Tom shot with multiple cameras (at least two) at virtually all times. It doubled the amount of exposed film, but it gave him and his editors lots of coverage for every scene. One of Tom’s favorite camera positions was on the top of a Chapman camera crane.
The Chapman is handy because it is mounted on the back of a very heavy duty all-wheel-drive truck that can go places you would never expect a heavy truck to go. You just drive it where you want it, mount the camera, and - boom - instant high shot. Tom loved high shots.
As much as Tom loved crane shots, Christina loved crane rides. Tom would always get Christina on his lap and take her up with him while he and cameraman Jack Marta planned out the shots. In these photos, Christina has brought along friend Cathy Wellman to enjoy the birds-eye view. I don’t know who the extra is in the other seat. My guess is it was someone who was close to the weight of Jack Marta. The crane has to be carefully balanced to operate and to take Christina and Cathy on a ride would have required either rebalancing the crane or getting someone of the correct weight to fill in.
These photos were taken on the site of the Renaissance Faire outside Los Angeles, California.
Tom, Christina, Cathy, and Unknown on crane on location near Los Angeles, CA
Tom, Christina, and Cathy Wellman on camera crane.
Larry Viera is in the White Baseball Cap.
Michelle
The unknown woman on the right side of the Crane is Phyllis Patterson. She and her husband Ron created the Renaissance Pleasure Faire in California where a portion of the movie was shot.
Michelle Amsbury
Marketplace Director
The Southern California Renaissance Pleasure faire
groovy pix! i was just admiring little christina’s hippy jeans shes wearing-very cool!!
Well, I guess you don’t have an answer for me. That’s OK,I wasn’t trying to start an argument,I just couldn’t understand why I could not find out anything about “Billy Jack goes to Washington”. And I DID so want to see it for 22 years! From the time it was made in 1977 to when it was finally released on video in 1999! I guess if you wait long enough and want something bad enough, you finally get it. Maybe some one in your parent’s office thought I was a bill collector or something. But I just wanted to see the movie that bad!
I loved the movie, I thought though that I was never going to see it. For years I even deamed of getting to see it. I remember how thrilled I was when it was finally released on video. It was just so unfair that the rotten system blocked it. One thing I don’t understand, I got the number of your dad’s studio and would call every now and then to ask when or if “Billy Jack goes to Washington” would ever be released. Whoever would answer would never give me a clear answer, they seemed like they thought I might be some kind of threat, when all I wanted to know was if I would ever get to see it. I sure meant no harm, in fact, I was one of your biggest fans. You could have trusted me. It finally got to the point when all I got was an answering machine, I would leave a message, yet no one would call me back. I just wanted to see the movie, that’s all. Can you give me an answer on this?
Very Nice!
You are Wonderful Geo!
Best Wishes Law
So beautiful, a proud moment, a fathers smile*
And a mildly terrified daughter.