It’s no secret to anyone on the planet, let alone in the film industry, that the name Steven Spielberg is synonymous with artful and innovative cinematography. It’s no surprise then that his current directing endeavor, A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) is filled with plenty of another sort of a.i. – artful and innovative ways of shooting.
On an elaborate and complex set at the Long Beach Dome, Spielberg and his team (including Co-Producers Kathleen Kennedy and Bonnie Curtis, DP Janusz Kaminski and Key Grip Jim Kwiatkowski) chose a unique combination of SpaceCam, Camera Cars Unlimited and Wiggins Aerial Rigging and for a number of sequences; the specific details of which remain confidential.
SpaceCam’s gyro-stabilized camera system, used primarily on helicopters for aerial shooting, was first mounted to a Lenny Arm on a camera car. The typical SpaceCam ball which houses the camera system and gyros was stripped to reduce the weight and facilitate the smooth operation of the rig. It was driven by Lee Nashold of Camera Cars Unlimited and operated by SpaceCam system designer and Aerial DP Ron Goodman.
Then, in one of the most unique applications ever of the SpaceCam, Earl Wiggins of Wiggins Aerial Rigging was called upon to mount the camera system to his motion control, computer programmed, multiple winch cable rig set up. What resulted was a rig above the Dome that drove the camera system 300′ horizontally, from 60′ to ground level vertically and with camera moves 40º up, 90º down and 360º around – all remotely operated from the ground.
“This is a huge step forward in winch applications,” said an excited Goodman. “What Earl can provide is the smoothest operation in acceleration and deceleration in winches. Combine that with the stability of the SpaceCam and you have an amazing application and incredible possibilities for shooting.”
SpaceCam Systems, Inc. is located in Westlake Village, California (818) 889-6060.
Camera Cars Unlimited is located in Agoura Hills, California (818) 889-9903.
Wiggins Aerial Rigging is located in Santa Clarita, California (661) 296-1924.