Rob Legato: The art of creating awe
Introduction and Discovery
In this section, the speaker discusses how our brains are influenced by emotions and how they can alter our perception and memory.
Understanding the Influence of Emotions on Perception
- Our brains are affected by emotions such as enthusiasm, awe, or fondness.
- These emotions can change what we see and remember.
Experiment with Stock Footage
The speaker conducted an experiment using stock footage to understand what people remembered about a Saturn V launch.
Experiment with Stock Footage
- The speaker showed stock footage of a Saturn V launch to a group of people in a projection room.
- The goal was to find out what aspects of the footage were memorable and should be replicated in their film.
- People's memories of the footage were influenced by the emotion built into it and their collective memories of previous launches.
- When asked immediately after the screening, people changed their descriptions of what they saw, adding camera moves and combining shots.
Replicating Memories Instead of Actual Sight
The speaker realized that instead of replicating what people saw in the footage, they should replicate what people remembered.
Replicating Memories
- Rather than replicating exactly what people saw in the footage, the focus should be on replicating what they remembered.
- By combining different shots and elements based on people's descriptions, a collective consciousness is created.
- This approach aims to capture the essence of their memories rather than an accurate representation.
Creating Footage for "Apollo 13"
The speaker shares how they created footage for "Apollo 13" based on notes from people's memories.
Creating Footage for the Film
- The footage for "Apollo 13" was created by combining different shots and elements based on people's descriptions.
- Short lenses were used to create a sense of closeness to the action while framing it similarly to long lens shots, giving a sense of distance.
- The goal was to create something that reminded viewers of what they hadn't seen before.
Recreating Launch Scenes
The speaker explains how they recreated launch scenes using unconventional methods.
Recreating Launch Scenes
- The speaker recreates launch scenes in a parking lot using fire extinguishers, fire, and other materials.
- They acknowledge that what viewers react to and emote is based on a total falsehood since it is not an accurate representation.
- Despite the unconventional methods used, the goal is to evoke emotions and capture the essence of the moment.
NASA Consultant's Feedback
The speaker shares their interaction with a NASA consultant who provided feedback on their footage.
Feedback from NASA Consultant
- A NASA consultant, who was an astronaut involved in Apollo 15, reviewed the footage for accuracy.
- The consultant pointed out design flaws in some shots and expressed concern about potential tragedies.
- Despite being aware of the inaccuracies, the speaker did not argue with the consultant's expertise.
Conclusion
The speaker concludes by reflecting on their experience recreating launch scenes for "Apollo 13."
Reflections on Recreation Process
- Despite inaccuracies in recreating launch scenes, there is still value in evoking emotions and capturing the essence of moments.
- The speaker acknowledges their role as someone recreating historical events with limited resources compared to actual astronauts.
New Section
In this section, the speaker discusses an interesting reaction he received when showing someone a particular footage. The person remembered it differently and had a different perception of its safety.
Reaction to Footage
- The speaker showed someone a footage and received an interesting reaction.
- The person remembered the footage differently and believed it was perfectly safe.
- The person's perception was influenced by sitting in a rocket with high thrust built by the lowest bidder.
New Section
In this section, the speaker shares an encounter between Ron Howard and Buzz Aldrin regarding faked footage. Buzz Aldrin was unaware that certain footage was not real and expressed interest in using it.
Encounter with Buzz Aldrin
- Ron Howard encountered Buzz Aldrin who had seen some shots he hadn't seen before.
- Buzz Aldrin asked where they found the footage, assuming it was from a vault.
- Ron Howard revealed that all the footage was generated from scratch.
- Buzz Aldrin found it impressive and asked if they could use it.
New Section
In this section, the speaker expresses admiration for Jim Cameron's work on "Titanic" and discusses how he had to fill in gaps in the story with his own effects.
Filling Gaps in "Titanic"
- Jim Cameron photographed the real Titanic, creating haunting footage.
- However, not everything could be captured on camera, requiring additional effects.
- The speaker had to recreate what really happened and felt the pressure not to make mistakes.
New Section
In this section, the speaker describes their initial reactions while looking at Jim Cameron's footage of the real Titanic. They wanted to see both its glory and its wrecked state.
Initial Reactions to Titanic Footage
- The speaker's brain wanted to see the ship come back to life and also witness its wrecked state.
- They had a desire to create effects that would capture both aspects of the ship.
- The footage evoked strong emotions and fascination.
New Section
In this section, the speaker discusses how our brains perceive something as real even if it is artificial. They explore the concept of transferring emotions and feelings onto something that is make-believe.
Perception of Reality
- Once we believe something is real, our brains transfer all emotions and feelings onto it.
- This phenomenon occurs even when the perceived reality is entirely artificial.
- The speaker found this concept fascinating and used it in their work.
New Section
In this section, the speaker talks about creating a seamless experience for the audience by cueing effects based on what they want to see. They demonstrate an example with shots of submarines.
Creating a Seamless Experience
- The speaker wanted the audience to have a seamless experience by showing them what they wanted to see.
- Shots involving two submarines were filmed separately due to camera positioning challenges.
- By editing these shots together, it created a smooth transition for viewers.
New Section
In this section, the speaker showcases a magical transition effect used in "Titanic" where they seamlessly transform one state of the ship into another.
Magical Transition Effect
- The speaker wanted to magically transplant from one state of the Titanic to another.
- They play a shot where the ship appears to melt in front of you during the transition.
New Section
In this section, the speaker explains how they tracked viewers' attention during screenings and timed transitions accordingly. They demonstrate this technique with a shot of two people on the bow of the ship.
Tracking Viewer Attention
- The speaker tracked where viewers were looking during screenings.
- They marked the moment when viewers shifted their attention from the two people to other parts of the shot.
- Transitions were timed to occur at that specific moment, creating a seamless shift in focus.
New Section
In this section, the speaker discusses how our brains naturally respond to shifts in attention and how they utilized this phenomenon in their work.
Utilizing Shifts in Attention
- As soon as viewers shift their attention, something changes in response.
- The speaker left a small detail (a scarf) unchanged during transitions to maintain continuity.
- This technique leverages our brain's natural response to shifts in attention.
The Illusion of Film and Tricking the Brain
In this section, the speaker discusses how films create illusions and trick our brains into perceiving motion pictures. They also explain a clever trick used in a movie scene involving Sasha Baron Cohen's leg brace getting caught on a moving train.
Creating the Illusion of Movement
- Films use persistence of vision to create the illusion of motion.
- The speaker demonstrates a scene where a train appears to be moving while the floor is actually in motion.
- This technique was identified by Sergei Eisenstein and involves moving the camera with a moving object to make stationary objects appear to move.
Homage to Buster Keaton and Slapstick Comedy
- Sasha Baron Cohen wanted to pay homage to Buster Keaton's slapstick comedy style.
- He wanted his leg brace to get caught on a moving train, which was dangerous and impossible due to the set design.
- The speaker used Eisenstein's technique to create the illusion of movement for this scene.
Genius Tricks and Marty's Reaction
In this section, the speaker discusses an interesting trick used in filmmaking that Marty (presumably Martin Scorsese) reacts to humorously. They also mention another shot inspired by "Goodfellas" that aims to convey a character's journey.
Ingenious Filmmaking Trick
- The speaker explains that they came up with a genius trick for a movie scene but cannot take credit for it as it was invented long ago.
- Marty reacts humorously when he realizes that what moves are objects without wheels, while things with wheels do not move.
Conveying Character Journey Inspired by "Goodfellas"
- The speaker mentions an important shot from "Goodfellas" where Henry Hill is followed through his journey as a gangster at the Copacabana.
- They wanted to create a similar shot for the character Hugo in their movie.
- By moving the camera with Hugo, they aimed to make the audience feel what it's like to be in his shoes.
One-Shot Storytelling and Recreating Steadycam Shot
In this section, the speaker discusses the concept of one-shot storytelling and their efforts to recreate a steadycam shot inspired by "Goodfellas" for their movie. They explain the challenges of shooting in 3D and maintaining continuity.
One-Shot Storytelling
- One-shot storytelling is an elegant way of telling a story, especially when following a character on a journey.
- Inspired by "Goodfellas," they wanted to convey Hugo's mastery of his universe through a continuous shot.
- The goal was to make it feel like Hugo's normal everyday life.
Recreating Steadycam Shot
- Shooting in 3D presented challenges as they had to use a large camera rig.
- They aimed to recreate the impact of the famous "Goodfellas" shot using cranes and different sets.
- The final shot involved five separate sets, two different boys, and had to appear as one continuous shot.
Pride in Achievements and Seeking Validation
In this section, the speaker reflects on their work on a particular shot and seeking validation from others. They mention going to a friend for feedback.
Pride in Achievements
- The speaker admits feeling proud of their work on a specific shot, which is unusual for them.
- They mention that it received positive reviews, making them even prouder.
Seeking Validation
- The speaker went to a friend for feedback on their work, suggesting that they sought validation or approval from someone they trust.