One of the more fun things about being a journeyman camera guy in Hollywood is never quite knowing who you'll be working with when you show up on set.

Yesterday was one of those days. I was called in to operate "B" camera on a new series called "Arrested Development". I knew nothing about the show other than the technical details I was told on the phone: that it was shot entirely handheld on HD with Varicams.

I braced myself for a physically demanding day and headed over to Culver Studios. When I checked out the call sheet, I was pretty psyched, some of my favorite actors were onboard, and others that aroused curiosity.

Jason Bateman is the lead; I did a day on a pilot with him last year and knew he was a good guy. Very pro, very funny also.

Portia De Rossi is the female lead. Pretty girl. Not much else to say.

David Cross (from "Mr. Show"). I LOVE Mr. Show. This was a thrill.

Jeffrey Tambor. If there's one show I love more than Mr. Show, it's "the Larry Sanders Show". I'd also worked with him on a pilot (seems like a running theme) and he is full-on comic gold as far as I'm concerned--unfortunately he wasn't working yesterday. Looking forward to going back to that show and watching him work at a later date!

Henry Winkler was guest-starring. C'mon, it's the Fonz! More than that, I'd always heard what a nice guy he is, and he is that and more. Extremely friendly, great vibe.

Liza Minnelli (!) She was working the next day but arrived for wardrobe fitting; I just saw her outside her trailer. What a trip. Not someone you see on TV much!

Anyway, it was quite a day. The show itself is pretty twisted, I think it could be very funny and worth checking out. Despite the sore shoulder from a 13 hr day of handheld operating, I look forward to returning.

And on to the next job, whatever it may be...!

You have all the fun! Hanging out the Fonz would be cool.

When is this pilot going to air? On NBC I assume?

Good to hear Liza is working. She has had some rough times recently, and I hope she can keep it together. I had the very great pleasure to work with her on "Barishnikov on Broadway," a number of years ago, and she was absolutely wonderful. Barishnikov was newly immigrated to the U.S. at the time, and this was his first television special. Liza came on board as his special guest star, and it was a brilliant stroke of casting; she sang and danced her heart out, and all the time was warm and charming with Barishnikov, and helped him to come off equally charming. Great television, and some of my best work ever as the crane camera operator. I hope one day it will be released on dvd. One of the last great television variety specials.

Wayne

The part she plays as described to me is very funny. She is having a ball apparently.

Alex, it's a full-fledged series and it will air on Fox starting in November.

Thanks for those anecdotes, Charles! Keep 'em coming! <g>

how is David Cross in person?
I was given his cd as a b-day gift and it didnt leave my cd player for about a month.

Jeffrey Tambor. If there's one show I love more than Mr. Show, it's "the Larry Sanders Show". I'd also worked with him on a pilot (seems like a running theme) and he is full-on comic gold as far as I'm concerned--unfortunately he wasn't working yesterday. Looking forward to going back to that show and watching him work at a later date!
Back in my acting days, I did a summer replacement series with Jeff called "Mr. Sunshine." He was a sweetheart to work with, and an hysterically funny, immensely gifted actor.

Henry Winkler was guest-starring. C'mon, it's the Fonz! More than that, I'd always heard what a nice guy he is, and he is that and more. Extremely friendly, great vibe.Henry produced Mr. Sunshine. He's the nicest, warmest, most caring guy I've ever met in the business.

Hey Charles and all you other full-on pro guys... keep posting stuff like this! It gives me chills of joy... kinda' like Jello shots... but in a "physical reaction sense" rather then vodka charged gelatin... what was I saying? Oh yeah, when you guys leave posts like this it feels like I was there with you!

It's actually very generous and cool of you to share your life's highlights...

Hey speaking of that, today I got a 20 oz. bottle of Diet Coke and I won another free one! See! My life is full of cool stuff also! Err, umm... where's them Jello shots...

I've heard a lot about this show. It's about an adolescent boy who becomes "man of the house" of his upper-class family when his executive father is arrested for securities fraud. Looks like a promising addition to the fall lineup.

Keep that streak, Chas!

I've seen a few teasers for this show and it looks interesting (this coming from someone who has not watched any episodic television for more than 10 years). Something about a wealthy family whose business is somehow busted by the law and who is now left penniless? I think the promos were on Fox, since I've been watching the baseball playoffs on Fox.

I thought I saw that Tom Hanks is somehow involved with it?

Ron Howard has exec producing credit along with Brian Grazer, I believe.

I have to agree, I've been a fan of Jeffrey Tambor since the late 80s when he starred in a little known sitcom with a buxom actress as a couple of newlyweds. (sorry, I forgot what it was called).

Charles,

I just happened across this show tonight, hilarious! I think it was the second episode. The bit about the dead dove was great.

Interesting style, too. I'm not sure what to think about all the tiny, subtle and quick zooms in some of the shots though. I guess I should blame the DP!

This show has promise, definitely. I'll be tuning in next week!

Let's play the Charles Papert game!

A friend of mine writes with Brian Grazer, who produced for Ron Howard on a show shot by Charles Papert!

I love this game!

I have recently been helping out a local Media Arts project with a group from the UCF Film Dept., one of whom is Sterling Van Wagenen, the co-founder of Sundance. I can make the connection with him, but I like this one better because it's quicker and I can connect Kevin Bacon along with it. The person I work with most in this project is...

- Lisa C. Cook who was a Production Manager in "Tremors" which starred...
- Kevin Bacon who co-starred in "Picture Perfect" with...
- Jennifer Aniston who co-starred in "Office Space" shot by...
- Mr. Charles Papert

I didn't know Charles was involved in Office Space! I loved that movie!

I have actually been watching that show, the camera work is very interesting. Looks like most of it is handheld work, not a lot of tripod shots. It definately gives the show a diffrent "feel" than a lot of the other stuff on TV. I feel sorry for the camera guys though, must be hell lugging around a camera on your shoulder all day!

Looks like "Arrested Development" is more arrested, less development--I was just called to work on their "final episode" to be shot in a couple of weeks. Hmmm. Bummer.

Yeah, I walked out of there with a sore shoulder! Shooting that much handheld with a full-size camera is an acquired "muscle"--I'm sure Wayne Orr will agree on that one.

The Charles Papert game...you guys are killing me!

OK, I can one-up you guys--Imran:

I looked up "Tremors" and found two guys (production designer and first assistant director) who I have worked with who were also on that show. That's one less degree of separation!

Rob:

Brian Grazer, being so prolific, is pretty easy. He produced "Intolerable Cruelty", which I did some Steadicam for; he produces "Miss Match", which guest starred an actress whom I directed in an Instant Film recently; and he produced "Blue Crush", directed by John Stockwell for whom I operated on "Crazy/Beautiful".

But as of yet, I haven't worked with Kevin Bacon--that will really simplify this game! (I did just work with Barry Levinson, who directed Bacon in "Diner", though...)

Too bad about "Arrested Development." I know what it's like to work on a show you really like but can't find an audience, since I did "Sports Nite" for two seasons. It was one of my favorite experiences in my career, but it just couldn't get enough viewers.

Many years ago, I was assigned to work on a special, and when I showed up somewhat late for work, they said, "Well, I guess you're doing the hand-held camera." I was not looking forward to that and said I would do it for five dollars an hour more, and almost got bounced, but they got someone else to do it without the five bucks. He worked his ass off and I sat in a chair in the audience for three days watching him bust his butt. From that day I said I want more money for hand-held camera, and I got it. Now it's standard for camera operators in video to get more money for hand-held work, as they deserve. Same with jib operators. Not so on film shoots, and since most of the 24P shows are being done by film operators, they get screwed. Problem; too many film operators and not enough work. I hope you were able to get above scale, Charles, for all that work, but I doubt it. I did the hand-held shots on the "George Lopez" Halloween show, and I have to say, I hate the Panavision/Sony camera. Very unfriendly. And no extra money. But I do enjoy the show, as it has really come up with some great scripts, and the cast is wonderful. George makes it a real pleasure. What a talent he is. And do we eat good Mexican! Delicioso!

Our current director on "Lopez" is John Pasquin. Have you ever worked with him, Charles? He takes the multiple camera show to another level. Somewhat reminds me of "Sports Nite," with Tommy Schlamme, Alex Graves, Don Scardino. Sigh. Miss those guys. (but not the hours)

Wayne

Actually, Wayne, "Arrested" did pay overscale for the operators, much to my surprise. I've long felt that handheld is potentially more injurious to the body over the long run than Steadicam, despite the common wisdom that Steadicam ruins your back, which it generally doesn't. Although some of the more physically awkward positions I've had to hold have been, oddly enough, on the dolly. It's part of the reason I invested in a set of Hot Gears.

Schlamme and Graves I worked with on "The West Wing" (obvious connection between that and Sports Night). Both very talented directors.

Fox seems to be killing of their shows before they get a chance to build an audience. Skin was much better than the sappy 'Las Vegas'. Surprisingly well written tale (I know it's a modern day Romeo and Juliet). They didn't give it or Arrested Development enough time to uhhhhmmmm Develop. The program director at Fox is either too desperate or too stupid(or both) to handle the job. Instead we get more nauseating Joe Millionaire.

Yeah, the shelf life of FOX shows is becoming disturbingly like British sitcoms.. maybe even less than that!

Fortunately, I own the first two seasons of the British version
of 'Coupling' on DVD. I'll get the third when it comes out.

Now if BBCA would only start airing more recent episodes of Graham Norton!!!! And not the censored stuff either!!!

tvguide.com and Variety have said 22 more episodes have been picked up.

Charles, did something change last minute? I know you're not there every day.

Not sure. I was called to work on the "last episode" this week. I haven't been working on the show since that first day, I've been booked on other things. I'm glad to hear it got a pickup.