If you haven't noticed, a Hammond B3 organist has a lot going on when he plays. One foot works the volume pedal, the other works the 25 foot pedals. Up top, both hands go back and forth between the two keyboards, and they toggle between a row of 36 sliding drawbars as they flip the Leslie Speaker into action. If he's singing, the B3 player is running his mouth too.
Murv Seymour's fingers: Captured this shot by sitting a digital camera on the keys of the organ and turning on the camera's timer.
How and the hell do you capture all the action going on when a B3 player is going full throttle? We knew we would need more than one or two cameras, and we knew it would take some creativity.
Joe ended up creating some real cool systems to capture the B3 being worked.
Shawn Brown: Shawn doodles around during shoot at WEDU-TV, Tampa FL. You may notice, Shawn's wearing sweatpants. He wasn't supposed to be on camera during this shoot. The music was so tasty, we ended up using some of it as a sound bed in the film.
In our shoot with Shawn Brown, Joe actually mounted a camera at the bottom of the organ to capture Shawn working the foot pedals. Because it was kind of shady down there, Joe also mounted a florescent light beneath the organ. When Shawn plays bass pedals, he likes to do it shoeless.
Pedal Cam: Joe mounted a florescent light beneath the organ, and another camera outside the organ to catch Shawn Brown working the foot pedals on the B3.
He actually complained, the florescent light was making his foot hot. Lol! Sorry, I just wish you could hear him complaining about it. There is no crying in playing the B3! Honestly, we appreciate "Ole Hot Foot" weathering the heat for us.
Pedal Cam: A shoeless Shawn "Hot Foot" Brown working the foot pedals during shoot at Riverbank Studio's (WFLA-TV) Tampa, FL
Joe also created a really cool mounting system to show an overhead view of the B3 being brought to life. The system allowed us to hang a camera above the organists head. It turned out to look really nice.
Joe sets up mounting system: Joe preparing the mics after setting up an overhead camera, and another camera to catch the foot pedals during Shawn Brown Shoot on Easter Sunday in St. Petersburg, FL in 2006.
Joe Mounts up system: Joe mounted a camera on wheels to capture the upper register of the Hammond B3 during shoot at WEDU-TV (PBS) in Tamp, FL
In some scenes, we actually had six cameras pointed at the action on the B3. We really wanted to give viewers a better sense of what it takes to play a B3.
Shawn Brown: This is an actual image from the camera Joe mounted above Shawn's head as he played during Easter Service in St. Peterburg, FL in 2006
We didn't just have the challenge of capturing shots of the organ, we had to get the other musicians in the band in action too.
Tom Leobold mounted a small camera above drummer Walfredo Reyes, Jr. Walfredo plays with Steve Winwood, Carlos Santana and too many others to name. The day of our shoot, he was playing with Shawn Brown and Guitarist, Wille Lomax in Tampa, FL.
Tom Leobold mounts camera: Tom Leobold mounts camera above drummer Walfredo Reyes, Jr. @ Riverbank Studio's (WFLA-TV) shoot with Shawn Brown.
Oddly enough, we ended up not even using the overhead shot of Walfredo in the body of Killer B3. We are thinking about putting together a DVD of all the music from the film. Perhaps we will use the shots then.
Walfredo Reyes, Jr. plays: Angle from up above as Walfreydo Reyes, Jr. plays with Shawn Brown.
One tool that really came in handy for us, the Glide Cam. A Glide Cam is like a floating tripod for your camera. After balancing a few weights around, It allows you to be on the move, while keeping your camera angle smooth.
Joe works Glide Cam: Joe works Glide Cam on Robert Kraut during Tony Monaco concert at Park Street Tavern in Columbus, OH (photo by Michael Ivey)
In motion pictures, you usually see a Glide Cam used in foot chase scenes. Sometimes you will see them used to simulate an actors point of view. How can you tell? All you have to do is look at the horizon or top of your screen. A Glide Cam provides a smooth look at action while on the move. Is the camera giggling up and down? Is the horizon of the shot smooth and steady? A smooth shot usually means a Glide Cam or some other stabilization system was used.
Joe works Glide Cam: Joe works Glide Cam on Robert Kraut and Tony Monaco during Tony Monaco concert at Park Street Tavern in Columbus, OH (photo by Michael Ivey)
Joe used a Glide Cam to shoot the Tony Monaco concert at Park Street Tavern in Columbus, Ohio. In the film, you will notice it during some of the smooth moving shots of Tony playing the organ.
Joe works Glide Cam: Joe works Glide Cam on Robert Kraut during Tony Monaco concert at Park Street Tavern in Columbus, OH. Oh yea, Robert Kraut makes a Stanky Face! (photo by Michael Ivey)
It was used even more to capture Guitarist Robert Kraut. Unfortunately, none of those shots made the cut in the film. I guess look for them on the DVD when Killer B3 the Music gets released.
That's all we got this go round. Check out our Youtube channel too, we have added some new clips this week. In fact, one of them is down below. Don't forget to like Killer B3 on facebook. You can also visit our website @ killerb3.com for the latest on KB3. Happy New Years everybody!
No comments:
Post a Comment