Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Qu'est-ce que c'est?


So what is this?

As we headed into Métro Bourse we found ourselves in the viewfinder of a movie crew.  We watched the action for ten minutes or so as the scene was replayed several times.  He was probably shouting, "Get those two women out of here!"  (in French bien sûr!)
 
For you movie buffs, let me know if this is anyone famous.

You never know what you will discover in the streets of Paris.



Place de la Bourse
Métro Bourse
Rue Vivienne
75002 Paris



22 comments:

Rob-bear said...

Most camera operators are unknown. Like these two, I would guess.

French Girl in Seattle said...

Funny, Rob-Bear! ;-) So, the guy was probably saying something along the lines of: "Degagez-moi les deux Americaines, nom de nom!!!" ;-) Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)

Louis la Vache said...

Oh.
«Louis» thought that thing with four wheels was what was left of an Obama Edsel, oops, Chevy Volt after the battery melted down...

Louis la Vache said...

Just so you know what an Obama Edsel looks like prior to battery meltdown...

Sylvia K said...

What a hoot!! Fun shot and we could probably all make up comments for these two!!

Hugs
Sylvia

Jenny Woolf said...

I don't think I would have guessed what this was, in a million years! :)

brattcat said...

a moment few of us have ever seen...talk about a scene behind the scene...and along the seine...imagine.

Janey and Co. said...

At first glance I thought it was someones cheap copy of a Segway....a personal transport vehicle made out of a lawnmower...Give me a break...I just got up!...Janey

M said...

Ha! The comments this morning are hilarious!, Very interesting shot, Genie. You have the best adventures!

Pat said...

Great comments. Now I know how they get those low-down shots.

Virginia said...

I need one of those for my low shots now that my knees are gone! Great moment you caught Genie.
V

Anonymous said...

I'm with Virginia on this one! My knees are headed in the same direction! I don't have a clue as to what that contraption is? LOL

This is Belgium said...

do not all Parisians think in one way or other that they are famous?? honestly, never seen, do not know..the men... nor the contraption but I love the photo !!

Alexa said...

Looks like if they were filming any part of you, it was your feet, Genie—hope you were wearing some cute Repettos! (Personally, I have no trouble getting down this low for a shot. Getting back up, however . . . )

biebkriebels said...

I thought they were two men playing with some self invented machine. Funny picture.

Jack said...

Frankly, Genie, I have absolutely no idea what is going on hee. But it looks like work. And it looks uncomfortable.

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

The comments today are hysterical! The guy riding had the easy job compared to the one who had to push it. I think that I have seen examples of this type of device, created to get action shots as a character moves (walks or runs) across a square. This was early in the morning which would seem to be a good time to work without the busy rush of pedestrians headed to work. No Parisians... just two Americans!

It does look like two grown men playing with a riding toy!

Bises,
Genie

Joe said...

Genie - are you sure the are not preparing for a lunar landing.

Cezar and Léia said...

LOL love this picture!
Léia

James said...

How cool!

Roseann said...

The one sitting is the camera operator and the one pushing it is the Dolly Grip. The 4 wheeled contraption is a Dolly, often made by a company named Chapman-although I can't tell from this photo. It doesn't really look like a Chapman to me.

The 'thing' attached to the Dolly is probably a 35 mm Panavison camera. I can tell that from the logo on the Eyepiece. The white top of the eyepiece is a ring of foam rubber so it's 'gentler on the operator's eye-which can get tired pressed against the eyepiece all day long.

The operators right mittened hand is resting on a 'top hat' which the camera can be attached to to raise it up a bit higher but in this instance they needed a low shot so it's off to the side. The square 'thing' attached to the front/lens of the camera is called a matte box and keeps out ambient side light.

There is also what's probably a 1000' film magazine to the right of his left hand-just under 'his heart'. 1000' mag can shoot about 10 mins of unedited film, then it has to be switched out for another mag of 1000' or perhaps a 400' mag if it's hand held -- so it's lighter.


They are not rolling now cuz he is not looking thru the lens nor is there a focus puller there.

I have lots more info if you are interested.

Gringo said...

After Roseann's interesting comments all I can say Genie is that it's an interesting portrait of two guys working hard at their profession. Nice shot!