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Sweet sixteen 3: Hollywood calling!
End of September I was asked by a friend who cares for the vehicles at Austrian film and TV productions if I wpuld like to make my two babies, the R4 and the R16, available for an TV shot. Who wouldn´t like to see his oldie on TV, as long as it isn´t for a "Action-and-rump-all-cars" - production like "Blues Brothers"? Certainly I agreed.
In the beginning of October Ernst gave me the details: a TV production, focus on "50 years of TV in Austria", with scenes playing in various decades. For the shots of the years 1968 and 1978 my R16 and my R4 was wished.
October 25th was the day, the place of the shots was in Vienna, 2nd disctrict, near an old house. When we arrived with the R4, some thing were already prpepared, like cameras and tripods. But it wasn´t regular tripods, more like a crane on rails, equipped with a seat for the cameraman. About 50 people hurried for here to there - and no sight of actors, sofar.
Ta this day the outside shots for the years 1978, 1988, 1998 and 1968 were planned - in this order. Palnned strat of shot was at 3 p.m., we arrived at 1 in the R4. The other cars for this take, a 68 beetle (which was again used for the year 1968), a 76 passat and a Ford Escort estate as well as my R4 were prepared for the take: white number plates off, black ones attached, green MOT signs overtaped with red ones. Inscriptions that wouldn´t fit to this year were also overtaped. All fake! Ferdinand, as my R4 is called, looked cool with the old black number plates. But a real connoisseur would see that it doesn´t fit exactly into 1978: grey bumpers and grille was introduced 1978, but only at the GTL which has also grey side bumpers. Without these as a TL, there should be chrome bumpers and a black grille. Mirrors were made from metal only, chrome at the TL, grey at the GTL - but never black plastic mirrors like on Ferdinand. Also, 1978 it would be practically a new car - surely without traces of rust on the bumper edges. But never mind, R4 in all states of use were quite common at this time, and by the way, it was placed at the end of the car line, therefore you won´t see much of it.
The take was done after one and a half hour - the scene itself lasted about a minute and shows two women in seventies outfit going along the house and the cars. Then, Ferdl was free to go, and we went home - it isn´t that easy with one number plate for two cars, which is possible in Austria. THerefore I missed the take for 1988 and the first for 1998, but they were less interesting. The interesting thing were several modifications at the set to adapt it to the corresponding decade: contemporary ads were placed, a free business space was changed from a hairdresser´s into an internet café with relatively simple means.
I made some photos, because you don´t see such an arrangement every day. Then I was adressed by one of the fiml guys that I am not allowed to publish this photos, due to all right are reserved by the broadcasting company, and I could get some troubles with their legal department if they are published in a magazine or in the internet. Well, therefore I won´t show photos untill the show is broadcasted. Later I can ask again for permission...
When I returned to the set, the second shot for 1998 was just taken. The planned start of the ´68 scene was at 6 p.m., but this time wasn´t to be kept. We had a snack then - some somed meet and mashed potatoes that looked like yellow rubber. I stayed with Mozzarella and tomatoes, where not much can go wrong. We made the cars ready at 7, black number plates and red MOT signs again. There was a moment of confusion, when one of the guys told his opinion, that these MOT signs came up by 1970. A short thinkover, then the decision: "Doesn´t matter, nobody will know that exatly!"
At the arrangement the director had the idea to let pass one of the four cars. There was the above mentioned beetle, a VW Type 3 sedan, a 911 Targa and Viktor, the R16. Ernst said the R16 should pass, because it´s the most silent one. One meant, if only VAG-Products are parked it would look like a hidden VW-ad. The decision was then: "The R16 is parked near the door where it is placed well. The beetle doesn´t sound like a beetle, and it had been in the picture 1978. The Porsche is too noticeable, so the sedan will pass." While the cars were parked, the starring actor came out of the make-up room. I didn´t know hin, but no wonder, I´m watching TV not more then 10 hours a month. The actor had a horrble orange-coloured sixties jacket and sould play a drunken guy - which he did very well. He tottered over the road, a cigarett in his hand, tumbeled against the R16, shouted "What´s up here?", went back to the entrance and entered the house. Don´t panic - nothing happened to Viktor, he could stand it. For this scene, not more than one minute in the movie, the team took approximately two hours.
All in all it was an interesting experience - and the conclusion that I´m glad not to work at the movies. Most of the time is spent with waiting, it´s cold (I´m glad they didn´t take in winter!) and boring. But also it was nice and profitably - and who knows, maybe my babies will be set into picture once again?