Vic Armstrong

Sharkey

Guest
Henry W Jones said:
And what did you add to the conversation? Besides another charming comment that is?
I'll add this, that image of the Star Destroyer with the vanes over the engines is Special Edition CGI. Your observations about Star Whores aren't just wrong, they're stupid. Why don't you bring gay porn into it while you're at it?:rolleyes:
 

Henry W Jones

New member
Attila the Professor said:
Cut it out, fellas. Back to Vic, not Star Wars or the usual shark baiting.

The Star Wars pics were just to make a point about what Vic said about CGI. Not so much to talk about Star Wars.
 

Sharkey

Guest
Henry W Jones said:
The Star Wars pics were just to make a point about what Vic said about CGI. Not so much to talk about Star Wars.
Try an Indiana Jones image. At least get a clue what your posting. Two CGI images made a point alright.
 

Attila the Professor

Moderator
Staff member
Henry W Jones said:
The Star Wars pics were just to make a point about what Vic said about CGI. Not so much to talk about Star Wars.

Yeah, but you could have made the point - which was tangential to begin with to what Vic was saying, since what he does isn't models isn't anymore than it is CGI - with some Indy photos, is all. (And Sharkey's point about the origin of the first photo, though expressed indelicately, is well taken.)

Moving right along...

It strikes me that the really interesting portion of the Armstrong interviews with regards to the merits of on-set work as opposed to CGI is this:

THN: What is the most satisfying aspect of working as a stuntman or coordinator?

VA: The greatest fun is the creativity and originality. Every golf course is 18 holes with so many par fours and so many par threes. The lay of the land all has its own character, and I like to think of that in terms of action, let the location suggest what’s going to happen. We know what we need story-wise out of a sequence but the actual turn of events will be dictated by the location. In the end, coming up with something original is very satisfying.

Spielberg, as numerous behind-the-scenes accounts indicate, was a master at coming up with bits based on what was on set or on location. Armstrong's commentary here suggests that a stunt coordinator works the same way to a considerable extent, in concert with the director or not. The drawback of CGI shooting when it involves non-physical sets is that it takes away this part of the creative process. Obviously, stunts require a certain degree of planning anyhow, especially when there's insurance matters or things that would need to be re-set if they go wrong (as Vic expresses in the horse-tank jump anecdote), but there's still going to be some further room for inventiveness with real sets and real stunts.
 

Montana Smith

Active member
Attila the Professor said:
Spielberg, as numerous behind-the-scenes accounts indicate, was a master at coming up with bits based on what was on set or on location. Armstrong's commentary here suggests that a stunt coordinator works the same way to a considerable extent, in concert with the director or not. The drawback of CGI shooting when it involves non-physical sets is that it takes away this part of the creative process. Obviously, stunts require a certain degree of planning anyhow, especially when there's insurance matters or things that would need to be re-set if they go wrong (as Vic expresses in the horse-tank jump anecdote), but there's still going to be some further room for inventiveness with real sets and real stunts.

That really is the core issue, and the point that struck me most from Vic's words. While CGI has a rightful place in movie-making, there is a great danger that as an aid it encouarges invention to turn into silliness for spectacle-sake.

Sometimes what works best are the ideas worked out on location, and employing the location to it's full potential. Over-use of CGI can turn a movie into a cartoon involving some live-action. This, I think was the biggest downfall in KOTCS. Spectacle overpowered writing and acting.

There's no real comparison, for example, between a CGI explosion and a real explosion with stuntmen in close proximity. The former may be cheaper and safer, but the latter injects a real sense of danger. A stuntman who submits to be set alight is still a shocking image for me whenever I see it on screen.
 
Thanks to Halloran for the heads up!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/p-WybZRQpNk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 

Stoo

Well-known member
Vic Armstrong Tribute in Switzerland

During a visit, I took my good ol' buddy, Gerry2001, up Mt. Schilthorn (Piz Gloria) a couple of weeks ago...the location of Blofeld's hideout in, "On Her Majesty's Secret Service". It was my *6th* trip up there but this time there was something NEW!

The "James Bond Walk of Fame" beckons visitors to walk out along the western crest of the mountain's peak. It's been severely levelled to make the walk easier (shame) and standing plaques have been put in place to commemorate the film's cast & crew.

The last one on the path was none other than Vic Armstrong.(y)

His monolith says:

STUNTMAN
"On Her Majesty's Secret Service" was a huge step for me as aspiring stuntman, and the film is a very high point of my 50 year career in the business. I remember being flabbergasted by the beauty of Mürren with its incredible views of the north wall of the Eiger on one side and the spectacular Schilthorn on the other. Also the most amazing memories as we went to work by ski, I can still picture Cubby Broccoli, the producer, standing at the cable car station at 5 am waving us off and then buying us all a drink as we skied home at night.


Vic's memories are a little wrong, though. The SOUTH side of the Eiger can be seen from Schilthorn, not the infamous & treacherous NORTH side! (Where people die.:dead:)

Behold a cast of Vic's Fist!

VicArmstrong_small_zpsymtafaei.jpg
 
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