|
 |
Nationwide Access, the UK's largest supplier of powered access equipment, had a little taste of Hollywood when its machines were supplied as technical support to the making of last year's Feature Film 'Wimbledon'. The machines were used by construction, design, camera, special effects and the lighting department which alone had up to 25 machines on hire on many occasions.
The film, starring Kirsten Dunst and Paul Bettany, was shot in various locations in the UK including London, Norfolk, Brighton, Shepperton Studios and Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Club.
Along with the film's stars, Nationwide Access' equipment was on location throughout the shooting process. Smaller electric scissor lifts were used inside the film stages at Shepperton Studios, while the Heavier 9250 heavy duty diesel scissor lifts and genie-booms were used at Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Club. Similar machines were used for lighting on the studio's outdoor back lot, while additional scissor lifts were used to support 12ft x 12ft diffusion on frames to soften the lighting. The long reach Genie-boom was of particular importance in providing a strong backlight position in the centre of the court without having to drive on the delicate surface.
At Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Club the 72metre Bronto skylift was used to replicate the BBC's coverage of the Wimbledon Championship and a 62m Bronto skylift was used for reach to achieve camera shots over the practice courts.
On Location numerous scissor lifts and genie-booms were used as lighting platforms when shooting scenes on a Jumbo Jet in Norfolk. Similar machines were used when lighting a period house near Godalming. The Bronto 34 metre cherry-pickers provided high moonlight sources while night filming on the streets of London and Brighton.
The film's lighting gaffer, Alex Scott, explained: "In many cases scaffold towers of up to 30ft are used in the film industry, but they do not provide the same levels of flexibility that can be achieved using scissor lifts and booms." The various machines were selected as they provided safe, high, stable and adjustable working platforms for lighting rigs, cameras and effects equipment. Alex has recently been using the Nationwide 34 metre Bronto with 2 x 18kw remote control lights for night shooting on a film in Yorkshire. With this new technology the lights can now be controlled from the set, despite the fact the cherry-picker position was up in a forest.
END
Nat0.162
For further information please contact
your local Nationwide Access Depot on:
0845 745 0000
or e-mail sales@nationwideaccess.co.uk.
|
|
