Third year as Steadicam operator From page 2 is how stable it’s going to be. MV: And how long does it take to get at it? MM: Oh, years I'd assume. I don’t know — a long time — I think (laughing). MV: So, what are you saying? You don’t think you're good at it? MM: No (still laughing). I don’t think I’m very good at it at all. ; MV: So, how long have you been doing i MM: This is my third year as Steadicam operator on the X-Files. 1 was a camera oper-— ator and focus puller (first assistant camera- man) before that for about 10 years, and a NEWS photo Marla Verdicchio second camera assistant for five years before that ... and I guess before that I was a pro- duction assistant. MV: How did you learn to use a Steadicam? I don’t recall seeing any night school courses being offered anywhere. MM: I took a course in L.A, an intensive week-long workshop, then I practiced a lot at home, walked over chairs and tables, down the hallway. You have to do a lot of backing up ‘vith it so I practiced backing up stairs, running around my backyard chasing the neighbors cat. Constant drills called ‘walking the line’ to learn how to keep it straight because it’s quite a difficulr thing to keep straight. MV: It doesn’t look heavy, but how much does it weigh? MM: It weighs probably about 75 pounds. We weighed it one day at work and the vest and arm weigh 22 pounds, and the sled another 50 with the camera. MV: So is it more technique than stren; MM: I'd say you couldn’r develop the technique if you didn’t have the strength. You have to be able to hold it for a long time — a really long - time. It never fails; you put the thing on, and that’s when directors want to give last-minute instructions, or make-up people want to do their final touches. Ie’s only when you're wearing it. You put it down, and @ nothing will get done until you pick _ it up. People are unaware that it is a lot of weight. If they had ever tried it on, they would be ready wher you picked it up. You tend to get respect’ as soon as someone tics it on. MV: What’s the longest Steadicam shot you've had to do? MM: Four minutes, in the woods, on a commercial I did last summer. I had to run behind a little kid, circle him, and running all through the woods basically. The camera was in low mode, too, which is when the CHARGED WITH IMPAIRED? YOU HAVE rig is upside-down so the camera can be low, and it’s also twice as hard on the back. I’ve had it on all day, 14 hour days where ve taken it off to rest, but every shot is Steadicam. I’ve done that more than once on X-Files. Too many times I might add, but I really enjoy it actually. It keeps you fit. 4 MV: How many Steadicam operators are there in Vancouver? MM: Probably about 20. With ewo or three of them working internationally, working in either the States or Europe. MV: Has it been around for a long time? When was it first used? MM: The first time I heard of it was in Rocky, which made great use of it in the scene where he’s running up the stairs, or in Stantey Kubrick’s The Saning. But I believe it was ina film called Rowad for Glory, but don’t quote me on that. MV: Who created it? MM: Garrett Brown. He operated it on Rocky and The Shining. You know the scene in the maze and running up the stairs after Shelly Duvall, and all the great stuff with the kid’s tricycle — following it and leading it. That’s also where they strapped it to a wheelchair. It’s got a real great application when you attach it to a motorized vehicle. . like a pick-up truck or ATV (all terrain vehi- cle). MV: So, you're sitting on the back of an ATV with another person driving? MM: Eyaetly. I’m sitting on it with my Steadicam strapped to me. : MV: Have you ever had to say no to any- thing they’ve asked you to do? MM: No, I would never say no. Pil always come up with a way to do what they want. That’s my job, to figure out a way to do what they’re visualizing. i wy COLLEAGUE Red Pre three aliens on the set of the X-Files. tty and Marty Mctnally with. MV: Tell me about this last episode, the.” one shot in black & white. ; MM: That was a really fun ons to do. It was -§ : : huge. It was like a movie, as big in scale as ~ any film I've worked on. Lots of extras, lots of rain and wind, a lot of fun. It was a really campy kind of show. Chris Carter directed i so you want it to look really good. It was shot like an old style movie, lots of elegant camera work. MV: Where does one buy a Steadicam? MM: There are two companies in L.A., but it’s super expensive — in the $100,000 _ range. That's withaut the camera. Ir’s high © imaintenance too, and mine is in the shop 2 ° ot. uo MV: In what situation would you use a. ° Steadicam in place of a camera? MM: If you needed to go up stairs or to © move smoothly over surfaces that you don’t - want to put a Dolly track down (a Dolly: ; track is a metal track thar the camera sits on: - and rolls along pushed by a Dolly grip, but: - thar’s another interview. altogether) because :: -. it takes a long time to lay down a track, and: -: sometimes it’s hard to lay a Dolly track in ~- the woods, but it’s not hard to walk. Or, sometimes it is hard to walk but they make 7" you do it anyways! _ We did a show last year at the airport where I was on a crane up at the ceiling then the - crane booms down to the ground and I walked off it and followed Mulder, Scully, . . and Nick Leigh around. I’ve done another scene where I walked backwards for about 49 feet, then onto a crane. I’ve done that a - lot, walking on and off cranes. It’s kind of dangerous but also a lot of fun. : T have a rig that’s like a rickshaw with two > mountain bike tires, a seat, and a long pole, See more page 29 "SOULFUL CHRISTMAS... A musical celebration ef gespel and Chrésimas careds for ihe THE RIGHT! Speak to a lawyer right away...§ It is imperative to receive expert legal advise as soon after the charges as possible... while your memory of the events is still fresh. MCINALLY believes the 75-ib steadicam was first used on Hai Ashby’s 1975 film Bound For Glory. CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR Sat. Nov. 15 16-4 WINIH . This beautiful, hand-quilted @ am queensize star quilt made by tN local quilters; Diane Hutchison, 3 pS ? Bake sale Marie Williams, and Mrs. Edna Simpson (picture here) * Ceramic painting demonstration # Ethnic food centre © Lots of raffle prizes! whole famtty? Featuring cast members from "Ain't Misbehavin": Marcus Mosely Sibel Thrasher Lovie Eli Candus Churchill Leora Cashe if! 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