The Experiment phone dump - film of the English Apple Box!

I was lucky to be employed as key grip to the small feature film ‘The Experiment’ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21610644/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_cl_sm. Filmed around and industrial site in Didcot. There were explosions, blood and suprises.

My phone dump has just a few of the technical details that me, and those around me, delivered to make the film happen.

Most suprising was the delivery of ‘english appleboxes’ unusually large boxes that seemed cumbersome and foriegn to all those used to Matthews american style boxes. After a month thes boxes were very popular!

Apperently simple. Shooting off the edge of a step. Not so simple if you dont have the toys. Here the apple boxes are used to extend the ledge.

The clapper

Here the Mathews doorway dolly is rigged in a classic (I guess) manner with the Ronford shorts legs, Ocon head and Red camera. The soft tyres and industrial floor meant that no track was needed.

Another ‘classic’ build is the Ronford Legs (tripod) with a slider and two monopods. This slider did not quite fit the Moy head on the the Ronford legs.. I had to make a special little plate to keep it all snug.

Captured and interogated. Tim the actor neede a solid platform to deliver a strong performance while ‘strapped’ to the chair. The english apples, some ratchet straps and these heavy blocks ‘found’ at the location delivered him the support he needed.

Personal kit. Without some cheap and simple things one can become lost. My kneepad allows one to build at floor level and also kneel for extended times to keep shadows out of shot. The basic level ends all discussion about if something (like a moy head) is flat. A small torch is essential in a blacked out studio. And the loop we will come to..

As the production progressed actors are injuried and die (or rather thier characters do!).. Roger the DOP wanted many handheld topdown shots as they were on the ground. To deliver safety for the actors I quickly ordered this loop so I could hang the camera reducing the risk of drops. Close in giving ‘leash’ to the operator was an intimate gripping task, too tight and the the shot could not be found - too loose and the actor is in peril - only a grip who is a good camera operator could get this right.

A night in a helicopter shell. Here just the apple boxes were not enough. I aquired this small stage and used the boxes to the operators to sit on and also build steps which delivered an easy route in for the a many journeys made into the helicopter.. actors, director, soundies, makes up.. those steps were used hundreds of times in the the single night shoot. Everyone safely moving through the helicopter made me quietly happy.

Here we see kind of the whole camera department. One magliner per camera and more for lenses, also the large monitors for crew and personal monitors for focus pulling and directors vision, Grip minimal kit (single person move) to the right.

Just a lovely frame of boom operator vs special forces.. im more impressed by the boom op :)