Tom Yum Goong

Mike Toledano · January 24th, 2006, 10:25 PM

I recently saw Tom Yum Goong, the new Tony Jaa (of Ong Bak fame) flick. The movie had incredible martial arts, and the cinematography made incredible strides from the first film.

There is one shot in the movie which lasts about five minutes. Tony Jaa enters a large room with a gigantic spiral staircase, and in one continuous take fights his way up the stairs. He even throws a few people off.

I'm wondering how they might've accomplished this... there were no tracks visible, a crane wouldn't be possible, and it's hard to believe a steadycam operator would be able to climb up five flights of stairs without the camera becoming a bit unstable (at the same speed as Tony Jaa too).

Has anyone seen this? Any thoughts on how they pulled it off?

Herman Chen · January 25th, 2006, 12:15 PM

I've seen that movie before. And yeah, it is pretty amazing. When I was watching that scene, I was stunned by how it was so perfectly executed. From what I hear, there were no effects or editing techniques used in post, it was just choreographed and planned that way. Apparently, they planned it all out, rehearsed it, and got it all down before they tried to shoot it. It's pretty amazing how they pulled that off because that must've taken a crapload of time to plot out.

Rob Lohman · January 27th, 2006, 01:23 PM

Haven't seen it, but from what you describe a good (excellent?) steadicam
operator might be able to do that. I know our own Charles Papert did some
interesting work on American History X running down some stairs (and pausing
etc.) and then continuing on to the outside of the house.

Andy Graham · January 27th, 2006, 05:59 PM

A good steadicam operator could do that,

if you have ever seen "Contact" there is a scene where jodi foster's (young self) dad dies and she runs up the stairs and goes to the mirror in the bathroom and opens it.

in one single movement the steadicam operator follows her up stairs (filmming her from the front), along a corridor and then flawlesly it seems the steadicam operator was filmming her reflection in the upstairs mirror. A well crafted shot.

Andy

Mike Toledano · January 27th, 2006, 09:00 PM

I remember that shot from Contact actually, but the thing about the one in Tom Yum Goong was that it actually ran for five minutes, up about five large stories of stairs. I'll see if I can post a clip from the movie, because you really need to see it to believe it, like that crane shot in fight club that started hundreds of feet into the air and via crane entered the bar and followed someone into the basement.

Andy Graham · January 27th, 2006, 09:16 PM

I would love to see it if you can post it, ive never seen the film

January 24th, 2006, 10:25 PM	#1
Mike Toledano Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 85	Tom Yum Goong - How did they film this? I recently saw Tom Yum Goong, the new Tony Jaa (of Ong Bak fame) flick. The movie had incredible martial arts, and the cinematography made incredible strides from the first film. There is one shot in the movie which lasts about five minutes. Tony Jaa enters a large room with a gigantic spiral staircase, and in one continuous take fights his way up the stairs. He even throws a few people off. I'm wondering how they might've accomplished this... there were no tracks visible, a crane wouldn't be possible, and it's hard to believe a steadycam operator would be able to climb up five flights of stairs without the camera becoming a bit unstable (at the same speed as Tony Jaa too). Has anyone seen this? Any thoughts on how they pulled it off?

January 27th, 2006, 01:23 PM	#3
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Haven't seen it, but from what you describe a good (excellent?) steadicam operator might be able to do that. I know our own Charles Papert did some interesting work on American History X running down some stairs (and pausing etc.) and then continuing on to the outside of the house. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

January 27th, 2006, 05:59 PM	#4
Andy Graham Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Lanark,Scotland Posts: 736	A good steadicam operator could do that, if you have ever seen "Contact" there is a scene where jodi foster's (young self) dad dies and she runs up the stairs and goes to the mirror in the bathroom and opens it. in one single movement the steadicam operator follows her up stairs (filmming her from the front), along a corridor and then flawlesly it seems the steadicam operator was filmming her reflection in the upstairs mirror. A well crafted shot. Andy __________________ Actor: "where would that light be coming from?" DP: "same place as the music" -Andrew Lesnie-

January 27th, 2006, 09:16 PM	#6
Andy Graham Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Lanark,Scotland Posts: 736	I would love to see it if you can post it, ive never seen the film __________________ Actor: "where would that light be coming from?" DP: "same place as the music" -Andrew Lesnie-

January 25th, 2006, 12:15 PM	#2
Herman Chen New Boot Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 23	I've seen that movie before. And yeah, it is pretty amazing. When I was watching that scene, I was stunned by how it was so perfectly executed. From what I hear, there were no effects or editing techniques used in post, it was just choreographed and planned that way. Apparently, they planned it all out, rehearsed it, and got it all down before they tried to shoot it. It's pretty amazing how they pulled that off because that must've taken a crapload of time to plot out.

January 27th, 2006, 09:00 PM	#5
Mike Toledano Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 85	I remember that shot from Contact actually, but the thing about the one in Tom Yum Goong was that it actually ran for five minutes, up about five large stories of stairs. I'll see if I can post a clip from the movie, because you really need to see it to believe it, like that crane shot in fight club that started hundreds of feet into the air and via crane entered the bar and followed someone into the basement.