The other function of an aerial coordinator and his crew is to fly the
aircraft that appear on camera. "I'll do the wardrobe thing and double
whomever. I just finished doubling for Morgan Freeman in Dreamcatcher.
I played Morgan flying a helicopter."
When multiple aircraft are used, Wright may remain on the ground.
Standing next to the director and first AD, he directs the aircraft by telling
the pilots how he wants them to maneuver. "I kind of translate from
filmology to helicopter-ese." The aerial director must be able to envision
what effect the director wants to achieve and translate that to the pilots.
The aerial director may also be charged with a second unit. "They'll
hand me the storyboards and say, `Here's what we want--go get it.' So
I'll jump in with a cameraman and we'll thunder off into the skies or the
mountains and shoot it."
Special Skills
In addition to being an expert pilot, Wright says, "Being a good lis-
tener really helps. Having passion for your work. Everybody says you
have to love what you do because then it's not like work--you just love it
and do it."
Advice for Someone Seeking This Job
Once a pilot has earned an aviation license, one way to break into
film, television, or commercial work is to land a job with an existing
company that does a lot of film work. Then you can gain experience and
make contacts for future jobs. "You have to learn about the different
camera mount systems and what their capabilities are, what they can do
and their limitations," says Wright. "The limitations of your aircraft are
critical . . . There are so many guys, especially the young ones, that get
their licenses and have visions of Air Wolf dancing in their heads."
Professional Profile: Steven J. Wright, Aerial Director/Coordinator
Steven J. Wright discovered his love for flying while serving in the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). One winter, some hunters were
missing in central British Columbia and a helicopter was brought in to
assist the Mounties in the search. Chosen to go up in the helicopter,
Wright jumped in behind the pilot and the two set off. "We flew around
for about 45 minutes or an hour. When we landed, he landed in the exact
skid marks in the snow--he put it down in the exact same spot."
Always mechanically inclined--"I started riding motorcycles when I
was eight years old and I drag raced when I was a teenager. I've always
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