Russian Ark at DVinfo.net

Jim Pulfer · December 18th, 2002, 08:10 AM

http://www.apple.com/trailers/indepe...ssian_ark.html

...whole thing filmed in one continues shot...that's amazing - i can just imagine the complexity... you'd think someone would have tripped overe a cable somewhere in that shot!
(...even in the short trailer there's a lot of people staring straight at the camera) :-0

Alex Taylor · December 18th, 2002, 09:52 AM

Wow, that's quite impressive!

That must have taken an insane amont of choreography on everybody's part.. and probably just breezed through post :P

I hope this plays close to me soon..

Rick Spilman · December 18th, 2002, 02:16 PM

I only have one question - why?

Rick

Simon Plissi · December 19th, 2002, 04:52 AM

I too saw the trailer the other day and was somewhat curious, so I checked out the film details on IMDb.
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0318034

Not only one continuous take, but also a one take film!

Robert Knecht Schmidt · December 19th, 2002, 07:29 AM

I wonder how they filmed it--no manufacturer makes 96 minute long magazines. I wonder how they transport and project it--features aren't usually trucked around on one giant reel. Even Hitch's Rope has cleverly disguised transitions for the reel swaps.

Curiously, the film has three credited editors. If it was strictly for union reasons, they should have made it an even four. Makes it a lot easier to play bridge!

Zac Stein · December 19th, 2002, 07:30 AM

If i remember, it was shot on HD.

kermie

Robert Knecht Schmidt · December 19th, 2002, 07:32 AM

Ah. You're correct.

Ken Tanaka · December 19th, 2002, 11:06 PM

This looks to be quite a remarkable piece of work. Where the heck can I see it?

http://www.wellspring.com/russianark/production.html

John Locke · December 19th, 2002, 11:41 PM

I'm betting you local "art house" or university theater will be the best best for finding it. Can't imagine this type of movie appealing to the mainstream (although it should).

Ken Tanaka · December 20th, 2002, 12:22 AM

Nope, no place in Chicago. Nuts.

Charles Papert · December 20th, 2002, 04:03 AM

The film was shot as a single Steadicam take using an HD camera with a fiber cable to a massive hard drive setup which was wheeled around at some distance from the camera.

Believe it or not, there was a tremendous amount of post if one is to believe the esoteric ramblings of the director. I have been following the press releases and interviews on this film for about six months but didn't manage to archive the better ones (which are amazingly self-aggrandizing and simultaneously catty to certain members of the production). Here's one recent link:

http://sokurov.spb.ru/island_en/feature_films/russkyi_kovcheg/mnp_ark.html

Robert Knecht Schmidt · December 20th, 2002, 05:39 AM

Catty is right. But I assumed the Steadicam must have been cart-mounted until I read

"Tilman Buttner is a strong and hardy man. He was diligently preparing himself for physical work, which was hard indeed: he had to carry on his waist more than 30 kilos."

Buttner wasn't a man, he was an elephant! I can't conceive of a Steadicam operator carrying a CineAlta for an hour an a half (if that was indeed what it was shot on).

Have you ever tried that, Charles?

Keith Loh · January 16th, 2003, 01:21 PM

I saw it at the Vancouver International Film Festival this fall.

It instantly made my best of list for 2002.

http://www.keithloh.com/writing/film_reviews/best2002.html

Robert Knecht Schmidt · January 16th, 2003, 02:56 PM

It's scheduled for the 14th, 15th, and 16th of February at the Cleveland Cinematheque. --I'm there!

Charles Papert · January 17th, 2003, 01:12 AM

Robert,

I can't remember for sure, but I believe it was the camera head only version of the 900 (Cinealta), which doesn't have the extra weight of the deck. I don't keep up with the model numbers of the video cameras like I used to as I have been largely dodging the HD bullet in the last couple of years (that won't last, I'm quite sure of that!). Tilman used a slick lightweight setup and a great backmounted vest (the arm attaches around the back rather than at the front), which increases the length of time one can carry the rig. I've been sniffing at this vest for a while but at $9000, it doesn't come cheap.

I can't say as I've carried a camera for THAT long, but I've had a few marathon sessions over the years. Live TV can be like that. At the World Cup in '94, I ran up and down the side of a soccer pitch in blistering heat; that was a tough one! Then there was a campaign commercial for Bob Dole that required me to track him for 20 minutes straight through a town in New Hampshire...a few features that had four minute shots that were pretty elaborate (doesn't sound too impressive, except that the camera setup for one of them was over 80 lbs). But really, Tilman's effort was remarkable.

December 18th, 2002, 08:10 AM	#1
Jim Pulfer New Boot Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 15	Russian Ark http://www.apple.com/trailers/indepe...ssian_ark.html ...whole thing filmed in one continues shot...that's amazing - i can just imagine the complexity... you'd think someone would have tripped overe a cable somewhere in that shot! (...even in the short trailer there's a lot of people staring straight at the camera) :-0 __________________ James,

December 18th, 2002, 09:52 AM	#2
Alex Taylor Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 390	Wow, that's quite impressive! That must have taken an insane amont of choreography on everybody's part.. and probably just breezed through post :P I hope this plays close to me soon.. __________________ alextaylor.org

December 19th, 2002, 07:29 AM	#5
Robert Knecht Schmidt Wrangler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,933	I wonder how they filmed it--no manufacturer makes 96 minute long magazines. I wonder how they transport and project it--features aren't usually trucked around on one giant reel. Even Hitch's Rope has cleverly disguised transitions for the reel swaps. Curiously, the film has three credited editors. If it was strictly for union reasons, they should have made it an even four. Makes it a lot easier to play bridge! __________________ All the best, Robert K S Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

December 19th, 2002, 07:32 AM	#7
Robert Knecht Schmidt Wrangler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,933	Ah. You're correct. __________________ All the best, Robert K S Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

December 19th, 2002, 11:06 PM	#8
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	This looks to be quite a remarkable piece of work. Where the heck can I see it? http://www.wellspring.com/russianark/production.html __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

December 18th, 2002, 02:16 PM	#3
Rick Spilman Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Jersey City, NJ Posts: 366	I only have one question - why? Rick

December 19th, 2002, 04:52 AM	#4
Simon Plissi Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 105	I too saw the trailer the other day and was somewhat curious, so I checked out the film details on IMDb. http://us.imdb.com/Title?0318034 Not only one continuous take, but also a one take film!

December 19th, 2002, 07:30 AM	#6
Zac Stein Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 730	If i remember, it was shot on HD. kermie

December 19th, 2002, 11:41 PM	#9
John Locke Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Austin, TX USA Posts: 2,882	I'm betting you local "art house" or university theater will be the best best for finding it. Can't imagine this type of movie appealing to the mainstream (although it should). __________________ John Locke SursumFilms.com

December 20th, 2002, 12:22 AM	#10
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Nope, no place in Chicago. Nuts. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

December 20th, 2002, 04:03 AM	#11
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	The film was shot as a single Steadicam take using an HD camera with a fiber cable to a massive hard drive setup which was wheeled around at some distance from the camera. Believe it or not, there was a tremendous amount of post if one is to believe the esoteric ramblings of the director. I have been following the press releases and interviews on this film for about six months but didn't manage to archive the better ones (which are amazingly self-aggrandizing and simultaneously catty to certain members of the production). Here's one recent link: http://sokurov.spb.ru/island_en/feature_films/russkyi_kovcheg/mnp_ark.html __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

December 20th, 2002, 05:39 AM	#12
Robert Knecht Schmidt Wrangler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,933	Catty is right. But I assumed the Steadicam must have been cart-mounted until I read "Tilman Buttner is a strong and hardy man. He was diligently preparing himself for physical work, which was hard indeed: he had to carry on his waist more than 30 kilos." Buttner wasn't a man, he was an elephant! I can't conceive of a Steadicam operator carrying a CineAlta for an hour an a half (if that was indeed what it was shot on). Have you ever tried that, Charles? __________________ All the best, Robert K S Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

January 16th, 2003, 01:21 PM	#13
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	Saw it I saw it at the Vancouver International Film Festival this fall. It instantly made my best of list for 2002. http://www.keithloh.com/writing/film_reviews/best2002.html __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

January 16th, 2003, 02:56 PM	#14
Robert Knecht Schmidt Wrangler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,933	It's scheduled for the 14th, 15th, and 16th of February at the Cleveland Cinematheque. --I'm there! __________________ All the best, Robert K S Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

January 17th, 2003, 01:12 AM	#15
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Robert, I can't remember for sure, but I believe it was the camera head only version of the 900 (Cinealta), which doesn't have the extra weight of the deck. I don't keep up with the model numbers of the video cameras like I used to as I have been largely dodging the HD bullet in the last couple of years (that won't last, I'm quite sure of that!). Tilman used a slick lightweight setup and a great backmounted vest (the arm attaches around the back rather than at the front), which increases the length of time one can carry the rig. I've been sniffing at this vest for a while but at $9000, it doesn't come cheap. I can't say as I've carried a camera for THAT long, but I've had a few marathon sessions over the years. Live TV can be like that. At the World Cup in '94, I ran up and down the side of a soccer pitch in blistering heat; that was a tough one! Then there was a campaign commercial for Bob Dole that required me to track him for 20 minutes straight through a town in New Hampshire...a few features that had four minute shots that were pretty elaborate (doesn't sound too impressive, except that the camera setup for one of them was over 80 lbs). But really, Tilman's effort was remarkable. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com