It was either this year or last year in the magazine that someone made figures for our layout that looked like a film crew. Does anyone remember that issue or can tell me the manufacturer that made those?
Thanks!
Are you thinking of the Woodland Scenics A2741 Surveyors (O-scale)?
Kurt
Kurt,
No that’s not it. It has a cameraman and another holding the tripod. For some reason I thought it was in tips tools and techniques section. Don’t know why, but I’m still looking! I went to the Arttista site but they don’t have a search mode. Nothing came up in Woodland Scenics. Any other company you can think of?
Rob
I think Kent used it in a photo.
Probably from the German firm, Presier. It is pricey ($65) but I believe it is available from Walthers
Preiser ! is the name. Well Preis = Price, so could be pricy in the States[2c]
Greetings
Eggo
I’m actually on a film crew right now. Don’t forget to add a lot of white trucks to your scene, both semi trailiers and cube/moving trucks. RVs work as well, for hair/make up/wardrobe and production offices. There are also usually a few white passenger vans, and some pickup/stake bed trucks. Wires/power cables are running all over the set, and if you’re outside, there are usually really big lights (sun lamps) to simulate both sunlight and moonlight. There are also big canvas (silk, actually) squares (up to 20’ x 20’ in size) attached to tripod looking things to help diffuse the light. These are usually white, black ones are used to block the light completely. There are also tool carts all over the place. These are like giant tool boxes, 6’ tall by 6’ long by 2’ deep, as well as various carts with a big shelf on top and a big shelf on bottom (4’x2’x3’ tall). And a table of food, and coolers everywhere. Pop-Up tents are also found on outdoor shoots, for staging of background actors, as well as lunch tables. The movie I’m on now is quite small, about $1 million dollar budget, and the crew is about 40 people, plus actors. Also, there are camera dollies and tracks, so larger scales can easily use track from a smaller scale to model that. Take out most of the ties, paint the whole thing silver. The dolly might be a big of work, they are solid metal 4 wheeled things, with a few seats and a camera. Also, a lot of crew members smoke. Have an extra airplane propeller? Put a fence type guard around the blade, add a small motor to the back, and you’ve got a special effects fan. We also have security guards at our parking lot, and a medic or two on set.
And as always, if it’s a union shoot (IATSE), there will be a lot of people not working (It’s ok, I’m in the union, and I’m not working…). And after six hours, don’t forget to feed your crew; six hours later feed them again or send them home.
I hope this was helpful. Feel free to email me if you have any specific questions about a film set, I’ll try to
Thanks to one and all! I need to find a reporter, then I could create a news scene. Maybe a car wreck at a crossing! Then the lionel helicopter (with the call letters on the side) for the aerials. Then find a white van and paint it like a news truck. Of course plenty of emergency vehicles (cops, firefighters, emts). I have to give credit to a friend of mine who is also big into our hobby for the idea. We worked together for ten years at an ABC affiliate producing the news and thus the somewhat sick idea. Oh yes bodies… hmmmmm maybe not that far!
Rob
A Tv crew could do a documentary on all the suffering going on in plasticville. It could be a 3 part series…
Rob, I believe one of the manufacturers has a US Post Office van that would be good for a news van. It is already white and the stickers should peel off easily. Also, if you are doing a news type shot, the reporter will most times have a little note pad in the hand that is not holding the mike. If you make it a larger type story, you may want to make some kind of satellite on top of the van.
Dennis
Good idea Dennis. I will look for that postal van.