Author Archives: Stefan Sargent

WORST OF THE WORST Aug ’09

I guess everyone who makes commissioned films — or commissioned anything, for that matter — has rotten clients. I thought I’d write about my favorite worst clients, if you know what I mean. Hmmmm… let me think: there’s Andy. He … Continue reading

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NOTHING FROM NOTHING – or No More Mr. Nice Guy Jul ’09

Above, left: Young Stefan thinks the approaching band is going straight ahead but, no, they suddenly turn and crush him underfoot. Above, right: Radio Caroline at sea. What price for rare archive footage? How about nothing? COOTAMUNDRA, NSW, AUSTRALIA DECEMBER … Continue reading

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WALL OF FEAR – or Look At My Wall, Ye Mighty and Despair! Jun ’09

LONDON UK, 1986. That’s me on the right up there. I may be smiling, but I’m afraid, very afraid. After this photo shoot, we planned to show that video wall to an audience of trade press and VIPs from British … Continue reading

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GRAPE EXPECTATIONS – OR Now That It’s Finished Is it Any Good? May ’09

FEBRUARY 2009 SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA Boy am I tired! On February 2, we shot the last sequence of my feature documentary Pinot: Sonoma Dreams. It was the bottling of Wall Street trader turned winemaker Jamie Kutch’s ’07 vintage. Almost exactly … Continue reading

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WHERE’S WALLY – OR THEY LIKE ME, THEY REALLY LIKE ME Mar ’09

LONDON, OCTOBER 1997. “Stefan, it’s Peter. I might have a job for you. We booked Walter Taggart. He makes films for banks. Has a Ph.D. in banking. Knows the banker-speak. Anyhow, Wally’s gone and we don’t know where he is. … Continue reading

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THREE FEET UNDER – OR IT WAS WORKING UNTIL I FIXED IT Feb ’09

SAN RAFAEL, CA. DECEMBER 2008. I had a client coming in at 10:00 today. It’s now 11:00. I phone. Nope – just an answering machine. “Hi Peter, where are you?” I email. “Did you think it was at YOUR place?” … Continue reading

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WILL THE REAL BUS DRIVER PLEASE STAND UP Jan ’09

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, 2008. We’ve spent a year filming Jamie Kutch. He was a Wall Street trader, threw it in and now makes Pinot Noir in Sonoma County. Yep, he’s a real person not just an actor. The grapes (the … Continue reading

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NO INVASION OF NORMANDY TODAY Dec ’08

This week I ordered a Sock-Loupe from Hood Pro (http://www.hood-pro.com/). The copy says a “fully rigid loupe” can be adjusted to have a “minor droop.” I pay by Paypal and within minutes receive an email from the inventor, Mike Stevens. … Continue reading

Posted in 2008, Production Diary | Comments Off on NO INVASION OF NORMANDY TODAY Dec ’08

DIY POLE ARM CONSTRUCTION: The Making of Roman

What are some of the movie shots that really impressed you? Not whole sequences, just single “gee-whiz” shots. Chances are that those you remember best are high-angle, moving shots. Maybe the opening shot of Orson Welles’ Touch of Evil, the … Continue reading

Posted in 2008, Full Length Articles | Comments Off on DIY POLE ARM CONSTRUCTION: The Making of Roman

THE BOLSHOI COULDN’T MAKE IT Nov ’08

BONDI BEACH AUSTRALIA, MARCH. 1966 I’m in the surf filming Will Rushton, an English comedian. He starred in the BBC’s That Was The Week That Was and in the feature film Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines. Today he’s … Continue reading

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