FEATURED
GUESTS
FILM
MAKERS
LOCATION
MANAGER
GREG
HUEBNER
GREG
HUEBNER: As one half of a twin-set born to Mentor and me in Paris,
France, while Mentor was on location for the film, The Longest
Day, Greg was no doubt born with 'Team Spirit' flowing though
his blood stream. It evidently created a desire for being on multiple
locations.
The
twins were born after Mentor and I were almost ready to return
to home. But I convinced Mentor, "We can do it" ~ and
we decided to take a chance and see the world. For one year, Mentor
and I and the three kids, lived on multiple locations of our own
choosing. We bought a car in Holland when the kids were six weeks
old and took off. We traveled all over Europe.
"Mentor
and I and Mentor Jr. shared the front seat of the car, the 'twins',
Jessica and Gregory, shared a jumbo baby car bed in the center,
and we packed the back end of the car with a variety of essential
paraphernalia. We also carried three huge and tightly packed trunks
on the roof of the car. (Every night wherever we were Mentor unloaded
the car, trunks and all, in case of car theft and other break-ins.)
Every single inch of the interior and exterior space was used
for the necessities of living, French SMA baby formula, baby bottles,
diapers and painting supplies.
"There
were no air pockets.
"We
traveled throughout Europe from one spot to another. Mentor painted,
Mentor Jr. collected insects and drew pictures. Whenever we visited
spots of interest, churches and museums and castles, it was exactly
like the landing on Omaha Beach in Mentor's movie. Mentor and
I each carried a twin, taking our turns with 'heavier' or 'screaming',
and Mentor Jr. helped by carrying the usual vinyl bag of baby
supplies. We looked like gypsies. Our 'home base' was our car.
Greg
on a Location Search
Gregory
Huebner says: "I like the work. As far as I'm concerned the
job of Location Manager and Location Facilitator, is one of the
best jobs in the industry. It's the most diversified and you get
to meet people from every area of life. There is no down time
and you're never bored. Usually, the job requires an immediate
creation of a small functioning city. Often from merely ground
zero -- absolutely nothing -- you must jump to a thriving mini
metropolis. The Location Manager creates that little city.
"For
example, during the shooting of "Dante's Peak", in an
old abandoned section of the Van Nuys Airport, which is called,
"the biggest little airport in the world", the 'crew'
consisted of around 1000 people. That means 1000 people had to
come in and out, through guarded gates, work, go on breaks, and
use a variety of supplies. Everything had to be brought in and
then some of it bought out. Electricity, telephones, food, water
and restrooms.
"As
Manager you are involved with the movie locations from the production's
initial stages and interface with each special department as they
sign on, along with every single outside entity imaginable: There
is almost daily communication between the Location Manager and
all City Services; Fire Inspectors, Police and Private Security
Guard Companies. And in the case of Dante's Peak, there was continuous
contact with the ever present Airport Authorities (the landlords).
"Everyone had a different view, and no one really cared about
the Volcano the film production company was attempting to build
in their 'backyard'. A Location Manager's job demands social skill,
organizational ability ~ diplomacy and psychology. Plenty of psychology.
.
"Anything can happen to you and everything does. You get
to meet everybody. Some are happy. Some are not happy. But there
is a lot of 'spin off' and many situations come up that are fun
-- despite the pressures.
"Dante's Peak had two sites that drew my attention. The action
was spread out to the airport's other property, an empty field
in Lancaster. It too required certain conveniences for the crew.
"Also, Universal Studios was also using Jim Cameron's Special
Effects House at Digital Domain for "Dante's Peak" and
their Film for their Theme Park Ride, "Terminator 2/3D ~
Battle Across Time". They sort of overlapped. There were
multiple locations.
"One day, while I was working for Dante's Peak, and going
back and forth between the Van Nuys Airport and the Digital Domain
Special Effects House, the Universal Studios Production needed
to get a fix on lighting and camera angles. It was for the Evil
Cop in Terminator 2/3D. The Cop, played by Robert Patrick, was
the one who Morphed into any shape and transformed into the element
of hot Mercury, melting at the end. They asked me to stand in
for him. Not for the morphing or the melting -- just for the light
and angles. So that was a sort of a plus. It didn't have much
to do with the other stuff.
"Another time I was watching them shoot a scene with a guy
who was standing in for Arnold Swarzenegger. This actor was supposed
to grab the 'Mini Hunter Killer', with his left hand. It was pushing
midnight. Everyone was tired. Take after take after take after
take ... failed.
"It wasn't working. The guy couldn't catch it.
"I asked, "Is Arnold left handed?"
"Obviously the stand-in actor wasn't.
"Someone answered me, "Yes". "Yes Arnold is
left handed."
"I said, "I'm left handed."
"The sound of my words echoed across the stage. The Production
Coordinator, David Sanger, said, "Just a minute", huddled
with a group of the Universal executives for a few minutes, and
the next thing I knew I was Arnold's 'Left Hand Man'.
"So in Universal's Terminator 2/3D, it's my left hand that's
seen grabbing the Mini Hunter Killer. It can be seen at both the
Universal Theme Parks. California and Florida. It's my claim to
fame. .
"There are many funny stories to relate from each production.
There is one event in particular that stands out for me. It's
not exactly a location story. Well, maybe in a way it is.
"One
day when I wasn't on "Dante's Peak" and was working
on "Terminator 2/3D Battle Across Time", over at 'Digital
Domain', I visited the Men's Room. I happened to be wearing my
T2/3D Crew jacket.
"The Men's Room was empty. I took the last urinal at the
far end of the row. Within seconds I heard the door swing open
and foot steps walking toward me. I was soon aware
someone had decided to use the very next urinal. This is a violation
of unspoken Public Men's Restroom procedure. If there are available
urinals -- we don't crowd each other.
"I
stood there and tensed a little as the second code of ethics was
broken. The 'no talking code'. The guy next to me spoke. It's
not a place to chat. No one does. This guy looks my way and proceeds
to tell me that I'm wearing a nice jacket.
"Not knowing what to do at this point, I said, "Thanks."
"I flushed (the urinal), and began to walk away, when I saw
that this assertive guy was the Producer, James Cameron. The Boss.
(Digital Domain Special Effects House. Terminator 2/3D, Titanic,
Ghosts of the Abyss.)
"As I headed toward the door, Jim Cameron called out to me
and sent me off with a final shot of good will. He told me I should
be very proud. As the jacket had only been given to a select few.
It was special.
"I nodded and walked out. Now it would have been different.
If that had happened today, I would have said, "Well, yes
Jim, I am proud. Very proud."
"But now, I guess I should thank him. At least for the great
memories." ~ GREG HUEBNER
GREG HUEBNER
Conact: GregHuebner@MentorHuebnerArt.com
Website: www.MentorHuebnerArt.com
Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger & Greg Huebner
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