Author Archives: Stefan Sargent

FLIGHTS OF FANCY

OR HOW I GOT INTO (and out of) VIDEO LONDON 1975 I get a phone call from my favorite conference client, Herb Kanzell. “Stefan, got a little job for you. My new client, Redifon, makes flight simulators to train pilots. … Continue reading

Posted in 2011, Full Length Articles, Production Diary | Comments Off on FLIGHTS OF FANCY

MORE THAN A SCREW UP, A TRAIN WRECK

AND HOW NOT TO HANDLE ONE Train wreck at Gare Montparnasse, Paris, France, 1895 LONDON 1986 I have a production company with Adrian and Cameron, two former Molinare employees. Adrian would pull in jobs and Cameron and I would do … Continue reading

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THE GREATEST MOVIE I NEVER MADE

WHAT DID I DO RIGHT? PRUDHOE BAY, ALASKA It’s the spring of 1969. I’m on the North Slope of Alaska, doing research for a BP sponsored documentary. Outside it’s -10°F – that’s -23C. Brrrr… but inside it’s warm and cozy. … Continue reading

Posted in 2010, Production Diary | Comments Off on THE GREATEST MOVIE I NEVER MADE

A LEGEND IN MY OWN LUNCHTIME…

WHO NEEDS DINNER WHEN YOU’RE ON LOCATION? SYDNEY, 1963 I’m shooting American singer Damita Jo. Channel 9 has bought in top London based director Kenneth Carter. Fly in both the talent and director from overseas… yes, it’s a great Aussie … Continue reading

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LETTER TO DESMOND From Stefan with Love

Dear Desmond, I’ve just written a piece about shooting Kaper Kops back when. I thought you’d like to read it. Then I looked you up on Wikipedia and discovered that you were dead: Desmond Tester (February 17, 1919 – December … Continue reading

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Production Diary: JUST AN OLD-FASHIONED SLIDESHOW

A Cool Way of Saying “Thank You.” Why is it that while the big, complex jobs can go smoothly, the little, simple videos for friends, family and clients are a world of hurt? SAN FRANCISCO February 2010 We’ve finished a … Continue reading

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WHERE’D MY WEBSITE GO?

MEET DA BIG BLACK HOLE! By Stefan Sargent Excitement. Roger and Vicki are coming to stay overnight. Roger worked in my London video facilities company, 30 years ago. That’s where they met. He dumped Miss-Almost-Right for Victoria.  She was producing … Continue reading

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DEATH OF A FILMMAKER

By Stefan Sargent If you’ve been reading my diary here over the last three years, you might sense a pattern: I get a job, there’s lots of pain and grief — finally, I get the job done and save the … Continue reading

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CURB YOUR CREATIVITY

USE A NO-BRAIN FORMAT My grand parents were from Germany. One Christmas they gave me a copy of Struwwelpeter http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Struwwelpeter – a German children’s book of cautionary tales. Pauline plays with matches and burns to death. Augustus won’t eat his … Continue reading

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BOKEH ARROW

Photo by Andrey Gorlov, using a Canon 550D. Whenever I discover that what I like and admire is rejected — or, even worse, when what I dislike is liked and praised by others — I stand back and wonder: Can … Continue reading

Posted in 2010, Production Notes | Comments Off on BOKEH ARROW