2015 (Production)

2015-02-24 (Production)

English (Original)

Interviewee: Garrett Brown
Interviewer: Betsy McLane

Professional production

Inventor and cinematographer Garrett Brown is interviewed by Betsy McLane at the Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood in 2015. Beginning with childhood recollections, Brown describes his initial interest in film, working in the advertising industry, and his role in the development of the Steadicam camera stabilizer. He details his work as a camera operator and inventor beginning with ROCKY (1976) through CASINO (1995).

Inventor and cinematographer Garrett Brown is interviewed by Betsy McLane at the Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood on February 24, 2015. Raised in Long Branch, New Jersey, Brown reminisces on his childhood and early interests in cinema, mentioning his particular fondness for Alfred Hitchcock films. He discusses attending Tufts University before dropping out to pursue a career as a songwriter. Finding little success in the music business, Brown talks about his career transition as an ad agency copywriter and subsequently launching his own firm in 1969. He chronicles his agency’s award-winning work, including producing short films for SESAME STREET (1969 - ) and directing television advertisements. Tasked with the need to film car commercials with better precision and mobility, Brown recalls experimenting with makeshift camera equipment in his garage, which would lead to the development of Brown’s Stabilizer camera. He speaks on shooting a ten-minute demo reel highlighting the device’s revolutionary movements, which lead to a patent acquisition by Cinema Products Corporation and was later renamed Steadicam. Brown recounts Steadicam’s feature film debut for director John Avildsen’s ROCKY (1976), including what went into the famous shot of Balboa’s art museum steps sequence. He mentions employing the Steadicam for MARATHON MAN (1976) and provides anecdotes on behind-the-scenes challenges during the shoot. He discusses Cinema Products’ release of the Universal Model I Steadicam I and muses on winning the 1978 Academy Award of Merit for the invention and development of Steadicam. Brown elaborates on his collaborative efforts with directors and cinematographers, noting that the art of camera operating is one of the seminal skills of movie making. He speaks at length about his work with Stanley Kubrick (THE SHINING, 1980), Francis Ford Coppola (ONE FROM THE HEART, 1981) and Steven Spielberg (INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM, 1984), detailing the process of shooting complex sequences for each film. Brown shares insight on the development of Skycam and next generation Master Series Steadicam, which was used by Martin Scorsese for CASINO (1995). He goes on to discuss Steadicam’s change of ownership in the late 1990s and his 2013 induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. He closes with reflections on his career, why he considers himself a better inventor than cameraman, and offers sage advice for aspiring Steadicam operators.

Garrett Brown (born 1942) is an inventor and cinematographer, best known for developing the Oscar-winning Steadicam camera stabilizer. He holds over fifty international patents for camera devices. Born in Long Branch, New Jersey, Brown attended Tufts University, where he met future musical collaborator Al Dana. They formed the folk singing duo Brown & Dana and scored a minor hit with "It Was a Very Good Year.” Following the group’s disbandment, Brown launched an advertising agency where he produced television commercials, radio spots and short films for SESAME STREET (1969 - ). Brown utilized his car commercials shoots as a testing ground for the development of Brown’s Stabilizer camera, which was later renamed the Steadicam. The system was first employed in the films BOUND FOR GLORY (1976) and ROCKY (1976), with the latter capturing Balboa’s iconic ascent up the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum. Brown's Steadicam work was used extensively on THE SHINING (1980), RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983), CASINO (1995), and over 100 additional feature films. He is also credited with inventing the SkyCam, DiveCam, and MobyCam for NFL and Olympiad sporting events. A longtime member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Brown is the recipient of the Academy Award of Merit for the invention of Steadicam (1978), the Technical Achievement Award for the development of the Skyman, (1999), and the Scientific and Engineering Award for the original concept of the Skycam flying camera system (2006). In 2013 he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, honoring inventors whose work has had a major impact on society, the public welfare, and the progress of science and the useful arts.

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