In this digital age, it’s refreshing when an old-school source book for motion picture equipment hits the shelves. The tome, aptly titled Dollies, Cranes & Camera Heads is the brainchild of IA grip, Mike Uva. Written with a folksy-wisdom and ease belying his many years of experience in the biz, the author provides insider... »

Bestowed with the privilege of interviewing a near century of living Hollywood history, I recently chatted with production designer extraordinaire, Robert Boyle and special effects titan, Harry Redmond Jr., on the occasion of each man’s 100th birthday. Giants of filmdom each, their paths to successful careers were as different as they were compelling. Robert... »

Among the great shooters from Hollywood’s Golden Age, cinematographer Richard Kline is one practitioner of ‘lens-craft’ who possessed a surgical perfection with his camera. The twice Oscar-nominated DP was literally a ‘sire of Tinseltown.’ His mom was a paymaster at Universal while his father, (Benjamin Kline) lensed filmnoir classics like Detour as well as... »

In Tinseltown, no two paths are exactly alike. Some guys are born to the manor, while others, like four-time Oscar-nominated production designer Albert Brenner, obtain their crown of success the hard way: they earn it. Brenner’s journey to Hollywood began like many; with a dream and the G.I. Bill following service in World War... »

In 1960s Hollywood, the Darwinian expansion of the independent studios produced a talented new crop of cinematographers. One such visionary-to-be (who at 85 continues to shoot and teach) is style chameleon and storyteller extraordinaire William Fraker. Billy (to pals) began his ascent to rank among Tinseltown’s elite lensmen by way of near manifest destiny.... »

On the lot at Universal Pictures is a new attraction of truly Jurassic proportions: the world’s largest mobile makeup and hair trailer. It’s the brain trust of Desperate Housewives makeup head John M. Elliott Jr. and hair department head Gabor Heiligenberg, as well as Pegasus Trailer’s Larry Williams and makeup artist Jeff Dawn. The... »

One of the most interesting aspects about the collaborative effort of working in Hollywood is the depth of skills that make up a crew. From production designers to camera and grip, and wardrobe to Teamsters, these divergent groups all work together to bring the director’s vision to screen. Among the multitude of craft designations,... »

In Hollywood during the early 1950s, one man’s vision impacted the cinematic car culture of America so greatly that his contributions remain relevant today. This award-winning visionary is automotive icon George Barris, whose below-the-line genius gave us dozens of signature vehicles for television and film. From General Lee to The Batmobile, Barris treated his... »

Among the lensmen working in Hollywood during the golden age of motion pictures, Fred Koenekamp is one DP who never rested on his laurels. In fact, it seems he never rested at all. He is a child of the industry whose father (Hans Koenekamp) was an effects cameraman at Mack Sennett Studios in the... »

John Murray was destined to be in the film business. His father (John W.) plied the grip trade at Hal Roach and MGM Studios beginning in the 1930s. It... »