, use of the EVA by the cameraman was helpful when Camera Operator,
Mike Marks, chose to control the arm action from the platform", explained David
Bullard. The hydraulic actuation of the arm produces a smoother lift and has precise
feathered stops, utilizing the Universal Stop Valve System. The arm is able to carry
out as many as 6 lifts on one charge. "The nice thing about the hydraulic actuator on
the ATB is that the arm speed can be increased or decreased by counter balancing the arm
with more or less weight", explained Mr. Bullard. "The arm was also able
to pan in or out for focusing purposes or to attain a different camera position,"
stated David Bullard. Another appealing feature of the ATB II is its wheels. The CBS
crew liked the fact that a solid track wheel is built into the unit making the addition or
change of the pneumatic wheels a simpler task as no jack is required. Wheel change
is easier with the new tapered axle. All and all, the ATB II proved itself to be a
versatile and valuable tool for getting the coverage of this college game. The ATB
II will stay with CBS throughout its entire 96-97 football tour.
Above: Camera Operator, Mike Marks,
catches
all the action from the ATB II for the Syracuse
vs. Virginia Tech College football game held at
the Carrier Dome.
Nettmann's Cam-Remote now available at Chapman Orlando
Orlando, FL--Chapman/Leonard Studio & Production Center now
carries the Nettmann Cam-Remote System which complements Chapman's full line of crane
arms. Leading producers, directors, and DP's call for the Nettman Cam-Remote System not
only because its Oscar and Emmy award-winning technology helps them capture those
impossible shots, but because they have come to depend on its incredible reliability.
Thoughtfully engineered and meticulously manufactured, the Cam-Remote System has become
the trusted industry standard. All camera functions including pan, tilt, zoom, and focus
are remotely operated via hard wire or radio control. Cam-Remote accommodates any
currently manufactured motion picture or video camera and can be mounted on any crane,
dolly, or arm.
For more details about the use or availability of the Nettmann Cam-Remote, call Anna
Zaccardo or David Bullard at (888) 33 STAGE.
|