Steadicam on "Bound For Glory"

[Jeff Wexler]

I finally found the picture I had been looking for, Garrett Brown and my father setting up for the historical first use of the Steadicam with the shot through the migrant camp on "Bound For Glory."

I wish it were a larger photo with better resolution but this is all I could find.

[Rasmus Wedin]

Very cool!

[old school]

Wow! Look how young Garret n Haskel are in the picture. Love it. Look at the massive track/planks for the Chapman crane.

CrewC

[old school]

Here is the shot in question.

CrewC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng1pZrWMGu4

[old school]

Hit the watch on youtube link.

CrewC

[Jeff Wexler]

Wow! I had no idea the clip was available on YouTube. I have been meaning to go back into the movie (on DVD) and pull that clip.

Thanks Crew for posting that link.

Ancient history at this point, but still an amazing memory for me.

[old school]

I love history. It is a great shot and scene in the camp. One of the better period pieces from the era IMO.

CrewC

[TheBlimp]

wow.

[atheisticmystic]

Jeff,

If you don't mind me asking, what was your participation on BFG? IMDB has you listed as "Sound Consultant".

I imagine at the time, these projects are just fun, hard, interesting, challenging, and so forth, and hold no hint of the historicity, or pre-iconic aura they eventually pick-up.

Best,

Steven

[Jeff Wexler]

Jeff,

If you don't mind me asking, what was your participation on BFG? IMDB has you listed as "Sound Consultant".

Steven

I was the Production Sound Mixer on "Bound For Glory" for the entire 6 months of shooting, my first big union movie after joining the I.A., and the Union would not allow the movie to give me credit as the sound mixer (the production had to hire a stand-by mixer named Don Parker who mixed nothing but got the screen credit). Some irony considering that "Bound For Glory" was the Woody Guthrie story, celebrated folk singer, union organizer and activist.

[atheisticmystic]

...the Union would not allow the movie to give me credit as the sound mixer....

For what reason?

[Jeff Wexler]

For what reason?

Although I had joined the I.A., paid the $3500. in CASH (and this is 1974), I was in Seniority Group 3 as a new member. I was told in no uncertain terms that I was not allowed to accept employment until such time as all the Group 1 and Group 2 members were employed (and they added that this was a situation that had never occurred in the history of the Sound Local). Additionally, I was told that I could no longer do non-union work, that they would "find me and fine me). When I was hired to mix "Bound For Glory" the I.A. refused to even acknowledge that I was mixing the movie --- the production sound mixer of record was Don Parker who ultimately was also the one who was credited as such.

[Eric Toline]

A bit confusing in that you couldn't do a union movie until the G1 & G2 mixers were employed and that had never happened. So how did you get to mix BFG, through your dad who requested you?

Eric

[atheisticmystic]

Although I had joined the I.A., paid the $3500. in CASH (and this is 1974), I was in Seniority Group 3 as a new member. I was told in no uncertain terms that I was not allowed to accept employment until such time as all the Group 1 and Group 2 members were employed (and they added that this was a situation that had never occurred in the history of the Sound Local). Additionally, I was told that I could no longer do non-union work, that they would "find me and fine me). When I was hired to mix "Bound For Glory" the I.A. refused to even acknowledge that I was mixing the movie --- the production sound mixer of record was Don Parker who ultimately was also the one who was credited as such.

Thanks for sharing the awesome story of your auspicious beginnings Col. Wexler!

Best,

Steven

[Jeff Wexler]

A bit confusing in that you couldn't do a union movie until the G1 & G2 mixers were employed and that had never happened. So how did you get to mix BFG, through your dad who requested you?

Eric

I thought you knew the whole story, Eric. Joining the I.A. in the first place took a class action lawsuit that gave a group of us (about 30 people if I remember) the right to join. There was a seniority system in place, administered by Contract Services roster, that put new members in Group 3. Group 3 members were not allowed to accept employment (no matter how much any producer, director or whoever wanted to hire you) until all the Group 1s and 2s were working. So, when Hal Ashby hired me to do the production sound on the movie, contractually he really was not allowed to hire me, and as a union member in Group 3 I really was not allowed to accept employment. The weekend before we were to start shooting in Stockton, California, I was called in my hotel room by the producer who told me that I would not be able to do the movie. They also told Hal Ashby that I would not be mixing his movie, union problems, and they would be hiring someone else. Hal's response to this news was to lock himself in his hotel room, stating that he wasn't coming out until Jeff was on the movie. Two hours later, they hired a Stand-By mixer in the same Local (but in Group 1), paid him full scale salary and that "allowed" me to mix the movie. Basically a payoff to the I.A. to turn their back on the fact that I was doing the movie.

[Philip Perkins]

That's a great scene and it sounds fabulous.

And blessings on Hal Ashby for standing up.

phil p

[Eric Toline]

I thought you knew the whole story, Eric. Joining the I.A. in the first place took a class action lawsuit that gave a group of us (about 30 people if I remember) the right to join. There was a seniority system in place, administered by Contract Services roster, that put new members in Group 3. Group 3 members were not allowed to accept employment (no matter how much any producer, director or whoever wanted to hire you) until all the Group 1s and 2s were working. So, when Hal Ashby hired me to do the production sound on the movie, contractually he really was not allowed to hire me, and as a union member in Group 3 I really was not allowed to accept employment. The weekend before we were to start shooting in Stockton, California, I was called in my hotel room by the producer who told me that I would not be able to do the movie. They also told Hal Ashby that I would not be mixing his movie, union problems, and they would be hiring someone else. Hal's response to this news was to lock himself in his hotel room, stating that he wasn't coming out until Jeff was on the movie. Two hours later, they hired a Stand-By mixer in the same Local (but in Group 1), paid him full scale salary and that "allowed" me to mix the movie. Basically a payoff to the I.A. to turn their back on the fact that I was doing the movie.

Reading what happened to you on BFG made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. One can only hope that those IA rules have changed for the better today.

Eric

[Jeff Wexler]

Things have loosened up quite a bit these days, and of course I have been on the Executive Board at Local 695 for the last 6 years (not that it has made any difference).

[old school]

Who was your boom op Jeff? What mic? You have told me but I forget.;~) Sounds great. Just so everyone knows, that was not a sound camera on this 1st steady cam shot. More like a meat grinder. It would make a Red fan sound tame in comparison. Fun history in this topic. Thanks JW.

CrewC

[Eric Toline]

Things have loosened up quite a bit these days, and of course I have been on the Executive Board at Local 695 for the last 6 years (not that it has made any difference).

It was that whole catch 22 setup that angered me. You pay them a lot of money, you can't work through them and you can't work on your own. How were you supposed to support yourself & family?

Eric

[Jeff Wexler]

Jack Coffey said to me right after shaking my hand and welcoming me to the union: "I hope you've got a lot of money in the bank because I am personally going to make sure you don't work for another 7 years" (referring to the fact that it took me 7 years to join the union).

[Olle Sjostrom]

...what!

[Vincent R.]

Tell me, what was the purpose of joining an union again...?

[Laurence]

Tell me, what was the purpose of joining an union again...?

Daring to say the obvious, it's easy to get an appreciation for what joining Local 695 has meant for Jeff's career by taking a quick look at his IMDB page and then reviewing the wages, retirement contributions and healthcare he and his family have enjoyed during all that time.

[Vincent R.]

I bet it's different here in holland then; retirement plans and healthcare has nothing to do with unions. And Jeff worked already a whole career before joining the union, somewhat I read you "have" to join the union to get a career. Correct me if I'm wrong but that sounds strange, to be on a union to get a certain job.

I'm curious to all this since we don't have an union here as stated before, but there are people trying to set on up.