More than a year of planning, scripting, bidding, coordination,
and budgeting had gone into this moment. It was hard to believe
that we were finally on the first shoot for SPA's new advocacy
video, Flying America's Waterways. In spite of the triumph of
the moment (the launching of the biggest project in SPA's history)
the first thought I had was, "Wow, I'm glad I'm not the one holding
that hefty microphone-on-a-pole in this 90+ degree Florida sun!"
Production of Flying America's Waterways kicked off in Florida on
August 15th. It could not have started better. Chuck Brown met us
first thing in the morning at Lake Eloise in one of Brown's Seaplane
Base's J-3 Cubs. From our photo boat, we filmed Chuck as he took off
and landed toward us and then away from us (see photo). Glassy water
In scene after scene, this curmudgeon
rifles off accusations and concerns about seaplanes.
And, scene after scene, the video demonstrates that his concerns and accusations
are unfounded or overblown.
Seaplanes are presented as what they are...magnificent tools for transportation,
recreation, and public service. |
and clear skies greeted us, along with Florida's heat and humidity.
Chuck's precision was astonishing, particularly given the glassy
conditions, and we had the video and sound track we wanted in no
time flat. The J-3 will illustrate just how quiet a seaplane can be.
Around midday, we made our way over to Brown's Seaplane Base in
Winter Haven for some crucial shots of an instructor (Chuck Brown)
working with a student (Patti Massey). They discussed their pending
training flight with particular emphasis on flying friendly, and
planned to frequently change their practice area to avoid disturbing
neighbors. Ron Bull volunteered his red and white Super Cub for the
shot, in which Chuck and Patti are looking at a chart on top of the
float. The apparatus required to get this scene was impressive
(see photo).
Boom mikes, reflectors, cameras, sound recording
systems, wireless microphones, and of course Mother Nature, all
did their part to give us some great shots of Chuck and Patti.
That evening we met with the video's antagonist, Bill Pattie, a
professional actor. He portrays a waterfront homeowner who does
not care for seaplanes at all. Mike Fuller, the director's brother,
graciously offered use of his waterfront home for this part of the
filming. We wasted no time putting Bill to work. Each scene was
shot with Bill working or playing around the house; first lounging
in the hammock, then fishing from the dock, then raking and using
a leaf blower (see photo). In scene after scene, this curmudgeon
rifles off accusations and concerns about seaplanes. And, scene
after scene, the video demonstrates that his concerns and accusations
are unfounded or overblown. Seaplanes are presented as what they
are...magnificent tools for transportation, recreation, and public service.
As a newcomer to video production, I was amazed at the attention
to detail that was required. Brad Fuller and his crew at Florida Film
and Tape were constantly tweaking reflectors, repositioning boom mikes,
coaching talent to get speech intonation "just so," and pausing to wait for
aircraft, cars, and boats to pass for a clean sound track. Along the
way, the "outtakes" gave us fits of laughter as actors stumbled on
key words and launched into improvisation when it was obvious the
take was scrap.
The next day's footage was air-to-air, air-to-ground, and
ground-to-ground from Margaret Jackson's Cessna 180 and a
Lake Amphibian flown by Paul Furnee of Aircraft Innovations and Repair
in Winter Haven. I'd tell you more, but after the cameras and sound
equipment were loaded in, there was no room for me. I was left on
the ground at Brown's Seaplane Base to brainstorm ideas for stock
video sources.
Later that afternoon we shot the video's epilogue with J.J. Frey.
In his relaxed way, J.J. broadly describes the seaplane pilot's
desire to work with communities, and SPA's role in assisting
communities and pilots. It was the final scene of the shoot,
but far from the final shoot of the video.
Keep an eye out in the next issues of Water Flying for On Location
stories from Seattle's busy Lake Union and Maine's gorgeous
Moosehead Lake region.
|