Jeff Wexler Posted April 21, 2013 Report Share Posted April 21, 2013 Bret Haller, son of the late, great Michael Haller (Production Designer) pulled an image from the Criterion release of "Harold and Maude." This was my first job working on a movie, the job that made me abandon my plans to teach sociology and pursue a career in movies. I was hired as a P.A. in the Art Department but after the movie and after the decision that it would be my life's work, I wanted to do something more technical than the Art Department --- so, it would be Camera or Sound (and it wasn't going to be Camera!). In the picture you can see Hal Ashby, Colin Higgins (standing), Bud Cort and the two stand-ins (though I don't remember their names). I'm working on getting the casket positioned properly for the shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toddsound Posted April 21, 2013 Report Share Posted April 21, 2013 One of my all time favorite movies. Ruth Gordon rules! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPSharman Posted April 21, 2013 Report Share Posted April 21, 2013 Love that movie too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Perkins Posted April 21, 2013 Report Share Posted April 21, 2013 That was certainly a great place to start a career. I think you were lucky to have your first job show you how much fun and how satisfying being on a great crew making a great movie could be--it helps you through all the crap that happens with lesser people and productions..... philp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Spaeth Posted April 21, 2013 Report Share Posted April 21, 2013 What a great movie to be involved in. Unforgettable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Norflus Posted April 21, 2013 Report Share Posted April 21, 2013 I was hired as a P.A. in the Art Department but after the movie and after the decision that it would be my life's work, I wanted to do something more technical than the Art Department Well thank god for that - if you stayed in the art department this forum would be about set painting techniques and props. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Wielage Posted April 25, 2013 Report Share Posted April 25, 2013 Harold & Maude is a very strange, very funny film. That was one of the first films on which I did the home video transfer, right around late 1979, at the dawn of VHS movie business. I think I did that one week and Brewster McCloud a week later, and felt like I was zonked out of my mind for several months. Very, very strange, quirky films. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audiofishwork Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 one of the all time great movies..thx Jeff for sharing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackHenry Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 Sociology? This site must be full of good thesis potential for a sociology student. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taylormadeaudio Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 Wow, such a great movie... hearing about it here makes me want to watch it again. Thanks Jeff : ) ~tt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audio Broad Posted April 28, 2014 Report Share Posted April 28, 2014 Delightfully, one of my favorite movies and a generation later, one of my daughter's favorites! I can understand the effect it had on you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Wielage Posted April 28, 2014 Report Share Posted April 28, 2014 This is what I think of when I remember the film: I love that Cat Stevens song. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robdisner Posted June 16, 2014 Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 Did a little pilgrimage when I was out in SF last year. Stopped by Sutro Baths and Mori Point. Great locations to visit if you are a fan of the film. Not a bad way to get into the industry, JW! Beats the the hell out of my first film-- Ghoulies IV! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Graff Posted June 16, 2014 Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 I loved that film so much. Very influential in my youth, as was Cat Stevens' music. I think it's long overdue for a revisit. A cult favorite when I showed films in college on 16mm back in the eighties. It's impressive that you started out on such a high... and then kept it up! Thanks for the share. (months ago, I know, but I missed the post then). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old school Posted June 17, 2014 Report Share Posted June 17, 2014 Having had the great fortune to work with Jeff I can say for sure that he is into the process and craft 100% if not more. It is not an accident he is where he is today, it was hard work and commitment that got him here. BTW, also a H&M fan, but more so a Hal Ashby fan. Great director. CrewC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisyking Posted December 7, 2014 Report Share Posted December 7, 2014 Blo@#y love that movie. Hope they never remake it. A masterpiece..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Cameron Posted April 17, 2015 Report Share Posted April 17, 2015 Well thank god for that - if you stayed in the art department this forum would be about set painting techniques and props. Jack always cracks me up with his clever insight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisboom Posted February 26, 2016 Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 Jeff , did you remember the sound crew on "Harold & Maude"? Or you still weren't gravitated to sound yet, and didn't hang around the sound Dept? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Wexler Posted February 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 I did hang around with the sound department even though I was working in the art department. The mixer was Bill Randall and the Boom Operator was his brother, Chuck Randall. I have been a gadget freak all my life and into sound (music mostly) from a very early age, so it was natural for me to hang around the sound crew. I actually did music playback for one scene --- first time I ever operated a Nagra III. The other thing I did in sound on the movie was to work on the dailies projection room --- we had Billy Brasier as the location projectoionist (I hope I'm not having to explain to people what dailies are) and the sound system with his projector was really bad. Hal Ashby asked me if I thought I could do anything with it. I brought in some of my Hi-Fi gear, a Dynaco preamp and a really nice Tannoy speaker, hooked it all into the projector and the dailies sound was vastly improved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Perkins Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 Dynaco! I feel young again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Wielage Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 Wow, Dynaco. That was a great brand in the 1970s. Those Dynaco amp & preamp kits were really cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisboom Posted February 28, 2016 Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 Bill Randall..WoW..haven't heard that name in a while ..I believe there was a Bill Randall,Jr. working with that crowd too. Bill,Sr. I think passed away a while ago. No idea about Chuck ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Wielage Posted September 15, 2018 Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 Thought @Jeff Wexler would appreciate this: They've having screenings of HAROLD & MAUDE at the Nuart Theater in Santa Monica all weekend, including the Jaguar hearse parked in front of the theater: This is a nutty, weird, wild, wacky film. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Wexler Posted September 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 Actually, it was a screening of the new documentary "Hal" ---- I was there Friday night and it was wonderful! The E-type hearse was parked outside just as an attention getter ---- there's a guy who had this built to be as close to the original as possible and he takes it all around the country on tour. More on the documentary later (I'm in it as well as my father, very emotional for me). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Feeley Posted September 15, 2018 Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 TAKE: ONE! Ha! The mansion in the film was a mile or so from my now-wife's childhood home (she did not grow up in such opulence, btw). When we were dating, we worked as wait staff for a fundraiser held there. We were both cracking up: "This is the seppuku room! And the harps are still there!" And then "the pool!" I must say, it brought us a step closer to saying, "yep, this is the person for me." So thanks Jeff, in your small way, for helping to bring Madeline and me together. 😉 Also, I'm looking forward to seeing the Hal doc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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