Let’s meet Harry J Alpert – Motion Control Operator

Harry J Alpert has been in the film business for over twenty years as a Director of Photography, Camera Operator, Assistant Cameraman and Animator. In the Visual Effects business he specialized in Motion Control, Blue Screen, Green Screen and High Speed cinematography as an operator and D.P.
He recently published an article about his career in the Magazine “All Lights”, but he also accepted to answer few questions for Making FX.

Hi Harry, thanks for taking few time to answer my few questions.

Paul Franklin and the Dneg’s team on Inception just won the Oscar for the best VFX. What is your first reaction after the announce of the result ?

I was thrilled to see Mike Chambers, up on the stage for the Oscar He was a VFX producer on “Inception”. Very exciting! I had worked with him for ten years at Boss Film many years ago, as well as, at Digital Domain on “True Lies”. “Inception” well deserve the Oscar!
Doug Smith was my boss on “Independence Day”. It was extremely exciting to see him receive the Oscar as well!

You’ve been working as Motion Control operator and DP for many years. Today, we can create a lot of full CG shots, without using any miniature or models. Do you feel that something changed in your work in the last few years ?

Certainly. There is very little demand now for motion control for miniatures. I believe that there is still some for location and live action work. It’s still a great format and craft. However, CGI has come a long way. Most CGI work is credibly versatile and completely stunning! I have not done any motion now for approximately 14 years.

What Motion Control can do that couldn’t be replace by another technique ?

It’s difficult to say. There are so many technical and creative options available to the VFX Supervisor and crew. Which techniques to be initiated are decisions based on design, practicality, efficiency and budget. Much like anything else in the movie business.

What would you like to say to young people that are discovering today the Special Effects industry through Digital Effects only ?

Although the tools in the VFX business have changed and improved phenomenally . . . with absolutely stunning results . . . the disciplines and craft remain the same. Study the basics of cell animation, traditional Visual Effects, photography and cinematography. All of these apply to whatever tool you choose to use. I believe that at Pixar . . . the new animators are required to study traditional cell animation before they are attached to a computer. This is evident in the masterful work that they produce!

What is your best souvenir in your all career ?

Seeing my two little girls, Mary and Caitie, smile, when they watch a movie that I have worked on. I am raising them as good solid hardy geeks. We like a lot of the same Sci-fi movies! It’s a great thing when movies and comic books excite my children the same way they did when I was little! Being a Sci-fi geek is what go the into the VFX and animation business.

However, probably the coolest surrogate souvenir I have, is the first “USS Enterprise NCC-1701″ model that my daughter Mary built a few years ago! And an “X-Wing” fighter my daughter Caitie built. Needless to say . . . my kids are sick huge Trekkies as well!

That being said, I have coats, toys, key rings, tools, photos, all sorts of memorabilia from years gone by from shows that I had worked on. All very precious and valuable. Very sentimental stuff. We all made a lot a friends on those projects!

What would you like to do that you haven’t done yet ?

I am aggressively moving into the Digital Stereoscopic 3D world! And all that goes with it! Wish I had done more earlier! It’s a wonderful new medium which provides for great creativity and visual excitement!

Just like the early days of VFX business!

Thank you very much for your answers, and thank you for following Making FX !

Don’t forget to read the article about Harry J Alpert in the Magazine “All Lights”