[SML] Am I seeing what I?m seeing?

[Ray Pierce]

As a Stunt Coordinator that has done things like this and many other effects for film and commercials, I can only tell you that our job is to create an illusion of something that looks more dangerous than it actually is. In theater, a Roman column might be Styrofoam... we are all in the same business of creating fantasy. 

In the example shown, I have no knowledge that the actual artist was up there. In most cases it would’ve been a stunt performer with a full body harness under the wardrobe and safety line going to a redundant system. Anytime the actual talent must be used for whatever reason, we would still typically design and rehearse the gag in advance with a stunt person, then show it to the talent  on site so they would be comfortable.

As an example, this is a German commercial I shot with Heidi Klum. 

https://youtu.be/lfPbVrYPpRU

Most of the swinging trapeze was done with a stunt double and safety lines. Heidi’s close ups were shot a few feet off the ground with me personally spotting her.  This picture is Leslie (Our circus performer stunt double) swinging with me spotting her in the front off camera. Because Lesley required the same amount of time in hair and make up as Heidi did, I actually had to have a second stunt performer on set to be up there as a stand-in for Lighting.



The more interesting shot is at 16 seconds in where they wanted to lift her by her hair. What appears to be a relatively simple system was in fact three complete separate systems working together. There was one 2 point Flying system that lifted her in the air with a harness. There was a second line going to the rope attached to her hair so as she floated up we kept just enough tension on it to keep her hair straight up. There was a third system that went from the male actor who was apparently “lifting her “ to a 15 lb sandbag Off camera.  When all three were rehearsed and worked together, it created a perfect illusion of something very simple but also very safe. These shots give you a better idea of the different systems in play before digital wire removal.





There is typically always more to these shots then meets the eye.

Ray

Ray Pierce
Owner
Hollywood Aerial Arts

> On Sep 14, 2020, at 9:51 AM, Bill Sapsis via Stagecraft <stagecraft at theatrical.net> wrote:
> 
> Occupational hazard.
> 
> Bill S
> 
> 
> On 9/14/20, 12:30 PM, "Stagecraft on behalf of Dougherty, Jim via Stagecraft" <stagecraft-bounces at theatrical.net on behalf of stagecraft at theatrical.net> wrote:
> 
>    IIRC there was a thimble or something that caught my eye - it's been a while.
> 
> 
> 
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