In 1988 a friend of mine told me that Robert Altman was in town filming scenes for his political series on HBO, Tanner '88. (The series was about a fictitious Presidential candidate played by Michael Murphy who mingled and improvised with real Washington politicians and candidates. Altman would later remark that he believed the 12-part series, written by Gary Trudeau, was one of his most creative directorial efforts.) My friend also told me the production company was looking for a sound recordist… to play... a sound recordist on Veronica Cartwright's browbeaten television news crew. Somehow, I can't remember exactly how I got the job. The cameraman I was tethered to was a local videographer named Wally Pfister. I remember Wally for three reasons. One, he was a hell of a nice guy. Two, his name. And three, his plans to leave Washington the day after we finished filming, and head to Hollywood in search of fame and fortune; sleeping in his car if he had to, and not coming back until he had made a name for himself. Well, he has done more than just make a name for himself. Today Wally is director Christopher Nolan's DP of choice. He is currently the Director of Photography on The Dark Knight and his long list of credits—stretching back to 1991—includes: The Italian Job, Scotland, Pa., Memento, Insomnia, and Laurel Canyon. Wally was also the camera operator on one of my favorite “little movies” Unstrung Heroes.
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I remember showing up for “work” on the set of Tanner '88 the first day and meeting briefly with Altman. He was a large, bear of a man. His voice was booming and gruff, but his demeanor was friendly. He had a ready chuckle, and he appeared as a steady source of calm amidst a constant swirl of one production crisis after another. I remember him asking if I had any questions. “What am I supposed to do?” was all I had for him. “Just be yourself,” he answered. “And get good sound.” OK… so if you watch the episodes Moonwalker and Bookbag and Bagels With Bruce really close—and don't blink—you'll see my thirty seconds of celluloid fame with Wally Pfister — under the direction of the late, great Robert Altman whose films are among my all-time favorite: MASH, Brewster McCloud, McCabe and Mrs. Miller, The Long Goodbye, Nashville, A Wedding, Come Back to the Five and Dime Jimmy Dean Jimmy Dean, Fool For Love, The Player, and Short Cuts.
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On that cinematic note, The Happy Medium Song of the Day is “Celluloid Heroes” by The Kinks — an absolute classic, stand-out gem from a double album of tunes called Everybody's in Showbiz. Hey, it's a long holiday weekend… check out a film by Robert Altman, sit back and enjoy cinema at its best by a man who once said “To play it safe is not play.” Amen. For real.
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Robert Altman 1925-2006.
RIP
RIP