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Behind the Cameras: Cinematographer Garrett Brown.

Cinematographer Garrett Brown, who in 1978 won an Oscar for his invention of the Steadicam, a camera-suspension system that eliminates the jiggle in hand-held shots. His shots are striking; They include scenes from "Rocky," running up the stairs of the Philadelphia Art Museum, in "The Shining", when the young child is chased through the garden maze, and from "Return of the Jedi" the speeder-bike chases. BROWN also invented the Skycam, a process whereby a camera is suspended by cables over a large span, like at a football field. (Rebroadcast of 01/14/1985)

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Other segments from the episode on March 18, 1994

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, March 18, 1994: Interview with Garrett Brown; Interview with Mercedes McCambridge; Interview with Alan Splet; Interview with Dave Brody; Review of the film "Guarding Tess."
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08:50

Behind the Cameras: The Roach Wrangler On Set.

Entomologist Dave Brody curator of the entomology department of the Museum of Natural History in New York. Brody was the insect consultant -- a "bug wrangler"-- for films like "Creepshow" and "The Believers." (REBROADCAST from 7/9/87).

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54:53

A Cameraman's New Invention

Cinematographer Garrett Brown returns to Fresh Air to talk about his newest invention, the Skycam. He tells host Terry Gross about how his innovations changed movie directors' techniques and expectations while on set.

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22:35

Garrett Brown on the Impact of the Steadicam

Brown revolutionized cinematography with the the steadicam, skycam, and the mobicam. The steadicam is a camera-suspension system that eliminates the jiggle in hand-held shots. Brown's work with the steadicam can be seen in "Rocky," "The Shining," and "Return of the Jedi," among other films. The skycam is a suspended remote-controlled aerial camera, which gives the affect of putting the viewer in an airplane. The mobicam is for underwater shots, and has been used in the Olympics.

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