http://www.bigpicturesusa.com/production/030513/brad_pitt_1_web/pages/Brad%20Pitt_030512_5.htm

They set it up on... ROCKS!

180 million dollar budget and they couldn't come up with a better name than "Troy". I smell a bomb.

And what would you suggest?

Most Hollywood execs have probably never heard of the "Iliad". "The Bootie to Launch a Thousand Ships" doesn't quite work. "Yo, Dude, Wheredya Get the Really Big Horse?" is too long.

"Troy" works for me.

If it was animated, they could call it Troy Story, and get Tim Allen to do a voice over...

On a more serious note, that was quite a heavy and expensive rig to have it half-assed stacked on those rocks like that. I would hate to have it topple over... especially if I were next to it.

Exactly my point Keith. I seem to remember they usually built
platforms and things like that.... Charles?

<<<-- Originally posted by Rob Lohman : Exactly my point Keith. I seem to remember they usually built
platforms and things like that.... Charles? -->>>

I'm not Charles, but if you don't mind I will respond. It was obviously a very simple shot requiring no dolly movement. Using the PeeWee dolly in this position, they could boom up or down if desired. Very possibly the location was selected because there is something in the distance that they wanted in the shot behind Mr. Pitt. This was very likely the most expeditious manner to get the shot. Basically, they just took advantage of the rock because it was there. Some grips would complain that the rocks might play havoc with the wheels by gouging them, which would render them useless when placed on tracks later. But I have to believe they know what they are doing. Grips are pretty anal about these things. I am certain they did not drag the dolly over the rocky landscape, but just picked up the dolly and muscled it to the location. The camera was then placed on the dolly.

Apple boxes come in different sizes, such as full apple, half apple, quarter apple, and "pancakes." It looks to be a number of pancakes were used to level the other side of the dolly to match the height of the rock.

Note the use of the twelve by twelve silk, or possible gryflon, in the left portion of the frame. This is probably to bounce some fill light into the left side of the face. Also note the sun is directly behind B.P. I'll take a wild guess that in the shot B.P. is looking at something off in the distance, and on cue he will turn directly toward the camera in close-up, with his hair glowing from the hard sunlight. Kind of gives you shivers just thinking about it, don't it?

I'm really annoyed that they are using a bireme with only one bank of oars. I mean, can you believe it? Neither can I. Achilles would have been so ashamed.

The latest word I heard was that they wouldn't even have the wooden horse, saying that this is about the Iliad not the Odyssey.

Keith, the bit with the horse happens during the Iliad. The Odyssey is the story of Ulysess travels on his way home to Ithica after the fall of Troy.

I don't quite remember their full excuse but if they don't have Odysseus in there as a character then someone else would have to come up with the Trojan Horse ploy. But then, they still have to figure out a way for the Greeks to win anyway. My guess is that they just want to keep things 'realistic' i.e. not have gods or prophecies or Achilles heels or guided arrows, etc.

Wow. Glad I spent the time replying to the original post. I actually thought you guys were interested in production techniques. Maybe I should try a literary forum?

Wait, Sean Bean plays the wily Odysseus in the movie. I know this because my wife thinks Bean is a real hunk and is looking forward to Troy for that reason alone.

Gee Wayne, I thought you covered the shooting on rocks topic pretty well. Is there anything more to add?

I was pleased to see that they were using actual cameras and actors in Troy. A lot of the LOTR films and the new Matrix, I understand, are computer generated shots. I haven't seen it yet, but from the trailer several key scenes from the Matrix Reloaded look a lot more CG than real, which for that film might just be OK.

Just sour grapes on my part, Rick. I figure everone is so impressed with what I have to say, they will be replying, "Oh God, Wayne, how can we ever thank you for sharing your brilliance with we mere mortals?" You know what I mean?

Wayne, thanks. I read all the posts including yours. Like Rick wrote, "I thought you covered the shooting on rocks topic pretty well. Is there anything more to add?"

Didn't you notice that moment of stunned silence, that hushed sense of awe that came over the board, before the rattle of the keyboards picked up again? You might consider that a rough equivalent.

I do love with everybody's high tech equipment that the dolly is sitting on the old stand-by, an apple box. Or a pancake or pancake apple box.

Excuse me, I think I will revert to stunned silence once again.

"Anything more to add?"

Yeah, here are the three most frequently asked questions on any production:

"Where's the coffee?"
"What's for lunch?"
"When do we wrap?"

If you're the guy (or gal) who can answer all these questions, you are well on your way to becoming a producer. At least a first AD.

I'm just amazed that anyone can read so much from such a bad picture.

And who's that bird in the grey dress? :-)

Diane Kruger .... Helen
or
Saffron Burrows .... Andromache

It's too hard to tell what is the real deal from the still, but I'm sure that rock has a nice flat top, or maybe it's an optical illusion and the wheel is jacked up on pancakes that are hidden behind the rock. Either way, I'm sure it was a completely solid setup even if it looks funny. You CAN see that the stack of pancakes under the right front wheel are wedged into position and level.

Feature grips have every trick in the book up their sleeves, from super high tech down to amazingly low tech. If a floor squeaks when someone walks on it or the dolly rides over it, chances are they'll be hammering a couple of nails into it before you know it; no more squeaks!

<<<-- Originally posted by Rick Spilman : And what would you suggest?

Most Hollywood execs have probably never heard of the "Iliad". -->>>

(sheepishly kicking ground)
I was going to suggest The Iliad... :(

I had to laugh on that nail thing, Charles. Thanks for that!

Oh and ofcourse you could answer as well, Wayne. I just
added the word "Charles?" as a little "teaser". Thanks for
replying all.

<<<-- Originally posted by Rick Spilman : Keith, the bit with the horse happens during the Iliad. The Odyssey is the story of Ulysess travels on his way home to Ithica after the fall of Troy. -->>>

WHAT?????

Obviously, you've never read the Iliad. (The Classic Comix version, maybe, but not Homer's epic.) The poem ends with Hector's funeral. Achilleus's death, the Wooden Horse, and the destruction of Troy happen later, after the Iliad and before the Odyssey. The Iliad is not a "history of the Trojan War," but the specific story of Achilleus's rebellion against the Attic leaders, and his eventual embracing of his destiny.

And, by the way, the Odyssey is the story of Odysseus's travels. I don't know who this "Ulysess" guy is...I think James Joyce wrote a book about him once, though.

;-)

I thought Ulysses was the Roman name for Odysseus? Just wondering...

As for the production information I found your explanation valuable, Wayne. Perhaps we should do something like this on a regular basis, post a production still and have you or Charles tell us what's going on in it. Very insightful for those of us who've never been anywhere near a production, call it the "What's going on in this production" thread.