Re: [Leica] David Suchet, Leica user

["Dan Post" <dpost@triad.rr.com>]

Malcolm-
Wonderful story! Indeed Suchet is a very good actor, and totally
unrecognized in many roles! (Do you remember his role in the strange film,
"Harry and the Hendersons"??) A chameleon who can disappear into the story
seamlessly- a mark of a good actor- someone who appears so natural that they
seem to be part of the scenery!
You are right about Panaflex cameras- I was told by someone else in the
industry (Grady Allred, a member of our informal camera group was a
photographer for Disney for many years!) that they are leased, and that the
Panaflex people have a lot of proprietary stuff in there cameras and lenses,
so you can't just buy one and take it apart to see what makes it work!!!
I have always been interested about what goes on behind the camera- having
had the opportunity to see some filming of some Hollywood blockbusters, like
"Hellraiser III" :o) and your story was a treat!
Dan
- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Malcolm McCullough" <MM4@mm-croy.mottmac.com>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Saturday, July 21, 2001 11:03 AM
Subject: [Leica] David Suchet, Leica user


> Dan Post wrote:
>
> >Alas, a surfeit of Leicas on the screen last night.
> >The first was the "Wasp's Nest" episode of the Hercule Poirot mystery
series
> >with David Suchet's marvelous portrayal of the fussy Belgian detective.
His
> >sidekick, Captain Hasting had taken up photography, and was carrying what
I
> >now recognize as a IIIa, with what appeared to be an Elmar 50.
>
> A while back I had the pleasure of working on part of an episode of
Poirot.
> As ever, I had an M slung over my left shoulder. During the first break in
> filming (it was filmed, not taped) Poirot came over, said that he also
used
> a Leica and started to talk photography. It turned out that David Suchet
was
> a Leica user and fan. During the day Poirot and I talked, after wrapping
for
> the day David Suchet and I talked - he is one of those actors who stay in
> character between shots. It was a real pleasure to chat with him in both
> guises - all the more pleasant because many actors give you the feeling
that
> it is beneath them to mix with the uncouth peasants that constitute the
> crew.
>
> We didn't discuss equipment details. Maybe the Captain's Leica was his?
>
> Most of the time nowadays an actor is more likely to say 'Hey, you're
using
> a Sony DV camera, I've got one too but mine's the next model up'. At least
> if they come up and say 'Hey, you're using a Panaflex, I've got a Platinum
> actually' you know they are telling porkies*. For the other NPR** users in
> the LUG (I know you are out there) how many times do you hear 'Does that
> thing still work?'
>
> Regards,
> Malcolm
> *porkies = pork pies = lies; Cockney rhyming slang, widely used by
> non-Cockneys. Panaflex cameras are only, to the best of my knowledge,
> available for hire. On topic - Leica make some of the lenses.
> ** NPR = Eclair Noiseless Portable Reflex 16 mm camera introduced in 1960.
> Many are still going strong.
>
>
>
>