Geeking Out: Jared Turns Cameraman!
Geeking Out: Jared Turns Cameraman!
I wasn’t at the Supernatural convention in Nashville, but I had a great time there anyway, because I got a question of mine answered! I thought those of you who enjoy reading the production notes part of my episode commentaries would also enjoy knowing this little tidbit, because it will make you watch the opening scene of the season six finale a bit differently (and we all know how happily we make excuses to watch episodes again!).
Here’s how it happened. Another fan and online friend, @girlodiamonds on Twitter, was lucky enough to land a place in the private Q&A with Jared Padalecki in Nashville. Looking for something different and interesting to ask him, she asked me if I had any questions, and I threw her a few, but the first one was the best. You see, when I was watching The Man Who Knew Too Much, something struck me about the very first scene, the one where we first see Sam running, and then discover he’s running from the cops. I recognized the place he was running as the Supernatural backlot – the former Watchmen set, now very often redressed – but realized from the angle and motion of the shot that Jared had to be carrying the camera and filming himself, and I wanted to ask about his experience doing that. To my delight, @girlodiamonds got to ask that question, and … well, here’s her account of his answer!
“I asked him the question about was he holding the camera during the running scene in the finale. He looked impressed and said yes, actually, he was. They built him a kind of rig that supported the camera on two poles in front of him, circled his waist, and had a counterweight behind his back. (He started talking about kinds of cameras and lost me.) He was trying to demonstrate how he had to run while trying to hold on to the poles and keep the camera from bouncing too much. It was hilarious! He said that was one of the last nights of filming and he was exhausted after every take because he was running around that Watchmen lot with the rig attached to him. Between takes, they wouldn’t let him take it off; some of the grips would just come stand around him and hold the rig up to take the weight off him.”
So there you have it: in addition to playing four versions of Sam in the finale, Jared even became his own camera operator for one scene. I’d love to see behind-the-scenes photos of Jared wearing that camera rig and running madly down the street hanging onto the poles! And everything I learn about how the show is made just makes me appreciate it more.
Thank you, @girlodiamonds!
That is so cool and totally makes sense! I was wondering how they got that shot and if he was running with the camera. Now we know the truth. I, too, would love to see the outtakes of him running around with that gear on. I bet it was really funny! What a trooper! I guess that’s why we love him so much!
That is really awesome! It was something running in the back of my mind, glad somebody thought to ask the question and got an answer to it. 🙂 I’ll have to watch it again… 😀
So cool! I would never have thought to ask about that! There really is so much ingenuity & work that goes into making this show, but it looks so effortless & wonderful when we see the finished product. Kudos to Jared for a job very well done!
This is so interesting! I love the BTS things like this. It gives us great insight into what filming the show must be like.
I noticed you said you got the question asked by someone who had a private Q&A ticket. Well I am going to NJcon and I just got a ticket to the private Q&A with Jared. I’ve been trying to think of good questions to ask him. So if you have any requests please feel free to let me know! 😀
Thanks for the invitation; I’ll put on my thinking cap! *grin*
I noticed the watchmen set but I was so taken with the story that I never noticed the angle that scene was shot at. Thanks for pointing that out. But your are right. What a good excuse to watch it again – not that I needed any.
Jensen wore the same rig in a shot from “Clap Your Hands If You Believe”. 😉
He certainly did! Unfortunately, I didn’t have a chance to ask him about it … *grin* I’d love to hear him talk too, especially since he’s such a delightful geek about filming technology and the whole filming process. Remember him talking about doing My Bloody Valentine in part because he was fascinated to learn about the cameras and filming techniques to produce 3D?
That is really cool, I kind of figured he had to be the one holding the camera in that shot, cause it moved with him way too well! It must be great fun to go the these cons. I live in Montreal, I don’t think their will ever be one here. Although Jensen & Jared would be able to walk around town without being recognized too much…something to think about. Anyway, thanks for the update.
I wondered how they got that shot!!! That’s pretty impressive. I never would have thought of that. WOW he really worked his butt off in that episode. I mean he was 3 different Sams and he had to play off himself with completely different charcaters not to mention he had to run all over the place and now you find out he had to film himself. SHEESE Just when you think you can’t love our boys anymore they do something like that!!! LOL!!!
That’s amazing and now that I have my own ticket for the NJ Q&A, anyone can pass a few questions my way, too.
I have a question in mind I want to ask. It’s very meta, but hey, that’s my thing. Anything you want to ask about camera work, which is so not my thing, Bardic, feel free!
Hi Bardicvoice
I also had wondered how that scene was filmed.
It’s funny but I had envisioned an actual cameraman having to run along side Jared to get this shot, seeing how shaky the filming was. I’m always amazed at the ideas and contraptions they come up with to film those tricky scenes.
Thank you for sharing this with us.