tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7673673365899074717.post9089508262679938151..comments2021-08-28T10:40:04.092-07:00Comments on Stardance : : The Official Movie Blog: No Fear (but hand me that lorazepam)James Spostohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14904835659282004195noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7673673365899074717.post-90968398800401147832007-12-28T18:19:00.000-08:002007-12-28T18:19:00.000-08:00Thanks Floaty,That was all really good advice, and...Thanks Floaty,<BR/><BR/>That was all really good advice, and I intend to take it. Anything for an edge.James Spostohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14904835659282004195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7673673365899074717.post-79819663788054127172007-12-28T18:04:00.000-08:002007-12-28T18:04:00.000-08:00I recently did a microgravity flight for televisio...I recently did a microgravity flight for television purposes and here's my collected wisdom:<BR/><BR/>1. You will not believe how fast you will be propelled across the cabin at the slightest touch. Your "earth-perception" of how much force is needed to send you gently floating across the cabin is a gross overestimation. We only had three free-floating takes to get what we needed, and my attempt at softly pushing myself out of my seat to drift gently out of frame caused me to go hurtling uncontrollably into our soundman's crotch. <BR/><BR/>2. The first few parabolas will be useless - you probably won't get any good footage out of them, as everyone will still be getting the hang of moving in the environment. From the director's perspective, devote the first 3-4 parabolas to repeating the same set of actions. By 3 or 4 parabolas in, things shoudl be going much smoother and you'll have usable takes from thereon in.<BR/><BR/>3. The sickness isn't that bad, and it's mostly due to the high Gs as you enter the parabola (having been put in a human centrifuge too, I can speak from experience). If, during the 10-20 seconds of 1+ Gs, you move your head even the slightest bit to the side, you'll throw your inner ear out of whack and feel nauseous. Just look straight ahead and lie flat on your back or sit very, very still during the high G periods, and you should be alright.<BR/><BR/>I also found sleeping that night to be very odd - my body felt as if it were still experiencing odd shifts in gravity. It was not unlike the feeling you get after a good drunk, almost as if you're a swinging pendulum.<BR/><BR/>Also, mind you don't light the plane on fire. Our lights almost did. <BR/><BR/>Have a blast!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7673673365899074717.post-40048766802968186452007-12-27T22:41:00.000-08:002007-12-27T22:41:00.000-08:00Amen Spider.Godspeed the Film Crew upon ye vomit c...Amen Spider.<BR/><BR/>Godspeed the Film Crew upon ye vomit comet.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7673673365899074717.post-28668172418743577522007-12-27T20:28:00.000-08:002007-12-27T20:28:00.000-08:00high praise indeed, considering the source: Allen ...high praise indeed, considering the source: Allen M. Steele is one of the best hard science fiction writers alive!<BR/><BR/>--SpiderSpiderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15401386945465323193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7673673365899074717.post-19588860071951864972007-12-27T14:57:00.000-08:002007-12-27T14:57:00.000-08:00No kidding about life imitating art. Upon my own ...No kidding about life imitating art. Upon my own rereading there are so many coincidences it's almost spooky.James Spostohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14904835659282004195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7673673365899074717.post-25993944796584484642007-12-27T11:34:00.000-08:002007-12-27T11:34:00.000-08:00Brave indeed...remember, fortune favors the foolis...Brave indeed...remember, fortune favors the foolish ;) No matter what the initial outcome, you're on your way! Congratulations!<BR/><BR/>- ElliotAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17110198418791666606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7673673365899074717.post-24683283293049064742007-12-27T06:55:00.000-08:002007-12-27T06:55:00.000-08:00When I learned a few days ago that this flight was...When I learned a few days ago that this flight was imminent, I decided to re-read STARDANCE, Spider and Jeanne's novel which was the inspiration for this whole thing. Yesterday, I read the scene where cameraman Charlie Armstead expresses reservations about the difficulties of filming Shara Drummond's first dance in zero-g ... and now, this morning, I read James' dispatch about much the same thing.<BR/><BR/>Life imitates art, doesn't it?<BR/><BR/>I have no doubt that this will hard to do. I also have no doubt that the team will pull this off. As Charlie says in the novel about Shara's performance of the "Stardance" itself: "This is what it is to be human: to strive in the face of the certainty of failure ... This is what it is to be human: to persist."<BR/><BR/>Break a leg, people.<BR/><BR/>-- Allen SteeleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com